The Hay Festival

On Friday we drive to Wales for a weekend at the Hay Book Festival. We have been treated to a cottage by Son and Daughter. Daughter comes with us in our car, while the not terribly well-kept surprise is that Son and his wife are joining us there. Well-kept or not, it’s great to see them. 

On the first night we go for a drink in nearby Presteigne village at The Radnorshire Arms Hotel in their beer garden. Then we pick up a Chinese from The Cabin which throws us as they only take cash which means a hasty trip to find a cash machine. 

Naturally we need to fit in a Parkrun on Saturday which we do at Groe aka Bluith Wells which is about thirty minutes away. L, the Lad and I run it while the three youngsters walk it. After a local breakfast we go to the Hay Festival. Son manages to not only get there before us but also manages to leave before we get there as well. We see some friends of ours there and then L and Daughter head off to see Philippa Gregory. 

The Lad and I walk around the town and along the river taking in two coffee stops. Then a third when we meet up again with L and Daughter. I have pint at Kliverts Inn while they do the shops. Then it’s L and I at a Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey talk on conspiracy theories while Daughter looks after the Lad. We also dine out at the festival. 

I am back on dog duties on Sunday as L And Daughter have two book talks. They go see David Lindo and then Elif Shafak. The Lad and I have a leisurely late breakfast at the Blue Boar café bar followed by another river walk, in the opposite direction this time. We stop for coffee at the Treehouse and a pint at the Swan. 

Interesting there is a second festival on in Hay at the same time called ‘HowTheLightGetsIn’. All one word apparently. It’s the world's largest philosophy and music festival. I quote ‘a weekend of mind-expanding ideas with political icons, revolutionary philosophers, and era-defying physicists as bold thinkers explore reality, society, and the human mind.’ But they don’t allow dogs, which is not very revolutionary, so the Lad and I skip it. 

We then meet the girls back at the Blue Boar where we meet up with our friends again before eating back at the cottage. 

We head home early on the Monday as Daughter is at work. So, I am back in plenty of time to visit my Dad and take him out to the New Inn for a beer. Then back home for a very unconventional Friday Night on a Monday with a rare takeaway from the Savera.

(Monday 26^th May)