Christmas Experiences

There's apparently a growing trend to give "experiences" rather than "stuff" for Christmas, and there are various opportunities to do that locally.

Talgarth Mill is offering bread class vouchers - learn to bake Christmas breads on Sunday December 16th. The course is a full day for four people, and the cost for all four is £125, including lunch, tea and coffee and home made cake.

The Story of Books is offering a papermaking course on Saturday 22nd December, at £10 each. Maureen Richardson, who has been making paper locally for around forty years, will be teaching a Vegetable Papyrus Workshop, making paper from carrots, parsnips, beetroot and turnips. They also have an exhibition at the moment of Wordless Books.

A bit further afield there's the Brecon Mountain Railway Santa Special, on Saturday 15th, and a Mari Lwyd Winter Solstice Eve event in Brecon, hosted by the Brecon Mummers and Brecon Mari Lwyd, on Thursday 20th. The Mari Lwyd is a decorated horse skull on a pole - traditionally this was taken around the area, and at each house would stop to have a poetry "battle" with the householders. It also involves lots of singing and making music (and pubs!). They're meeting to start processing round the town at the Brecon Tap.

Just after Christmas, on 5th January, Westons Cider Mill are holding a Wassail. The Silurian Morris side will also be there. This is at Much Marcle in Herefordshire, and the proceeds from the evening will go to St Michael's Hospice locally.