Caban Coch dam. Massive waterfall. Unbelievable noise!

 Approaching the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, the sight of a wall of water behind the buildings.

The Caban Coch dam overflowing in a magnificent waterfall. The air was full of rain and spray, and my clothes were soaked as I walked closer. I could feel the power of the water reverberating through me. The sound took my breath away.

It was an overwhelming sight.

On the ledge of one of the buttresses, in the middle of the waterfall, I saw a tree. You might be able to see it on the far left, a faint outline. How is it surviving the force of the flood?

And, facing away from the roaring torrent, in the distance a beautiful rainbow.

It was a place of wonder.

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!

fisher kings. heron haiku. letterpress printing.

My father loves herons, so I decided to write a haiku and letterpress print it for his Christmas present.
I found a lovely page from an old magazine. The colour is just wonderful, and the paper has a lovely sheen and texture.

The haiku is called fisher kings, so the first task was to print the title. I use a Caslon wooden titling font for this, and gold ink.

It's rather nerve wracking printing onto a unique image, as there is only one chance to get it right! I do practice first of course!

And the title is finished.

Then to typeset the haiku. I use a second hand 12 point Times font for this, and black ink.

The old letters give a lovely impression, not at all uniform, and with minute variations that I really like.

And then it is finished. Ready to mount.

I really like this way of presenting poetry, particularly haiku, and am going to do a lot more of it next year. Trying to make my additions to an existing picture look as though they were always part of it.

found ampersand number 5

I am confronted by ampersands continually - and have stopped photographing those made by my own curly hair, by elastic bands, and by pieces of bailer twine on the floor of the stable yard, but I rather like this one.

It's a piece of string tied to a stable door. You can just make out the horse behind it, with a warm stable rug, and a bed of straw.

I think that one of the reasons we love ampersands so much is that they occur naturally, all around us!

found alphabet number 9. The letter k.

The letter k is added to my found alphabet collection - formed from the fallen stalks of virginia creeper leaves.

I haven't seen a found letter since August, so am rather pleased with this, especially as it is the initial of my surname.

I think it's about two years now that I have been looking for letters. The rule is simple - the letter has to be have been made without any human intervention. I have been very tempted a few times to help a letter emerge, but no, I have remained strong!

Poetry. Richard Booth's Bookshop, Hay on Wye

I have some poetry seed packets for sale in the renowned Richard Booth's bookshop in Hay on Wye!

It's an impressive venue.

My poetry seed packets are upstairs in the beautiful room that looks like a film set.

You'll need to look for them as they are very discreetly displayed, near the till.

On Wednesday 10th December there is a concert at the bookshop given by the Mavron Quartet. One of the pieces on the programme is a new piece by Peter Reynolds which takes its title from a line in one of my poems in the Mythical Beasts collection, footsteps quiet in the shadows. I am going to read the poem before the Mavrons play the piece. After the concert I am hoping that some of the discreetly placed poetry seed packets will leave to take root in other homes!

Richard Both's Bookshop, telephone 01497 820 322
www.mavronquartet.co.uk
http://petereynoldscomposer.blogspot.co.uk/

WMC Christmas Fair. The gazebo of poetic delight.

Two more days in the foyer of the Wales Millennium Centre, in my gazebo of poetic delight.

The beautiful foyer transformed into a tented shopping street, with the second weekend of the Christmas Fair.

And poems, finger puppet cards and other cards finding lots of new homes.
I am completely talked out.
I had a wonderful time, but am hoping not to have to speak much for the next few days!

WMC Christmas Fair. Let there be poetry & fingerprint robins!

Phew - what an amazing weekend at the Wales Milennium Centre Christmas Fair!

And there's another one to come this weekend, 7th and 8th December.

 Here I am in my little gazebo, in the foyer of the Centre, with a lovely name printed for me above the stall, and fairy lights too.

I sold a great deal more than I had anticipated, and so this week have been making more things in a deranged and increasingly sleep deprived fashion - and loving it!

The fingerprint 12 Robins of Christmas cards were very popular,

so I will taking more of these, along with the 12 Bluebirds of Happiness, the 12 Blackbirds of the Apocalypse, and the 12 Lovebirds of Romance. OH - a lots of poetry too, of course!

Really looking forward to the weekend in this lovely building

Wales Millennium Centre Christmas Fair,

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December

11am - 8pm

www.wmc.org.uk/christmas