In Town Today Thursday 4th March 2010

Starting with an empty canvas it's time to look for material for next week's show.

If you have anything that you feel would be interesting for our listeners then call or text me on 07976 364681

Iris Gower was born in Swansea, where she still lives. The mother of four grown-up children, she has written over twenty bestselling novels. She received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Wales Swansea in 1999 and has been awarded an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Cardiff.

Her latest book Bomber's Moon is set in Swansea in 1941 and once again sets her as a world best seller.

Iris kindly spoke with me on Tuesday and she was a joy to listen to. It must have been a challenge to write with 4 young children around her. She told me that she put them in the playpen together so she could get on with her writing.

I went to Castle Square in Swansea on Saturday to enjiy the St David's Day celebrations. There were some old friends to chat to and plenty of new faces to talk with. I've tried to capture the even with a few remarks given on the day.

Carol Watts (left) is wearing her gran's shawl which is over 100 years old and James (right) is drinking a cup of his own Company's Swansea tea. He gave me a mug so watch out for another mugshot. He'lll be at the Dylan Thomas Experience launch on Thursday 25th March. I had a cuppa and it was really delicious.

 

Yes! It was something else!! Michael Roberts singer with The Somethings was a great entertainer. And the lady on the right is wearing the costume her daughter. Linsay Thomas, should have been wearing. was it a cope-out?

Plenty of food to try and buy. It was a great morning out.

I asked last week if you were comfortable with British Gas making such an obcene profit when thery have hiked prices up dramatically and everyone has had to use extra resources to keep warm in the coldest winter for 32 years. What do you think?

And the Royal Bank of Scotland making a further loss of £3.5 billion  yet paying out more than  £1 billion in bonuses. Does that make sense to you? And if you have wanted to borrow and been refused, felt that charges were back again with a vengence or that the real bank robbers were the banks themselves then lt me know.

In Town Today 25th February 2010

CONTACT US  BY E-MAIL, TEXT, PHONE, LETTER OR COMMENT ON THIS PAGE. YOU CAN SEND IN AN MP3 RECORDING OR WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU

Telephone or text 0797 63 64 681, e-mail to ask@mikeleahy.com, comment at the bottom of this page!!!

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LISTEN ON THURSDAY EVENINGS  7 OR LISTEN ON DEMAND AT ANY TIME. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN ON YOUR iPOD.

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All About Swansea

Today Councillor Chris Holley, Leader of the City & County of Swansea spoke about the cuts introduced this week when their budget was dramatically cut by the Welsh Assembly Government. 

Your views are welcome. What would you ask Cllr Holley or any of his cabinet if they were standing right in front of you now? Write your comment below or don't you have a view?

I spoke with Cllr Holley on Tuesday, the day after the decision meeting sandwiched between two meetings so the door is open to have a longer discussion if you want to know more.

Have you heard of BID Swansea?  Do you know how over 700 businesses in the city are represented? What do you think can be done to make Swansea a better shopping experience?

Do listen to Russell Greenslade, recently appointed new Manager of BIDS who has experience in the local retail sector and is actively working to improve Swansea City Centre as a shopping,  leisure  and pleasure centre. He talks about BID Swansea and subsequently we asked 30 shopers if they had ever heard of BID and only one had. Does that mean BID works or that it has a low profile?

Once again the question is - what would you like to see in Swansea to make it more attractive to you? You views are important. There have been massive changes over recent months: the new bus station is underway: the new traffic layout has been around for a while now. Are these improvements or a change too far?

A local boy and his helter-skelter success story from being an unemployed musician at the Princes Trust to be projected onto centre stage of Jesus Christ Superstar! Listen to Steve Balsamo in a most interesting and intimate conversation where he talks about the raw emotion of performing great music.

Steve and the Storys will be playing  their last gig at the Grand Theatre, Swansea on Saturday 19th June Box Office 01792 475715.

You'll love this conversation with Steve.

 

Show Notes for In Town Today 18th February

CONTACT US  BY E-MAIL, TEXT, PHONE, LETTER OR COMMENT ON THIS PAGE. YOU CAN SEND IN AN MP3 RECORDING OR WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU

Telephone or text 0797 63 64 681, e-mail to ask@mikeleahy.com, comment at the bottom of this page!!!

  *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

LISTEN ON THURSDAY EVENINGS  7 OR LISTEN ON DEMAND AT ANY TIME. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN ON YOUR iPOD.

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NEWS BREAKING INTERVIEW

This Thursday I shall be in conversation with Mike Day, Cabinet Member for Education, talking about the budget deficit and how it's affecting education in Swansea. I'll be asking him about how the cuts might affect our children's schooling this year and how he sees education in Swansea in 5 years. If you have any questions text me before Thursday 10 am and I'll try and include them.

If this works I'll be planning to have live interviews with other City & County of Swansea Cabinet members and hopefully Chris Holley, Leader of the Council, where listeners can ask questions by phoning in, texting or e-mail. So watch this space.

We are all concerned about what services we are going to lose, because there must be a loss, and wonder what they are going to be with immediate effect.

The following was written prior to setting up an interview with Councillor Mike Day.

As I mentioned I tried to get Chris Hollings Leader of the County and City of Swansea Council but I know there has beena huge amount of activity in the Cabinet Room this week and so it didn't happen. I'm trying again because I believe that you want to hear what's happening from the man at the top: you want to be reassurred that you aren't going to lose vital services and that education and social care remain at the top of the agenda.

It is disturbing to hear that we are losing the Tennis Centre and now rumours abound that it might be sold off. That would mean the end for ever of a popular service. If you have comments on this or other possible cuts let me know. Write, e-mail, text or call.

I saw the comment about mis-management in the Council. Do you think there is mis-management? Or do you think that the Welsh Assembly, who has control of the purse-strings, is to blame. Call me and let me know.

James Cameron, a bright young entrepreneur, currently studing law at Swansea University will be talking with me about his new business and the eco-friendly cleaning products he has developed with his scientist father. Will he be a future millionaire? Watch this space.

An odd week because I've not had my car for a couple of days and went into Swansea by bus on Friday. I can't ever remember travelling by bus in Swansea. I was a good experience. I didn't have to wait too long, there were people standing but only for short distances,  there were no hold-ups ad the driver was friendly enough. Coming back to Sketty I found myself sitting next to an old friend so we had a chat and the time went quickly.


Watch for more.


If you have an interesting story call me now 07976 364681.

Accident at Sketty Cross this week. Came aacross about 6-7 police vehicles and ambulance. Took this photos but was prohibited by police from taking any more photos closer even though the ambulance had left the scene. 

The details and a photo were in the Evening Post.


Do you think that taking photographs like the one on the left should be refused by the police? On what grounds would they have the right to make me stop? Would you have just gone ahead and damn the consequences? Was anyone's rights affected - mine for not beinmg allowed to take photos on a public highway when there was no-one involved or car number plate visible - or the parties involved for having any photo taken of the aftermath? What do you think?


Too many questions remain unanswered. Please make a comment.


It snowed again today (Tuesday). Can't wait for the summer. The utilities companies must be rubbing their hands together with glee - joined the bankers in making buckets of money when tiomes are tight fior the majority. Why were these essential utilities ever privatised? To satisfy the government of the day?


Listen on Thursday at 7pm  Please join me then.

Show Notes for In Town Today 11th February

Spencer Kelly Shout .10 by MikeLeahy

I've got a couple of items so far but nothing is edited.

Bikes stacked up at Euston Station. What a great idea. If Swansea Council are trying to encourage less cars in the city perhaps some bike racks with built-in locks would be good'



 We all often complain about the post service. My postie has just moved to another area which is disappointing. He is always reliable, prompt and cheerful - even when it's raining. And last week when it snowed and I couldn';t get the car down the slpoe because of the ice he was here on time.





Look very carefully at the block in the centre of the photo opposite. I took this from my hotel bedroom window 7 floors up.
That black item on the roof centrally opposite is a barbeque. Think how lucky you are with a garden or beach.

Just watch this space for more information about the coming week.

Am beginning to get e-mails from listeners and they are positive. If you like what you hear or have any  comments regarding content or or possible topics or guests PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT on the page

Are we getting less thoughtful to others on the road and off?

Have you had enough of this cold wet winter and where would you rather be?

If you want to win a copy of Blackout by Tracey Williams then text me on 07976 364681 with "Book" and your name. You have until Wednesday at 6pm