Talgarth

I had a Day Out today, and after picking runner beans, blackberries, rasberries , cucumbers and parsley at the allotment I set off for Talgarth, at the foot of the Black Mountains, where the Black Mountains Festival is on this weekend.

I wandered round the town, to the various sounds of rock music, a silver band, a fairground ride , a stilt walker and LOTS of people! I met a few friends in the craft fair and country market and talked to a pair of large (16-17 hands) black, very smart carriage horses. I wanted to go to the newly opened water mill to have a tour and see the garden and visit the cafe and the acquaintances who run it...but, good for them, it was full! Long queues and full cafes are not my thing!!

Instead I followed the river upstream and found a tributary. I must look at an old map to see how many mills were here at one time.
This is where the mill leat runs off, to the left of where the people are standing.
I enjoyed a walk around the back lanes, seeing old houses and cottages being cared for, and orchards of fruit ready to pick.
A visit to Hay on Wye followed that, then around via Peterchurch and Pontrilas and back to The Court Cupboard Gallery for a much needed cuppa as they closed! I was lucky with the weather, only a few light showers, and only when I as in the car.

Day One of "Art in the Yard" had been a success- two days to go!

It felt odd having a day out...and odd being alone.

Two day trip

I've just been to stay with Daughter and Family, and been chauffeured by The Carpenter, and many thankyous to all concerned :-).
My car was almost ready, but better to have it finished properly before I use it again.

We had a wander around Aberystwyth yesterday afternoon. If I had to live in a town, it is one I wouldn't object to. It is a bit far from Our Mountain though!!
Two salt pots were chosen and paid for after supper, a commission that had given problems, as they do!!
Then Daughter helped sort which pots to submit for the Christmas Market submission. Sometimes you need another point of view when your head just grinds to a halt!

Today started a little chilly but soon got hot. Everyone else was out of the house soon after seven a.m. We got to Aberystwyth again at about 9am.
Pots duly labelled and priced, then delivered to the Arts Centre. I'll know yea or nay within a month.
I treated us to a chocolate brownie and a chocolate orange tiffin from the Arts Centre cafe, a place of marvellous food! Then we were headed back on the road again. Driving was tiring for driver and passenger alike today, and a break in Talgarth was welcome. We had a legstretch walk around the town.
The water powered flour mill in the centre of Talgarth has been restored, and there is a cafe and bakery using local wheat and tours around the mill (£3.50 for an adult) They have done marvellous work there. I bought a programme for the Talgarth Festival which is over the August Bank Holiday....perhaps I'll go?

Back on the hot road again for the last push to home, over Llangynidr Mountain and down the Ebbw valley to Cwmcarn.

There on the mat was a nice welcome...and the Mouse's Cheese Bell is on its way now!

I've been back for about three hours...I've lunched....and stopped....I'm sitting on Our Sofa, with the afternoon sun streaming in the window, and it is reasonably quiet.

Time to get supper on the way early, then get up to the garden when its cooler, before the midges start biting!!