Yesterday we did a little detour on the way back from Hay, so that our daughter could see this beautiful little church - and we weren't averse to seeing it again either. This is St Ellyw's church, at Llanelieu near Talgarth.
These 7th - 9th C Celtic-type crosses make it very special for me. Someone had marked out this spot as exceptional all those centuries ago when Christianity was in its infancy in Wales.
A small gravestone with the grass cut back so the inscription shows.
Above and below: the very unusual 14th/15th C screen, painted in red and stencilled with white roses and the ghostly impression of a now lost rood or crucifix.
Cleaning the Medieval painted walls revealed part of the royal coat of arms.
The Aubrey family lived in a house nearby, and this memorial is in tribute to a 17th C son: Here Lieth the body of Thomas Aubrey, son of William Aubrey, Gent, who departed this life the nine and twentyth day of October Anno Domini 1669 Age 4 (or 14 - bless him).
The Parish Chest - probably 15th C.
Black Mountain seen beyond the churchyard.
Then we drove up the hill and stopped for photos. Perfect weather and views in every direction.
Pen-y-Fan in the distance (above).
I have spent the last week or more tidying up the house, washing the paintwork, making it all clean and tidy everywhere as we had another viewing booked for today. Unfortunately, due to the Severn Bridge being closed due to an accident last night, and 6 mile tailbacks, the person coming to view had to turn around and go home. However, they have booked in again for a couple of weeks' time, so fingers crossed I can keep everywhere pristine meanwhile!
So, once I had waited for my bread to bake (you know, that smell of freshly-baked bread is meant to be encouraging to people viewing!!) we set off for Hay-on-Wye. Our daughter Tam is here at the moment, and we thoroughly enjoyed walking round the market and chatting with friends in the town.
Some of the million pound scaffolding has been taken down and the walls are looking a bit more stable now they have fresh mortar where needed.
Round the market today.
I was quite taken by this painting (and a few others in the same style).
Sorry, I didn't get enough of a close up so you could see what they were selling.
Sadly this didn't photograph well but it was a lovely painting.
Very French Chateau . . .
The wonderful Chandalier Shop.
Inside the Antiques Emporium.
Flower Power in Hay.
A double Delphinium of a beautiful hue. I MUST have one of these in my next garden!
Finally - now THIS is what I call a hanging basket!
My usual walk. Some good lighting so interesting photos. Eldest Daughter here, so no time for words. Enjoy.
Bank Holiday Monday is always a very busy day at Malvern Flea Market, when the world and his wife comes to peddle their wares. The weather was good - misty to start with, which meant a tiring drive up there, calling on concentration (I did all the driving because of Keith's recent cataract op). Anyway, here are a few photos from the inside stalls.
The trio Vintage Class who sing a repertoire of 40s and 50s music.
Quite the ugliest rocking horse I have ever seen! The maker was obviously not strong on horse anatomy . . .
In the Avon Hall are 8 or 10 huge wall photos of the Malverns area. Here is one of them.
This stall always has interesting stock.
Finally, the obligatory view across the fields a few roads up from the showground.
My buying plan was totally different this time as I was looking for period jewellery, about which I know very little, but Tam tells me I bought some nice thing (and none of them were expensive). I love this paste or glass pendant, which Tam thinks dates to about 1900. I will know more when she comes to stay in a couple of weeks' time.
The Swallows and House Martins (I think the latter are still here) are forming disorderly lines on the power cables between our house and the farm. My heart sank when I saw them as I don't want them to leave yet. They have been flying around, getting higher and higher until they were out of sight. Then some came down and sat at the top of the twiggy-topped Ash trees at the side of the yard. They were chattering away whilst I picked Damsons and then some blackberries (both in the yard so I didn't need to go far).
Before migration was known about, country folk used to think they spent the winter in the bottom of ponds. Hmmm - logic a little dim on that one I think . . .
Their chatter and swooping about brings me such pleasure and it's so quiet after they have left. I can't wait for them to arrive in April - we had a pair on 7th April, then a singleton, but more must have arrived in early May as 3 birds didn't have THIS many youngsters!!! I think the Swifts have already left - I didn't see or hear any in Hay last time we were there - and soon these will be heading South. We still have warm weather heading up from that way, so I doubt they will want to fly into a headwind, so perhaps we have another week or so with them. Safe journey.
On Thursday, we went to Gloucester to auction, and then on to Nature in Art, an Art Gallery and Museum showing amazing artwork and sculptures,carved wood etc. It is just two miles from Gloucester, at Twigsworth. We went to see the Exhibition of work by Norman Thelwell, whose pony cartoon books I had as a child, but he was a serious artist too and was ahead of his time as he seemed to have a real grip on what was threatening the countryside. Alongside this was an exhibition of goldwork embroidery - gosh, some talent there - and of course the main delights in the form of wonderful art work.
Just the first room we went into blew you away with the incredibly skilled paintings. A huge canvas of a magpie by Henry Bismuth: https://natureinart.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/thumb/HenryBismuth.jpg
Elephants by David Shepherd: https://natureinart.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/thumb/DavidShepherd.jpg
and a lion by Anthony Gibbs which was so real we expected it to step off the canvas and into the room. I thought if I touched its mane, I would feel the very texture, it was so realistic. https://natureinart.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/thumb/AnthonyGibbs1.jpg
Outside were some wonderful sculptures including a pair of cheetas running and, below, this lovely carving of an owl.
Now it's the Bank Holiday weekend. We don't normally go into town because of the snarl up of traffic, but Keith had his 2nd cataract operation scheduled today, so we got some shopping at the same time. We went down to Aldi for some bits, then had to queue for 15 minutes to get OUT. Crazy.
The operation went smoothly and I hope will make a difference to his vision, although this eye is the one with the astygmatism, so possibly just a bit clearer than it was rather than sharper vision. We shall see.
Enjoy the Bank Holiday - looks like it will be dry and sunny here anyway.
