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130 entries.
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
wrote on August 12, 2015
at
4:12 pm
Dear Alan. Where to start? I've had one of the best months of my life, living out here with you in Swanage (and th others). From the moment, we arrived, I've felt at home (which is a hard feat to accomplish) greeted with a big bear-hug. It's surreal that the days flew by, but you managed to squeeze in a ton of braai's ...and the large number of medical students featuring at the parties, mostly discussing how amazing this town is, made it easy to make friends. The large amounts of love and affection floating around this house just gives it such a great vibe! If I could rewind to entering Swanage for the first time again (just to experience the happy delight again) I would! Thank you so much Alan - God bless you. Lots and lots and lots of love Vidhya (UEA + Singapore)
wrote on August 12, 2015
at
4:07 pm
Dear Alan. It's so hard to write this because I can't believe my time at Swanage is coming to it's end. It's been an incredible journey and you have made every step of the way special. Greeting us with open arms into your home, and all the previous memories thereafter. How can I sum up my time in a single letter, there are no words to express how grateful I am to you,. I was so nervous about coming away to a strange country, for a long time I could never have imagined that I could feel at home out here. Swanage has been my home away from home for the last 6 weeks and somewhere I will always look forward to coming back to. I know we will stay in touch, first and foremost as friends and secondly as the Swan website manager. It was great to get the Swan's together to create something that will add to the lasting memories we have of here.. Thank you too for taking Vidhya and I on your ward round in Bara. We gained a huge amount from both what we saw with you and from your teaching. I wish we had had more time to have done more. I hope I will take away your ethos for life, to work hard but always make time to enjoy everyday of it, and most importantly to enjoy the company of those around me. Best wishes Kate.
wrote on August 2, 2015
at
4:17 pm
Dear Alan. Firstly I'd like to thank you for all the fantastic days, nights and early mornings that you've let me stay at Swanage. Officially I wasn't a Swan, however your offer to make me an honorary Swan meant Swanage became my home. There's no doubt that I'll be back in Joburg and Swanage, in the future, so won't say goodbye. Instead "I'll see you just now". Thanks again for making me feel so welcome. I'll never forget this trip (one of my best yet) Best James Duffell.
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