A Spell to Lift the River

 I went pottering around the edges of Hay yesterday, because it was such lovely sunny weather, and I took a few photos of the streams I came to.

This morning I posted some of the photos on the Lift the River Facebook page, and I found that they have found a fun way to encourage people to take part in the project.

The first ten people who post photos, videos, or even sound recordings will be awarded a framed copy of "Spell to Lift the River" by poet Jean Atkin.

This is a pool on the footpath up to Hay Common, just above the Cemetery.

Pottering Round Bronllys

 I took the OS map with me to Bronllys, but I didn't want to go too far, or off the beaten track, in case I did have an adverse reaction to the Covid jab.

So I started by walking up Pont-y-Wal Lane, up the hill and round the back of the Hospital grounds.  I went a little further than Pont-y-Wal Farm, and stopped to admire the view and watch the red kites gliding overhead.

I've never seen so many red kites on the same day in this area.  There was one over Hay car park when I was waiting for the bus, four or five over Talgarth, and three or four more over Bronllys.  By the end of the day I was getting quite good at picking out their silhouette, even without seeing the forked tail - they're very elegant birds.

I was also delighted to see some long tailed tits in the woodland as I was coming back down the lane.

Back in the main village, I went to look round the churchyard.  I'd forgotten that St Mary's Bronllys has a medieval detached bell tower.

I sat in the church porch for a while, reading my book (Time's Anvil by Richard Morris - I was reading the bit about Ice Ages), drinking my flask of coffee and nibbling my biscuits.  And a clementine - I don't survive entirely on chocolate!

A little further along the same side of the road as the church is a moated site, at the end of the cul-de-sac Fosse Way.

Here's a corner of the moat:

The paper timetables at the bus stops bore no relation to the actual times of the buses, but I had written down the correct time before I came out - 4.10pm, after which there were no more buses until Monday morning.  So I got to the bus stop in plenty of time.  The bus was on time, which was good, because it was getting pretty cold and blustery by the time it came.

Going for the Covid Jab

 When I first got the letter with an appointment for a Covid jab, they wanted to send me to Builth Wells, at around 6pm.  Which is impossible on public transport.  When I phoned up to re-schedule, though, the ladies at the other end of the phone were very helpful, and managed to find me an appointment at Bronllys hospital, at a time when I could get there and back by bus.

The next thing to do was to check that the bus times were right - I haven't been on a bus for months, after all.  There is a 20 minute discrepancy between the paper timetable at the bus stop and the timetable online.  A phone inquiry was inconclusive, but an email confirmed that the online time (20 minutes later than the paper timetable time) was correct.

I turned up early anyway, just in case, but the bus did come just after 12.41, which was the online time, dropping me right at the entrance of the Hospital in plenty of time for my appointment.

The vaccination centre is easy to find - it's in the Concert Hall, the first building you come to when you walk up the drive, and everyone there was friendly and helpful.

I'd taken my own mask, but I was issued another at the door, and some hand sanitizer.  I just had to confirm my details at the desk - I'd taken my passport as ID, but I didn't need it.  I was seen very quickly - they've set up a line of cubicles along the hall, and the lady who did the injection was lovely.  I can't remember when I last needed to be injected with anything (dentists don't count), so I was expecting it to be more painful than it was - just a very slight pinprick.

I got a little card with the vaccination details - I had the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and I should get the second jab in eleven weeks' time.

I then stepped out of the other side of the cubicle to a row of chairs, and sat down for 15 minutes.  The Army was helping there - it was a corporal who showed me to my seat.

And then it was done - and I had two hours to wait for the bus back to Hay!

I was warned by other people who have had the vaccine that I might feel like death warmed up today, but I've been one of the lucky ones, because I feel fine.

Citizen Science and Codwch Yr Afon/ Lift the River

 Just recently, a group called Friends of the Upper Wye was formed to monitor the pollution in the River Wye - after a summer of algal blooms turning the river green.  The group is researching the factors that are leading to the pollution of the river, such as agricultural pollution, sewage, and the effects of climate change.  With the help of Cardiff University, the Environment Agency and the Wye and Usk Foundation, the group is now designing a citizen science programme to monitor water quality from Plynlimon down to where the Wye meets the Lugg at Mordiford in Herefordshire.

They are looking for volunteers who live near the river, or a stream or brook that feeds into it, and would be prepared to monitor their local patch.

One of the local organisers is Richard Greatrex, who spoke to the Hereford Times, where I saw this story.

The group is also launching an Arts project called Codwch Yr Afon, or Lift the River, which is the brainchild of Friends of the Upper Wye member Eamon Bourke.  The project has the aim of highlighting the cultural importance of the Wye, and investigating the role that the river plays in the life of local people.

FOUW are inviting local people to submit their own River Samples, in the form of memories, photos, poems, paintings, songs, or anything else artistic and creative.

Another thing the group are working on is to apply for designated bathing water status for the length of river at the Warren.  This means that the water would be regularly tested, and the local council would display information about water quality and pollution.

The article in the Hereford Times ends with a few words from the Chair of FOUW, Dr Tom Tibbits, who talks about the importance of the River Wye for tourism, swimming, fishing, rowing, irrigation, drinking water and general enjoyment, with the hope that the natural beauty of the river can be preserved for generations to come.

The River Wye is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Friends of the Upper Wye have a website at www.fouw.org.uk.

The Castle Gates are Back!

 Walking along Broad Street at about mid-day, I was distracted by a pair of red kites flying low overhead!  I've been seeing more red kites this year over Hay, but I've never seen two together until today.  I hope they're nesting.

Then I heard the sound of a bugle from the Memorial car park, and headed up there just in time to see Kelvyn signal the end of the one minute's silence to mark a year of lockdown.

As I crossed the car park, I met a friend who pointed excitedly up to the Castle gateway.  The renovated medieval gates have been re-hung!  I couldn't get a photo, because the sun was right over the gateway, but I might go back later when it's moved round a bit.

Old Shop Sign

 

Fascinating to see the old shop sign where this shop is being renovated!  Most recently it was Eve's cafe, and was Monica's clothes shop before that.

Giant Spiders

 Be careful when you're out in the woods....

It's difficult to see the scale, but this really is a BIG spider!

Planning Application for the Library

 

Here's the planning application notice beside the old Library.  

It seems the new owners want to turn the building into four holiday let units.

Reclaiming the Streets

 About twenty people gathered at the Clock Tower last night, including one token man (and a dog!).  There were some placards for Reclaim the Night and #SarahEverard, and everyone had a lantern or candle in a jam jar.  Liz brought a bunch of flowers.

That's me, in black - photo taken by Emanation.

At 6.14pm, Ellie Spencer said a few words about us gathering to remember women who had been victims of violence, and we held a minute's silence.

We were there for roughly fifteen minutes, and even in that time we got shouted at by some young yob in a passing car.

After the minute's silence we did a circuit around Hay - the ladies serving at the two takeaway vans in the square applauded us.

I didn't speak to everyone there, but everyone I did speak to had their own stories about times they had been sexually assaulted (often on public transport) or violently assaulted - one woman had gone to the police after she was attacked and injured, and they did nothing.

So it was horrifying to see reports online later that night of what happened at the vigil at Clapham Common, where the police were the ones perpetrating the violence.  A similar vigil in Nottingham, for instance, was completely peaceful.  How are women in London supposed to feel safe when they are beaten up and arrested for gathering peacefully to remember a woman who has been murdered?  The excuse given was Covid regulations, but other protests have happened without police intervention during lockdown.

Women's Vigil

 Inspired by the recent murder of Sarah Everard, there will be a vigil held along Broad Street at 6.14pm for one minute this evening, Saturday 13th March.  Anyone taking part is asked to bring candles or torches, and to safely distance.

Signs of Spring

 

Blossom on the Riverside Path

World Book Day

 If the bookshop was open, I'd be dressing up today as the angelic bookseller Aziraphale, from Good Omens.

Aziraphale's waistcoat came from the leather stall on Hay Market, and the blue shirt from the Old Electric Shop.  I had to send off for the tartan bow tie (on Etsy), and the trousers are from M&S.

Since we're still in lockdown, I'm dressing up anyway, as the demon Crowley from Good Omens

(I'm not wearing the sunglasses today).

Crowley's trousers are vintage, from Bain and Murrin's, and the shirt and tie are from M&S.

No prizes for guessing my favourite book of the moment!

Dydd Sant Dewydd Hapus

 

How can it be March already?!