Almost like the old days- Llanfihangel Helygen

 Today we had to go out (beyond Llandrindod Wells - known by the locals as "Llandod") to go and pick up a replacement UV bulb for the water system, and a spare filter (we have one spare, but as we were there, it made sense to get another as the spare one here is about to be used).  The bulb lasts a year, the filter 3-6 mths.  The water here is not spring water, as it was at the old house, but from a holding system which have not had sight of yet - we suspect it is a lake! judging by the amount of mud in the filtration system . . .  Anyway, the UV kills any bugs and we have been boiling all the water (as advised by vendor with stick-on label over the tap!!)

Tam came with me, and we navigated across country (by far the quickest way) and spotted a lovely old church on the way, and on our return journey, stopped to investigate.  It is Llanfihangel Helygen (St Michael in the Willows)- though now surrounded by oaks and a couple of yew trees.  It was - not surprisingly - locked and we couldn't see much through the windows, but we will go back in better times and explore.  It is in my book "Wales's Best One Hundred Churches" by T J Hughes.

The small font is Norman, and the church dates to the 11th C.  Built in the Radnorshire vernacular style, inside it has a triple pulpit and 14th C beams.

I doubt that it ever serviced a large population - in the 1851 census there were just 97 parishioners, with names like Morgan, Lloyd, Morris and Hamer.  Strangely, when I was sat in the car in town tonight, waiting for Tam to come back with our fish and chip supper (we spent all afternoon making up a bed so now our mattress is off the floor), I looked across at Morgans the butchers, and saw an earlier plaster sign inscribed with "Hamer & Son, Family Butchers."  An unusual surname - not one I've heard in Wales before.

Anyway, we are still trying to get things straight here but having to change furniture around to try and provide the most useful storage (out goes a a linen wardrobe that was middle daughter's and in its place will go its partner, a storage unit which is lower and longer and has more useful shelving).  That is somewhere at the back of one of the stalls of course, and needs to be clambered to and then rebuilt whilst the other must be dismantled and take its place!  We are three big storage cupboards short here, having sold them with the old house.

    Anyway, bedtime calls.  Hopefully a good night's sleep now I don't have to roll in and out of the bed on the mattress on the floor!