Hay Horse & Pony Show. Country pursuits.

Here is my favourite pony at the Hay Horse & Pony Show last Sunday. I had a chat with the young owner before asking if I could take a photo. He was very proud of himself!

It's a quite informal event, lots of people taking part, and not that many spectators. There's show jumping, in hand showing, working hunter, driving classes and dressage.

Some very smart horses, as well as the magnificently round  and hairy ponies.

My view of the day was through my car windscreen. I was writing for the dressage judge. Here is the view of the rectangular dressage arena. I won't go into the detail, but the judge parks at point C, which you can see. Point A is directly opposite, and that's where the riders enter the arena, trotting up the centre line to C. We can see if they are going in a straight line, or if their line wanders!

Here is our schedule, and the sheets that need filling in for each rider's test. Not everyone rode the same test, depending on skill and how advanced they are. Each section on the sheet represents something the horse and rider have to do, and there's a space for a mark out of 10, and a comment.

The writer needs to concentrate, and also write the judges comments very quickly, and I struggled to write both quickly AND legibly. I think I succeeded!

Here are some of the competitors queuing up to enter various classes at the beginning of the day, some no doubt thinking 'I hope the dressage judge likes me and my horse'

At the end of the day, all riders judged, we had ice cream, which I forgot to photograph before gulping it down. And then I went home feeling marvellously refreshed for having had such a different day, and with only one sunburned shoulder!

Ready for the Fair

At last, the preparations are over, and all is packed and ready for The Big Skill Craft Fair in Hay on Wye tomorrow. I really like it when it's too late to start anything new, and what I've got is what I've got!

Walking boots an absolute necessity. The fair is in a field which is already very muddy. And I think the umbrella may be useful too, although being curly haired I have no fear of rain.

I went to the fair site earlier this evening to look round and say hello. There was a lovely restored 1900 bow front caravan there. It's for sale.

Hmm, if only my front garden were a little larger. Wouldn't it be a great place to write?!

Walking by the Wye

I walk every day, regardless of weather. With the unexpected sunshine today it was a pleasure to be out, and I walked to the river, with the puddles on the path reflecting the sky.

 Walking through the field to the river there is a most lovely view, with the church tower appearing through the trees, and hills behind.

 The Wye is very full, flowing swiftly. The water level has gone down today, but it's still  high.

I often stop and say hallo to these two trees, who look as though they are conversing.

Even the rather functional bridge looked good today. It's the sunshine.

And then back through Hay, where there was a really characteristic country town traffic jam.

I was going to write a poem, but I think the pictures speak for themselves!
Happy Walking!

Caemawr Studio Exhibition Opening. Success!

Yesterday was the opening day of Caemawr Studio in Hay on Wye.

The studio looked fantastic, full of a wide range of great work.

And there were lots of people, who found their way down the track from Oxford Road at the top of the Offa's Dyke Path.

 That's Gay Funnell, the studio owner, in the lovely pink trousers.

I don't think I will ever get over the excitement of seeing people look at my work!

And I made some sales too. What a great day.

The Studio is open Thursdays and Saturdays up to 21st December.

Art Exhibition. Caemawr Studio. I'm in it!

I am very excited to be exhibiting in the opening of a new Studio in Hay on Wye. Caemawr Studio is off Oxford Road in Hay, at the top of the Offa's Dyke Path, and is a really beautiful space, overlooking fields and the mountains beyond. The Studio opens this Saturday, 26th October, at 11am.

There's Gaynor and Georgina Funnell, Sarah Putt, Tracey Thursfield, Cassie Pendle - and me!

I am presenting poetry in seed packets, poetry wall installations, and some literary finger puppets. Photos of the new Scrooge finger puppets cards to follow - at the moment the collages are in the book press.