Write a Review
Add an entry into the new Swanage Family Guestbook Below
123 entries.
wrote on June 3, 2016
at
3:36 pm
“Homesick after leaving Swanage - still!”
The most fortuitous part of my trauma elective at Baragwanath was staying at Swanage. Alan is amazing - felt at home from the start.....the house is in beautiful surrounds, the suburb safe for Johannesburg (I did a 8km run most days without issues). A community feel with other doctors and medical students. Beautifully stocked kitchen, shops nearby. Local ear and advice....plus safe/ supportive as all in house medical in background. Alan gave awesome advice for travel following my elective, stayed in touch since. I plan to visit soon - plus if specialty training allows, head back to work. Would I recommend? Absolutely! (as long as youre not taking the last bed when I want to go back!!)
wrote on June 3, 2016
at
3:31 pm
“Medical elective - April-May 2015”
Stayed in Swanage with friends on my medical elective for 8 weeks from April to May 2015. Alan has a large property with spacious rooms and 2 bathrooms. Alan is an extremely accommodating host and really goes the extra mile to make you feel completely at home. If you get a chance I would recommend going on safari with Alan to Pilanesburg!
I will definitely be returning in the future!
wrote on May 15, 2016
at
9:02 pm
My brother, thank you for the great time I was allowed to spend at Swanage. I've enjoyed every single day of my stay in Johannesburg because of you. You are a very special perso, Someone who approaches people without any prejudice, You are one of the most hospitable, open minded and generous person I've every met. You always see the good side of a person and Ive never heard you say anything negative about someone. Just by reading your Swanage book I recognised, that with your personality you influenced many people in a positive way and I hope that you will continue this in the future. You can't imagine how happy I am that I have chosen your place to stay while I've been in Jo'burg because you gave me a place to stay which feels like home far away from home. Even the 30 minutes drive to Bara every morning were worth it. I won't take your friendship for granted and I really hope that I'll see you soon. All the best, your middle eastern brother Farjard.
wrote on May 14, 2016
at
3:31 pm
Dear Alan. Words are not enough to describe my time at Johannesburg and Swanage.... So I will try and keep it simple. I wanted to thank you for everything you've done but also continue doing for us and for all the unforgettable memories i will take with me back home. The amazing trip to Pilanesberg with the leopard sighting. Bernie's pride - the best vehicle in the whole world, your overwhelming LK (local knowledge), your wise words and last but not least the home made dinners and the the time we spent together at Swanage. Until we meet again. Natalia (Lady Glibbery).
wrote on May 13, 2016
at
8:55 pm
Alan, thanks so much for a great time at Swanage and for making it a home away from home. I was extremely lucky to find your place and I appreciate the great lengths you went ot make us all feel comfortable. Pilanesburg was also fantastic and I'm so glad I could join! SA was an awesome experience overall and it wouldn't have been the same without Swanage. I may be sending you some Americans next year, we're severely underrepresented in the community.. Please let me know if you're ever in the US and hopefully I'll be back in SA soon! Keep up all the great work. You've made an awesome place at Swanage.
wrote on March 15, 2016
at
3:36 pm
Dear Alan. thank yhou for giving me a new home on the southern hemisphere. Time passed by so quickly, I feel like comaing back soon. So there is no need of saying good bye, rather see you soon. Your open heart inspires me of how to be a better person. I will never forget your delicious cooking and your close connection to nature. Having such a cosy retreat was a great balance for me, coping wit hthe rough reality in hospital. Next time I will hopefully have the chance to experience Pilanesberg together wit hyou. All the Best. Cecilia Veraar Cecilia.veraar@gmx.at
wrote on March 8, 2016
at
8:50 pm
Dear Alan
Listening to the sound of the miniature waterfalls - for me that pump could be running all night - sitting with the sun on my feet in the garden or in one of the big windows, Swanage is a hide away from the "wild" city of Johannesburg and Swanage is like home.
I wasn't expecting such a place when looking into the student housing of Bara. Alan you accomplish with every one of us, to make a stay here turn into a South African Experience. You teach us how to be good doctors, how to define a good relationship and how to become a family with constantly changing members under the roof of Swanage.
Thank you for opening your house and hour heart to me and to all Swans before my stay and those to come.
As you know I'm a couch surfer and that taught me that, we will not change this world in a day, but we can teach change by changing one by one and one couch at a time, and for you that will be changing the world or making it a better place - one Swan at a time!
Thanks for that patience and for the immense effort, I admire you for that0 and I will take some of this spirit home with me. Alan - I will be back 0 that's 100% for sure and I'll let you know when I come and I will want to have dinner with you and Brenda and listen to your life and safari stories! All the best wishes to you and you Swanage journey. Lots of love, yours Eva.
wrote on February 27, 2016
at
3:42 pm
Dear Alan. Thank you so much for opening your doors for us. The way that you let people in and use your home as their own is incredible and generous beyond what I've seen before. Like you send yourself; "Swanage is a home to a big family, it's not a hostel. We've learned a lot during our stay, and to get back from work and just chill out in your garden was a carrot on a stick after every call. What better way to experience Pilanesburg than in a convoy with yourself and Brenda. Norway acknowledges your absolute competent leadership and if the safari is as good for the next group, they are lucky. Hope to see you sooner that later!
wrote on December 4, 2015
at
3:51 pm
Dear Al/Big-Al/Swan Commander Thank you for welcoming me into your home and making me feel like it's my own. You embraced me with open arms and from the start, and gave me such a great place to come back to Post call from Bara or travels. I leave Swanage with a book full of Al's life quotes, and some incredible photos from an amazing Pilanesberg Safari. My time living working and travelling in South Africa is not one that I will forget quickly. thanks always and best wishes. Soctt (from Australia).
wrote on October 12, 2015
at
3:59 pm
Dear Alan. I'm having my last coffee at Swanage this very moment, trying to think of what I should write....You've probably noticed that I've been rather cautious or even scared of the "big and violent Joburg" in the beginning. I'm so glad you could take away my fears of where to go and what to do with all your local knowledge. Unfortunately Johannesburg or even South Africa has a rather bad reputation back home, which I will try to fix as much as I can. I probably haven't met as many welcoming and friendly people as here in all the traveling I've done. When I was looking for accommodation here one of my most important things were, that i wanted to find a place to feel at hoem and meet friends after the awful long trauma-calls at Bara. You and Swanage have made this happen. Besides learning a ton of useful medical skills I also got a different view on how lucky we actually are to live and work in places like that. I'm honestly impressed how things are being done here with a lot of improvising, effort and often times difficult circumstances. After all I am very glad to still be able to travel this beautiful country and thanks your advice find the best spots. thanks for all the great memories Alan. Plans for 2017 are being made. Keep in touch , ma bru. Aug wiedershen, Basti
Guestbook Gallery
Some of the Original Entries from Swanage Guest Book
