Going to the Dentist Can be Frustrating

Last week, I went for my six monthly check up at the dentists.
I've had minor trouble with my gums for years, and this time the dentist recommended that I see the hygienist.
So I came out and booked an appointment with the receptionist.
Then I noticed the sign on the desk. The hygienist is a Private service (I'm NHS) and costs £36 a session. Neither the dentist nor the receptionist mentioned this until I saw the sign and asked about it.
I decided to go ahead with the appointment anyway, and got the time off work to go.
So - I went in today, and I waited, and waited and waited, and after 25 minutes I got up and put my coat on and came away. I have no idea where the hygienist was or what she was doing, but I wasn't prepared to hang around any longer.

Gone to Glasbury

The Old Electric Shop is now empty again - it took most of yesterday to move all the vintage stuff out. They're not going far, though - only to Glasbury, where they will be open by appointment at The Grange.

Totally Locally

I've been seeing these signs in shops around town - and not only shops. I think the first one I saw was in the Swan Hotel. It seems there's a national campaign to encourage people to shop locally, and keep their money circulating in the local economy instead of having it sucked away by big business. There's a website for the national campaign at www.totally-locally.co.uk, and a local website for Hay at www.totallylocallyhay.co.uk. They can also be found on Facebook.
There will be a public meeting on Wednesday evening at 7pm at the Swan to talk about the campaign and how it can help Hay's local shops. Andrew Williams from Eighteen Rabbit, the Fairtrade shop at the Castle, is organising it.

Caemawr Studio

Now I don't have a dog to walk, it's surprising what I miss! The last time I came down the Offa's Dyke Path opposite the castle, this building wasn't here! There was an old brick building instead, which was always locked up. When Islay was still mobile, I used to put my washing in the launderette, and come down here every week. We walked across two or three fields up the Dingle, and got back in time to take the washing out of the machine and put it in the dryer. But I never took her down here in her trolley, because it wouldn't fit through the kissing gate, and she's been dead for nearly two years - so it must be at least four years since I last came this way.
And now here is this lovely little artist's studio, with the most wonderful views up Cusop Dingle from those corner windows. That's where the new exhibition space is, with Georgina Fussell's studio above, and that's where I was yesterday morning, Bucks Fizz in hand, admiring the art work and chatting. I loved the mask for Fantastic Mr Fox by Cassie Rendle, and the industrial landscapes with birds which were upstairs - I came away with a card showing a high building somewhere in Bristol with a flock of pigeons against a grey sky. There were some very good portraits too - and I'm sure the picture of two dogs sharing a cushion must be Hartley and his little friend Daisy from Bull Ring Antiques.

Small Business Saturday

Red Indigo Indian restaurant - they do very good meals there.
The part of the building nearest the camera was once a chip shop, and later the XOX Organic takeaway. The main part of the building was once the Wine Vaults hotel, and for a while it was a restaurant called the Penny Bun.

Work Begins at the Cheesemarket

Exhibition on the Offa's Dyke Path

Caemawr Studio is just down the Offa's Dyke Path opposite the Castle, and from 26th October they will be staging an exhibition of several different local artists' works. Tracy Thursfield knits, Sarah Putt is a painter and also works in other media, Cassie Rendle is the maker of masks which were recently featured in the Sunday Times, and they are joined by Francesca Kay and Gaynor and Georgina Funnell. The exhibition will last until 21st December and will be open from 11am to 5pm from Thursdays to Saturdays.