Some years ago I took it upon myself to run away from my life as I knew it, not too far you understand, but just far enough to escape from the shite life threw at me at the time and enjoy some quiet contemplation.

I ran to Laugharne in West Wales, the town synonymous with the above mentioned Dylan, but not the home-town as some would believe, as he originated from 'up the road' in Swansea. A small village typical of your usual town where everyone knows everyone, and everything there is to know about everyone. One where they are used to tourists visiting for one reason and one reason only and that is for him, who some would call a literary genius.

Why did I run? Life was completely and utterly shit and I've never done it before or since but when life seems a little too much to take, I run there in my mind. I can see the estuary and the stranded boats and the home he shared with his long suffering wife Caitlin along with the 'Boathouse' where he wrote his most famous script, "Under MilkWood'. One reference in this play is the town of Llareggub...now read it backwards and you'll see Dylan's humour, very dry witted and one whereby most of his writings were worked upon whilst totally and utterly pished!

When I arrived I felt like your proverbial alien, people were staring at the intruder, I had descended upon the town when few dared to visit given the cold spring-time and I'm sure they wondered why. I searched the town for a cheap B&B and stumbled upon one not far from the centre of the village where I was met by a friendly lady who I'm sure could see my distress. She assured me that I was most welcome and that she would give me a key if I wished to go out for the evening, and that I wasn't to worry about the 8am call for a cooked brekky, that I was welcome to get up when I felt good and she would prepare the same for me at my leisure.

As I settled myself in for the evening, I had one thing on my mind and that was to do something I had never done before, talk to strangers.

As I walked into town, I felt the most intrepidation I could possibly have wished for, but that soon melted away after a few beers and I began to 'act' like someone else, after all, I was an alien in this place and I could forgot the pain I was really suffering.

The last pub I called to was Brown's where Dylan would spend most of his time, and I was met by a most obnoxious barmaid that any god fearing alien could have wished to encounter. I approached the bar with all the politeness of a woman all alone only to be met with an abrupt sense of 'get out of ere you're not welcome' attitude. But I battled on regardless.

Only to be met with a local guy in his forties who was apparently staying at this hotel, (his wife had thrown him out because he spent too much time there in the first place) and thought he would try his luck at getting me up to his room. If he was half decent I probably would have succumbed in my drunked stupor but decided upon something much more interesting. The t.v. blared in the corner and soon ITN news broadcasted that George Bush was to be the new USA president. At this point, I told him I was in touch with my clairvoyant side and indicated how 'this man' would end the world. He told me of his woes concerning his wife and I took his hand and asked if he would like to be 'read'. He accepted and I began.

I told him of how hard his life had been and that his wife didn't necessarily want to chuck him out but that if he continued with his drinking habits and sniffing around the local brood the his marriage would be over. He looked sullen and despondent at my remarks, then commented on how I was most welcome to his room for a 'nightcap'. I looked at him sadly and gave him my regards, then made a hasty exit to the door.

It was with heavy head the next morning that I ate my breakfast and shed more tears over my shite life knowing that I must return home, always wishing that I would return one day and re-live my time spent in this cranky ole town with it's ole fashioned ways and fabulous history. I too felt at one with Dylan and his wild and wicked ways for just one night and also felt how Caitlin did when she sat at home by the fire awaiting Dylan's return from Brown's, on the very rare occasion that she wasn't there with him, flirting with the yokels and pissing him off too!!!