You look away for five minutes....

I've been on holiday for a little over a week (great fun, a good re-enactment show, and I recommend The Stables in Antrim for a good meal out).
Anyway, I've come back to Hay to find quite a few changes.
One of the little shops by the side of the Blue Boar, for instance, did have an artist's workroom in it until the Festival. Now it's been taken over by Drover Holidays, who do bike hire, and guided walking and cycling holidays, so the shop is full of bicycles! The owners live at Pemberton Minor, down the cobbled alleyway beside Kilvert's - I saw them yesterday evening washing down the bike wheels outside.
Up by the Castle, Nancy Palmer-Jones is looking to retire, and is trying to sell Nepal Bazaar as a going concern. As she says in her advert, it will take an unusual person to take it over, as it is quite a unique business. It's not just a case of importing clothes from Nepal (and other places). Nancy has always been a passionate advocate of fair trade, and keeping jobs in the villages.

There's also been sad news. The chap at the jewellers on High Town died suddenly - his funeral was on Friday.
And King Richard is in hospital. I understand he's had a stroke, which was then complicated by pneumonia. Prayers are being said for him in Hay church.

Happy news - Rob Soldat's book A Walk Round Hay is now on sale! He brought my free copy round a few days ago, since I typed the first draft for him.

And up-coming events - signs have gone up for the Food Fest/Sioe Fwyd, organised by the National Park. Last year there were some wonderful stalls from local food producers, as well as entertainment by local school choirs, and it looks as if it's going to be similar this year. That's going to be on 30th June.

And on 6th - 8th July there's going to be a beer festival in Hereford, organised by CAMRA.