tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36778126641394546132024-03-18T02:47:52.287-07:00Life in HayA personal view of life in the Town of BooksEigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.comBlogger4173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-48058157110114631192024-03-17T11:52:00.000-07:002024-03-17T11:52:02.451-07:00Concerts coming up<p> Hay Music are going to be busy over the next couple of months.</p><p>The New London Chamber Ensemble will be playing in St Mary's Church on Friday 12th April at 7pm. Tickets are £20, or £10 for under 25s. There are also a few free tickets for under 25s on a first come, first served basis.</p><p>This is the first time the wind quintet has come to Hay, and they will be playing a mixture of Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel and Rachel Stott.</p><p>And on 10th May, the Tippett String Quartet will be playing. <br /></p><p>Hay Music is also organising several concerts during Hay Festival.</p><p>On Saturday 25th May at 7.30pm at St Mary's Church, the Hay Chamber Choir will be performing The Dymock Poets Reimagined. Tickets are £15 from the Festival ticket office. </p><p>The concert features settings of works by the Dymock poets by seven contemporary composers.</p><p>On Sunday 26th May at 1pm, at St Mary's Church, Clare Hammond will be playing piano. Tickets are £18 from the Festival ticket office.</p><p>The programme starts with Clara Schumann and Beethoven, followed by Samy Moussa, Mozart and Cecile Chaminade.</p><p>On Saturday 1st June, The Fidelio Trio will be performing in St Mary's Church at 1pm. Tickets are £18 from the Festival ticket office.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-89194799586543473962024-03-16T07:17:00.000-07:002024-03-16T07:17:55.928-07:00HOWLS AGM at the Library<p> I would have advertised the date of this meeting on the blog - but there was a mix-up with emails. I knew that the AGM was coming up, but I hadn't got the email telling me the date. </p><p>Then I met Janet, the Chair of HOWLS (Hay-on-Wye Library Supporters) in the Deli on Thursday morning, and she told me it was that evening.</p><p>The first thing to report is that there is such a lot happening in the Library now. <span style="font-weight: normal;">Siân Platten, from Powys Library Services, gave a run down of all the different clubs and activities that go on in the Library.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Storytime is very popular, especially with small children. This involves singing, and the Library has some instruments they can hand out, but they need more, and instruments that are more suitable for small hands (and robust!). This would be things like shaker eggs and other percussion instruments. HOWLS has some money in the bank account, and it was agreed that someone would look into buying new instruments. The other thing that would make Storytime better would be finger or glove puppets, and that's being looked into, too.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lego Club is also popular, mostly for unstructured play, and there is a small Craft Group for adults that they are hoping will grow - that's on Monday evenings. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Before all the disruptions of lockdown, the Library had a session called Enchanted Hour, which usually had a speaker, often a local author. They are hoping to revisit the format - but have no budget to pay speakers. They would also like to expand the format from local authors talking about their work to green issues, which overlaps nicely with the work the Library CIC is doing in promoting local resilience. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">The CIC was responsible for organising the Citizens' Assembly at the Swan in January, discussing local food production, and the results of that meeting are being collated now. At the meeting, survey forms were filled in to give an idea of what skills people could offer, and it is hoped that those people will be able to get together and carry the project forward. A film of the meeting is being edited too, which is the sort of thing that could be shown at Enchanted Hour. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">There will be a Climate Week in June, and Mike Eccles, who has been working very hard on all this, is hoping to be able to plan an event to discuss local energy production for Hay.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Library also runs a Library of Things - the loan of ipads has been very popular, especially for children who need to do homework online, or people doing online courses. Where the loans have been long term, the county's digital librarian, Tilly, has been able to obtain some reconditioned laptops to be given to those families that need them.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Library of Things also loans out balance bikes for children who are starting to learn to cycle.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">They have a range of bags to borrow, containing sports equipment, games and activities to promote development for children (with information to help parents to use them), and memory boxes for people with dementia. These are picnic hampers containing objects on a theme, like Gardening, or On the Beach - some of the local residential homes have expressed an interest in them. They also loan out blood pressure monitors.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then there are collections of books that can be loaned out on various subjects - for people with dementia and their carers and families, or for people with particular health problems or mental health problems. There is also a collection on cancer support from Macmillan Cancer Care, and one for children on bereavement.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">There is a popular Welsh conversation group. At the moment the people taking part are mostly fluent Welsh speakers, so there is some thought being taken to start another group for beginners in Welsh.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Some families spend time in the library after school, and the school is keen to work on projects with the Library.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">From all of this, it is clear that the Library is not just a place for borrowing books - it is a vital community resource. The comment at the meeting was "We need a bigger library!"</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">It will only be possible to keep the library we have if the contract between the CIC and Powys County Council remains in force. A five year contract was signed, and it has some time to run, but negotiations for a new contract have to start eighteen months before the old one ends. This would ensure the continuation of provision of library staff, and the present opening hours. The CIC has contracted to provide £5,000 a year to pay towards the upkeep of the library, which costs about £25,000 a year to run. If they can't pay that, then the contract is broken. Around the country, councils are having to make hard decisions about funding, which usually means cutting funding to the arts and services like libraries, so it's very important that we protect Hay Library.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mike Eccles has been working very hard to get local people or businesses to support the Library by means of standing orders - anything from £500 a year down to £50 a year, and about £3,000 is being raised by this method. Hay Festival used to provide a grant to the Library, but over the last few years the management team has changed, and the consequences of lockdown have meant that they have had to rethink their financial priorities. Other big employers in Hay are the Pill Factory, Huws Grey, and Hay and Brecon Farmers. The Pill Factory chooses a different charity to support every year, so cannot be a source of continuous funding for the library.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">So the Library desperately needs new supporters, and Mike had a stack of standing order forms with him.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">To find out more about the different activities at the Library, or to pick up a standing order form (or to borrow a book!) visit the Library:</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Monday 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6pm</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thursday 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6pm</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Friday 1.30pm to 6pm</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Saturday 10am to 12.30pm</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;">And visit the Powys County Council website and StoriPowys for information about all the services the Library provides.<br /></span></p>
Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-83982648907280549642024-03-14T05:50:00.000-07:002024-03-14T05:50:55.863-07:00Local Events at Hay Festival<p> Booking opens to the public on Friday 15th March at noon - tickets are already available to the Friends of the Festival - and there are a lot of local events this year, many of them walking events.</p><p>Local authors Jasper Fforde and Owen Sheers will be speaking - this year Owen Sheers is talking about a childrens' book.</p><p>Local photographer Billie Charity will be talking to farmer and drag queen Boo La Croux (who organises Hay Pride) and farmer Ben Andrews, who is involved in Agrespect, a farming organisation for LGBTQ+ issues.</p><p>Mary Morgan will be talking about local monuments and memorials.</p><p>The man who wrote the new Muffin the Mule book, which has been on sale in just about every shop in Hay, is giving three talks.</p><p>Father Richard will be playing the organ accompaniment to A Cottage on Dartmoor in St Mary's church - I saw him do this a few years ago, and it was brilliant. It was the last silent film to be made in Britain, and has scenes showing the changeover from silent films to talkies - as well as a jealous barber and unrequited love!</p><p>Hay Writers Circle are doing an event too.</p><p>And then there's music - the Hay Shantymen will be singing, and so will the Hereford College of Arts Vocal Ensemble, the Hereford Chamber Choir and the Hay Community Choir. The Hereford College of Arts Theatre Students are performing twice - I rather like the sound of their version of Midsummer Night's Dream - or Four Weddings and a Fairy!<br /></p><p>Angela, who wrote a book about Wild Swimming in the Wye, will be leading swimming sessions from the Warren - though tickets are on the pricey side at £30 each. There will also be an illustration workshop with the theme of Save the River Wye. Since the talks last year, nothing much has changesd as far as pollution of the River Wye is concerned, sadly.</p><p>Tom True will be giving a guided tour of Hay Castle.</p><p>There's also a chance to visit Snodhill Castle, as one of the organised trips out - it's a lovely castle hidden away in the Golden Valley.</p><p>There are also Farm Walks at Trevithel Court, Maesllwch, and Llwynberried.</p><p>And there are Wayfaring Walks - the one visiting local ancient trees is already sold out, but there is also Enjoying the National Park, The National Park and its Five Missions, and a walk with a National Park Warden.</p><p>Or there's Mountain Biking in the Wye Valley.</p><p>Meanwhile there are all the big names that one might expect at Hay Festival - Lenny Henry, Rowan Williams, Judi Dench, Robert Macfarlane, Tom Holland, Rory Stewart, George Monbiot, Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Nish Kumar - and lots more. </p><p>I'm quite excited about Robin Wall Kimmerer, who wrote the wonderful book Braiding Sweetgrass, talking about plants and combining indigenous knowledge (she's a Native American) and scientific knowledge. I'm also looking forward to Maggie Pocock-Aderin, who I saw at a Winter Festival - she'll be talking about the constellations of the night sky.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-54652849080557726432024-03-10T11:17:00.000-07:002024-03-10T11:17:47.787-07:00Father Richard's Retirement<p> Father Richard Williams has been the priest in charge of St Mary's Church and St John's Chapel, Hay, St Eigon's in Llanigon and Capel-y-ffin since 2001, and he will be retiring just after Easter this year. His last Mass will be on April 14th.</p><p>He isn't moving too far away - he will be living in Presteigne, which is close enough that he will be able to come back to perform organ recitals, and accompany the silent films shown during Hay Festival. He was responsible for acquiring the magnificent organ in St Mary's and he's done a lot to promote good music in Hay.<br /></p><p>The church wardens, church council and members of the congregation would like to mark this special occasion by opening a fund for donations to give Fr Richard a gift to remember his time here. </p><p>The Church Treasurer will accept cash, or cheques made payable to St Mary's Church, with "Fr Richard Gift" written on the back. Cash or cheques can also be given to the churchwardens of the three parishes, Terry Watson or Stuart Pritchard in Hay, Jan Watkins in Llanigon and Toby Buckler at Capel-y-Ffin.</p><p>More information at info@stmaryschurchhayonwye.co.uk<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-42787140624536623862024-03-08T02:52:00.000-08:002024-03-08T02:52:23.687-08:00Authors at North Books<p> Jules at North Books is hosting a book launch on Friday 22nd March from 10am. The author is Alan Heeks, and his book is Natural Happiness. He's a local author, and there will be coffee and cake.</p><p>Then on Good Friday, 29th March, Mike Parker will be holding a book signing. He has written On the Red Hill and On the Wide Border. If anyone would like a book signed, but can't get to the shop on the day, contact Jules and she will organise it for you. </p><p>The paperback edition of On the Wide Border has just come out, and there will also be a display of black and white prints of photographs that appear in the book around the shop. Plus also coffee and cakes, because Fridays are the days they have a morning cafe session.</p><p>The Friday cafe session has also had an upgrade, courtesy of Tom Owen of Gay-on-Wye, who has made them a cabinet on wheels.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-73311644376489872342024-03-04T10:41:00.000-08:002024-03-04T10:41:36.156-08:00Hobbycraft in Hereford<p> I always seem to choose the most vile weather to travel into Hereford!</p><p>On Friday, I went into Bartrum's for some coloured paper for an art project I was in the middle of, and I happened to mention that I didn't know where to get frames from now that Wilko's has closed down.</p><p>"What about Hobbycraft?" the lady behind the counter suggested.</p><p>I had no idea there was a Hobbycraft in Hereford - and when she described where it was, I realised that it was because I'd never walked out that far from the city centre. It's in a big area of out-of-town stores near the racecourse. But it was walkable.</p><p>So on Saturday, I waited for the bus in the rain, and by the time we'd got to Dorstone, it was thick snow - very pretty, but slushy on the roads, and then the big puddles started to appear, and once we got past Peterchurch it was heavy rain again. I had an umbrella with me, but by this time I was starting to think I really didn't want to walk all that way. I was getting off the bus at the railway station anyway, so I did something I would never normally do - I got a taxi.</p><p>It was worth every penny (£5.30).</p><p>I got exactly the frames I needed in Hobbycraft, and made a few mental notes of what else they stock for the future.</p><p>I did walk back into the city centre - and treated myself to a half of Rev. James bitter in the Lichfield Vaults. They now have their own tshirt, with the slogan Wish You Were Beer, and a parody of the famous Pink Floyd album cover with the white light hitting a triangle and becoming the whole visible spectrum - only in this case the light is hitting a pint glass.</p><p>It was still raining on the way back, with most of the usual puddles along the Golden Valley full of water, but the snow had stopped. I got chatting to a lovely chap from Pontypridd, who was intending to go out early on Sunday morning up to Storey Arms to climb the hill to see the sunrise. <br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-35508418598876451202024-03-03T09:52:00.000-08:002024-03-03T09:52:03.051-08:00Patriotic Post Box Topper<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWkI_X_V6td0ut4xFEj-NcOH4-3mYj_liQ7eDGxJNoMyky8nL_9Pe2FCylyg7S8ohkwDq-r_a7Vk2AgGCrnU0YCIN2o-LKrn3-u70n6C41psz1qkUX9jinRIvDwxP1sJMpHZ2HKeZDLQiuu5yYEfht21ZBkww3a13nR5yMcGh9kafxObI7puax_Qp6lE0/s4896/DSCF0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWkI_X_V6td0ut4xFEj-NcOH4-3mYj_liQ7eDGxJNoMyky8nL_9Pe2FCylyg7S8ohkwDq-r_a7Vk2AgGCrnU0YCIN2o-LKrn3-u70n6C41psz1qkUX9jinRIvDwxP1sJMpHZ2HKeZDLQiuu5yYEfht21ZBkww3a13nR5yMcGh9kafxObI7puax_Qp6lE0/s320/DSCF0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Dragon, Leek and Daffodils!<br /><p></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-3974101441385864002024-03-02T08:16:00.000-08:002024-03-02T08:16:12.348-08:00Grand Opening of the new Red Cross Shop<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4koMaSz7dVv18xZIbvPGuCzpjiK9tGwtIfgpacip-b1RZBFLHM74cMUr8SbBXxBWOZJfrpJN46qRvS1oVWGyf67MyzvyIG-A9rDN4o46ulFu5F7RZTqjB2ckqt2WfOTFjjR6hif1YGqnX2xHfDHkFnKbQhdNYbibXyFI3RQLty_C633uTqikv5rhpNzB/s4896/DSCF0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4koMaSz7dVv18xZIbvPGuCzpjiK9tGwtIfgpacip-b1RZBFLHM74cMUr8SbBXxBWOZJfrpJN46qRvS1oVWGyf67MyzvyIG-A9rDN4o46ulFu5F7RZTqjB2ckqt2WfOTFjjR6hif1YGqnX2xHfDHkFnKbQhdNYbibXyFI3RQLty_C633uTqikv5rhpNzB/s320/DSCF0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I took this picture from the old Red Cross shop, looking towards the new Red Cross shop. The old Red Cross shop will continue to sell clothes, while the new shop will sell books in the unit closest to the door, and home furnishings and knicknacks in the further unit. There's also a rack for LPs in the further unit.<p></p><p>This corner has been empty for quite a while, so it's nice to see it occupied again.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-73991542453083811372024-03-01T00:29:00.000-08:002024-03-01T00:29:33.089-08:00Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dncB7a1uAOAgxrexZjvKJMomcDjzNAgjDExmDGgwTAJYcDOrP8FSfxYbsGXLH4r3MuoZED2E9-6B3iWLxBIjD7hZuIL7wnBjsZSxmPjrsG1iHPvE7YdrUWBCBt_pKfzZ3lsFUgo9O_3ospM1UtX3JbbQGylfMZG6aB8IBOyKVJoCN-lQN7qC9SF3LbkV/s2160/Devin%20Elle%20Kurtz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dncB7a1uAOAgxrexZjvKJMomcDjzNAgjDExmDGgwTAJYcDOrP8FSfxYbsGXLH4r3MuoZED2E9-6B3iWLxBIjD7hZuIL7wnBjsZSxmPjrsG1iHPvE7YdrUWBCBt_pKfzZ3lsFUgo9O_3ospM1UtX3JbbQGylfMZG6aB8IBOyKVJoCN-lQN7qC9SF3LbkV/s320/Devin%20Elle%20Kurtz.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>Happy St David's Day to all book hoarding dragons! This picture is by Devin Elle Kurtz.<br /><p></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-31536977819840898602024-02-29T05:40:00.000-08:002024-02-29T05:40:07.139-08:00Electricity Cut and Veg Stall Confusion<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qz4_44l3dukm84S4gK9FzBNsbAjPYIFfvjZgvSs59qWs2EewQgJHOCF4gq0rMEkoTjrIUzKs6_ih1xjCY_-2zGkpQnYyU457RiSBqOKWGpjxTGGdutK5vvD8LEeZSe1fQQn47Uzhy6syq2sP4-5D1fYce3TUivJVlLlLgv6jKpBH7yjk6eDmELkMYJwc/s4896/DSCF0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qz4_44l3dukm84S4gK9FzBNsbAjPYIFfvjZgvSs59qWs2EewQgJHOCF4gq0rMEkoTjrIUzKs6_ih1xjCY_-2zGkpQnYyU457RiSBqOKWGpjxTGGdutK5vvD8LEeZSe1fQQn47Uzhy6syq2sP4-5D1fYce3TUivJVlLlLgv6jKpBH7yjk6eDmELkMYJwc/s320/DSCF0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This was the view from my window earlier this morning, as the men from Welsh Water were waiting for the men from the electricity company to arrive to mend the cable. They had cut the cable while they were digging the trench for the new water pipe because they hadn't known it was there - it wasn't marked. <p></p><p>So far, they've come along the road outside the Cinema Bookshop, down Belmont Road, and are now heading along Broad Street. They are going to be digging test trenches at the top of Newport Road in a month or so to find out where the pipes are, and they've had a lady with electronic equipment walking back and forth across the road outside Broad Street Book Centre - where she reported that there were three pipes in different places across the road! It's a more complicated job than it first appears!<br /></p><p>So we were about 3 hours without power at Y Gelli Chambers, which meant that the Old Electric Shop had to close because of the lack of lights.</p><p>It's been a day of confusion all round - when I went up to the market, the veg stall had been laid out the opposite way to normal, and nobody was sure which way to queue! Usually the fruit is nearest to the Cheese Market and the veg is nearest to the Castle, and the queue goes from the onions to the oranges.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-10576480020440305672024-02-28T11:26:00.000-08:002024-02-28T11:26:59.935-08:00Borderlines Film Festival and Weekend of Mistakes<p> I've suddenly realised just how close to the weekend it is, and I still haven't mentioned two events that are starting on 1st. March.</p><p>The first is at Hay Castle, and it's called Weekend of Mistakes. It's a series of talks on money, mostly. The Library of Mistakes is an Edinburgh based charity, dedicated to learning from the lessons of financial history. The full weekend tickets are sold out, but there are still tickets available for individual events. There are talks on money-laundering, financial crisis, con artists, banks, the geopolitical ramifications of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the financial plight of Sir Walter Scott - and the Leith Whisky Bubble of 1898!</p><p>More information is on the Hay Castle Trust website.</p><p>Borderlines Film Festival starts on 1st March, and runs until 17th March, with films showing all over Herefordshire, and as far north as Oswestry!</p><p>In Hay, Booths Cinema is showing Monster on Thursday 7th March at 5pm, Blackbird, Blackbird, Blackberry on 8th March at 7pm, La Chimera on Saturday 9th March at 7pm, Snow Leopard on Sunday 10th March at 5pm.</p><p>Near to Hay, at Michaelchurch Escley, Tokyo Story is showing on Wednesday 6th March at 7.30pm, and Past Lives on Tuesday 12th March at 7.30pm.</p><p>At Brilley, the films are The Eternal Daughter on Thurday 7th March at 7.30pm and Past Lives on Thursday 14th March at 7.30pm.</p><p>Monster is a Japanese film with English subtitles, and is described as a coming of age film and thriller. <br /></p><p>Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry is a Swiss/Georgian production, in Georgian with English subtitles, and is adapted from a novel by Georgian author Tamta Melashvili.</p><p></p><p>La Chimera is an Italian/French/Swiss production in Italian and English, with English subtitles, and involves a British archaeologist in Tuscany.</p><p>Snow Leopard is a Tibetan film, in Tibetan and Chinese with English subtitles, as a family disagrees about what to do with a snow leopard that has been mauling sheep.</p><p>Tokyo Story is a Japanese film with English subtitles, about an elderly couple visiting their children in Tokyo. <br /></p><p>Past Lives is a US/South Korean production, in Korean and English with
English subtitles, and is a love story that crosses continents.</p><p>The Eternal Daughter is a Welsh film, starring Tilda Swinton, about a hotel with a mysterious past.</p><p>Many films for the festival are showing at the Courtyard in Hereford. </p><p>More information can be found at borderlinesfilmfestival.org <br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-73664319767222750512024-02-25T10:10:00.000-08:002024-02-25T10:10:08.589-08:00Welsh Architectural Awards<p> Hay Castle has been shortlisted for the RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards for 2024.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0sVbUFWrq12V0sRkzxGLwrQlIRKAWSRjOSgst-gpOYpneNV2mjAsTC6NZIC31fzl2vIarDu1Q2eI71Dpng82Dqt0pRBZfA7JoF_bZVqz7F-1TIGcWAwYmq4PGAdbK9wfAXkVc99mFjQGh2Fa5S8X3eeTkMRo1WYGyOUbn8lXyPc-SM2hsTRMLbKbdlI4/s640/Hay%20Castle%20renovations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="640" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0sVbUFWrq12V0sRkzxGLwrQlIRKAWSRjOSgst-gpOYpneNV2mjAsTC6NZIC31fzl2vIarDu1Q2eI71Dpng82Dqt0pRBZfA7JoF_bZVqz7F-1TIGcWAwYmq4PGAdbK9wfAXkVc99mFjQGh2Fa5S8X3eeTkMRo1WYGyOUbn8lXyPc-SM2hsTRMLbKbdlI4/s320/Hay%20Castle%20renovations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>From this angle, the modern rebuilding looks quite brutalist, but what you can't see are the window shutters that were all individually made to fit, and the etching on the glass panels along the edges of the balconies. Then there's the art gallery room, and the way they've reconstructed the roof. It really does work - and it's a lot better than the ruin at that end of the building that they started with!<br /><p><br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-13805715626927025952024-02-24T03:25:00.000-08:002024-02-24T03:25:56.894-08:00Lots of Bananas<p> This Wednesday, there were boxes of bananas at the Zero Waste stall. When I went on Friday, one of the ladies in the queue said that there had been so many that they couldn't get rid of them all at the stall, so took them down to the school, where there were enough for every child in Hay School to get a free banana!<br /></p><p><br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-42888215425658823912024-02-23T03:02:00.000-08:002024-02-23T03:02:23.527-08:00Gaza at the Globe<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyfKZtI1Ol4g1w8HYCUfNuFGR5X3E8bLODmcmENXB48zW6pTOfkOSGmUPRtPpAV32d9YqDkEZUpfhiZc-z3E4dPaliy8oyyjrhZSyz231ak-VrGJCgqGWncb5DgmYtTBGpDwD1mtExOesLkaPTmQy7pt4iFFW5eSU3EpGsIOTg44dVKVqB0VspwXrpHPk/s720/Gaza%20at%20the%20Globe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="511" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyfKZtI1Ol4g1w8HYCUfNuFGR5X3E8bLODmcmENXB48zW6pTOfkOSGmUPRtPpAV32d9YqDkEZUpfhiZc-z3E4dPaliy8oyyjrhZSyz231ak-VrGJCgqGWncb5DgmYtTBGpDwD1mtExOesLkaPTmQy7pt4iFFW5eSU3EpGsIOTg44dVKVqB0VspwXrpHPk/s320/Gaza%20at%20the%20Globe.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>There will be an evening of events dedicated to the situation in Gaza and Palestine at the Globe on Sunday 25th February, from 5pm. This includes talks about the current situation in Gaza, music from Shark Bait Art Collective, Johanna Warren and Charlie James, arts and crafts and meditation from River Flow Yoga. Also there will be a raffle.<br /><p></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-54883577477866562542024-02-22T05:56:00.000-08:002024-02-22T05:56:43.412-08:00Changes for the Cheese Stall<p> This week, the Cheese Stall moved from its usual position with its back to the Castle to the end of Kieran the greengrocer's stall along the side of the market. He has taken over the running of the stall, so he's now a greengrocer and cheesemonger. There's only a small selection of the stuff the original Cheese Stall had at the moment, but he's planning to expand.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-29891391700440477092024-02-20T10:23:00.000-08:002024-02-20T10:23:10.193-08:00Japanese Events at Belmont House<p> There are two interesting events coming up at Belmont House.</p><p>The first is a Sashiko workshop. Sashiko is the Japanese style of embroidery, usually done in white on a dark blue background. This will take place on Sunday 25th February, from 1pm to 4pm, and costs £32. All the materials to make four coasters will be provided, and the tickets are available from Booth's Bookshop.</p><p>On the following Sunday, 3rd March, there will be a Hinamatsuri banquet and tea ceremony. It is Japanese Girls Day, and is open to ladies only. The cost is £50, and it begins at 6.30pm. As Belmont House does not have a drinks license, anyone who would like to have an alcoholic drink with the meal should bring their own drinks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn3iaMVfA16QuPsCQMGGrJ5ZhwAyIiNq0Lh54-h7-eDy7Aokao_03XSaXj25tb-vLwI2Mt15lgGKuLvkhfSYdG9l2GiD7HSeqaJ8MlioquEqN6r4UmK1b9dLEACcb00pwQYZP9iIQgypBybCoXNRpmISWq1RsTVoxd6QRNvpoSYNtATgk9EiHKsD17PiZ/s4080/20240217_115648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn3iaMVfA16QuPsCQMGGrJ5ZhwAyIiNq0Lh54-h7-eDy7Aokao_03XSaXj25tb-vLwI2Mt15lgGKuLvkhfSYdG9l2GiD7HSeqaJ8MlioquEqN6r4UmK1b9dLEACcb00pwQYZP9iIQgypBybCoXNRpmISWq1RsTVoxd6QRNvpoSYNtATgk9EiHKsD17PiZ/s320/20240217_115648.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jBSn6BvzqU69u9OaP4IMwMwsJoG7HDVjS_q_AMzxtFrVt4fFyPzpHFvExMhCYKuDCR8haGPYRTPboAYOZM3HXHzWRySi5ETBzCupx-_BMg_U2ihygRCjRCILf0UPfaavjcwaAqxv6smVadkXHLFDydN9IcK9qZh1SpF8xZvHnq8hAQ33n9oy84mrnqJD/s4080/20240217_115637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jBSn6BvzqU69u9OaP4IMwMwsJoG7HDVjS_q_AMzxtFrVt4fFyPzpHFvExMhCYKuDCR8haGPYRTPboAYOZM3HXHzWRySi5ETBzCupx-_BMg_U2ihygRCjRCILf0UPfaavjcwaAqxv6smVadkXHLFDydN9IcK9qZh1SpF8xZvHnq8hAQ33n9oy84mrnqJD/s320/20240217_115637.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-13597781760093094132024-02-19T10:21:00.000-08:002024-02-19T10:21:25.655-08:00Refurbishment at Spar<p> Spar has closed for a major refurbishment this week.</p><p>Last night I forgot the date and went in after work for a pint of milk, and the cooler cabinets were already empty (though someone was buying a bottle of wine).</p><p>This evening there are lorries from Yorkshire, taking advantage of the closure of Belmont Road for the water pipes to park at the top of the road without any danger of other traffic trying to pass them (though I suppose there might be one or two cars trying to get in and out of Carlesgate). As I passed, a sort of forklift on caterpillar tracks was lifting a cooler unit into the back of one of the lorries.</p><p>It'll be interesting to see how much they change the layout of the store - I remember when the present shelves went in, and it seemed more cramped than the previous layout, though everyone got used to it pretty quickly.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-60306337993280837552024-02-18T09:52:00.000-08:002024-02-18T09:52:08.168-08:00Beware of Toads<p> It's breeding time for toads at the moment, being so mild, and there is a danger that they will be squashed on the roads on the way to their breeding ponds. People have been stepping in to help, by carrying them across in buckets, but drivers should be wary, especially up Forest Road.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-51743252828159837892024-02-17T03:38:00.000-08:002024-02-17T03:38:12.476-08:00New Books in Hay<p> My mum sent me a request for the latest book in the series she's reading, and my first thought was that I'd have to go into Hereford and look in Waterstones.</p><p>Then I remembered that we now have a perfectly good bookshop selling new books in Hay - North Books on Castle Street.</p><p>When I went in on Friday morning, they were in the middle of their weekly coffee and cake session, but I didn't really have time to stop. I did find the book mum wanted, though.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-22603791728201640532024-02-16T02:33:00.000-08:002024-02-16T02:33:57.037-08:00Update on the River Wye<p> There's a full two page spread in the Brecon and Radnor Express this week about the River Wye.</p><p>The first story is about the legal case brought by River Action against the Environment Agency. They are arguing that the Environment Agency has failed to enforce important environmental regulations (which is, after all, its job), and therefore has acted unlawfully. They also argue that the Environment Agency has failed to protect the Special Area of Conservation along the River Wye from the agricultural pollution that has caused so much of the recent ecological collapse of the river.</p><p>The case was being heard in Cardiff, and a group gathered outside the court with Save the Wye banners. Feargal Sharkey was among the crowd - he was a member of the Undertones, and he's been campaigning for clean rivers across the UK. Also in the crowd was the ten foot high puppet of the Goddess of the River Wye - and there was a steel drum band.</p><p>Much of the pollution which is going into the river comes from chicken farms which supply Tesco with meat and eggs.</p><p>The legal costs of bringing the case are estimated to be around £60,000, so River Action have set up a Crowdfunder to raise the money.</p><p>On the facing page, the story is about the bid for bathing status for the Warren. I was at the meeting in the Parish Hall at the end of 2022 where the decision was made to go for this, but the wheels of bureaucracy grind very slowly, so it hasn't happened yet. Oliver Bullough, who is leading this initiative, makes the point that the bid for bathing status is the only tool the public has to get Natural Resources Wales to test the water in the river regularly (at least between May and September, the bathing season), and to do something about it if the levels of pollution are higher than the legal maximum. </p><p>The bid is supported by Hay Festival, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust and local businesses like the canoeing firm Places to Paddle.</p><p>The public consultation runs until February 19th, and there is a form to fill in at </p><p>www.gov.wales/bathing-water-review-wales-2024</p><p>Meanwhile in the Hereford Times, the ten foot puppet of the Goddess of the River Wye turned up at the Herefordshire Council's offices in Plough Lane. She was escorting a container of water from the River Wye to display in the atrium of the building - a reminder of the importance of the health of our rivers, for the councillors to take into consideration when they are making decisions. <br /></p><p><br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-48314523372202781082024-02-14T10:48:00.000-08:002024-02-14T10:48:30.156-08:00Golden Plovers and Other Rare Birds<p> Ellie Spencer, on Facebook, shared a post from the Radnor Bird Blog which is quite concerning.</p><p>It seems that Powys County Council plan to use some of their "Levelling Up" money to improve the surface of the Monks Trod path up the Elan Valley to make it suitable for motorised off roaders (such as 4x4s and scrambler bikes).</p><p>The funds are usually used to improve roads and public transport rather than footpaths across peatland which is home to a number of rare birds - golden plovers nest there, as well as curlew, merlin, ring ouzels and red grouse.</p><p>Motorised transport was banned on the Monks Trod in 2002, because of the damage it was causing, but in 2021, motorbikes were again allowed. The byway crosses a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation, so it's one of the most legally protected areas in the country. Theoretically. Before 2021, and the opening up of the byway to motorbikes again, a Habitat Regulations Assessment was carried out by Natural Resources Wales, and they recommended that the path should not be resurfaced at the moment.</p><p>The Monks Trod was originally built by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, so they could walk from Abbey Cwm Hir to Strata Florida Abbey, a distance of about twenty miles. A blog called Exit Street View describes a walk along the Monks Trod last summer, when the writer took photos of the damage caused by 4x4s along the route - it's a fragile landscape, and the scars linger. </p><p>There is a bothy along the trail for walkers to stay overnight.</p><p>There will be a meeting at Powys County Council next week about this proposal, and anyone who is concerned should contact Councillor Jackie Charlton on cllr.jackie.charlton@powys.gov.uk<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-48852441493976246082024-02-13T10:31:00.000-08:002024-02-13T10:31:20.492-08:00Hay Pride Events<p> Hay Pride are holding a couple of events over the coming weeks.</p><p>Queer Rural Connections and Queering the Wye are holding a free screen printing workshop with the Yard Print Studio at the Globe from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday 22nd February and from 4pm to 7pm on Monday 26th February. Everyone is welcome, from complete beginners to seasoned artists, but booking is essential - contact @queeringthewye for further details.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-75662367568654498122024-02-12T10:46:00.000-08:002024-02-12T10:46:33.735-08:00Piano Music at St Mary's Church<p> The next Hay Music concert will be on Sunday 18th February at 3pm. Tickets are £17.50, or £8.00 for under 25s, and refreshments will be available.</p><p>Emilie Capulet will be playing a range of music on the piano, including Claude Debussy, Ravel, Beethoven, and two composers I'm unfamiliar with - Henri Tomasi and Litha Efthymiou.</p><p>Then on Friday 15th March at 7.30pm at Hay Castle, the Mikeleiz-Zucci Duo will be performing Contradance, music for accordian and saxophone. Tickets are the same price as the earlier concert. The line up of music includes Spanish and Romanian dances, Bach and tango.</p><p>On Saturday 16th March, the Duo will be at the Globe from 8pm for Tango from the Globe. Tickets are £12 or £6 for under 25s. There's also the opportunity to have a pre-event supper at the Globe's restaurant.</p><p>All the details are at www.haymusic.org.<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-28576803357245576102024-02-11T10:43:00.000-08:002024-02-11T10:43:53.259-08:00Pro-Palestine Demonstration in Hereford<p> I needed to go into Hereford on Saturday, for some Important Business, and I came across a small but enthusiastic pro-Palestine demonstration, complete with samba band and placards calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.<br /></p><p>It was the samba band I heard, at first, so I wandered over to the corner by the HSBC bank to see what was going on, and had a short chat with one of the ladies involved. They weren't specifically targetting HSBC - they were doing a circuit of the town centre. There were a couple of placards naming HSBC, but I didn't get close enough to the people holding them to find out what the bank's involvement might be. </p><p>So I did the things I needed to do, and caught up with them again outside Barclays bank, where I had a lovely chat with one of the chaps involved. Here, they were drawing attention to Barclays bank's complicity in the situation in Gaza. To quote their leaflet: </p><p>"Whether intentionally or not, Barclays has helped facilitate Israel's indiscriminate killing of more than 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza." They are also calling for a boycott of Barclays until the bank ends its support of Israel, and more generally are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.</p><p>I hope the governments of the world listen to all the calls for a ceasefire, and do something to stop the Israeli government, before even more people are killed (many of them, of course, children - half of the population of Gaza is under the age of 18).<br /></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677812664139454613.post-29323195304499882742024-02-10T00:58:00.000-08:002024-02-10T00:58:06.895-08:00Happy Chinese New Year<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXxGWvgg3ffnNH9V2iZdmzdjCQhjFmdRqUsvi_xlzzNx9mIlNdwWIDteRKI20xupooIpIzCo7MNdhhb_i7R0WoE8lxYk0bkndiMuNNeFL5gDHTQYW7emyFcGOydDO3GrhVTYKBJTX_HCtom4joOlhxCuV-U0ReT81NRX0AnxS_VxsQUBks-ip82EirK0Y/s960/yin%20yang%20dragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXxGWvgg3ffnNH9V2iZdmzdjCQhjFmdRqUsvi_xlzzNx9mIlNdwWIDteRKI20xupooIpIzCo7MNdhhb_i7R0WoE8lxYk0bkndiMuNNeFL5gDHTQYW7emyFcGOydDO3GrhVTYKBJTX_HCtom4joOlhxCuV-U0ReT81NRX0AnxS_VxsQUBks-ip82EirK0Y/s320/yin%20yang%20dragons.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>It's the Year of the Dragon!<br /><p></p>Eigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11368838188678418192noreply@blogger.com0