Saturday - all the Bs. And more castles.
It was another grey day, and rain was forecast, so I decided to head for indoorsy things. The first was not too far away, at a place called Symmonds Yat (love the name) - a butterfly house! I love a butterfly house. *g* 
Then it was off to Hay on Wye, where I figured I could nip from one bookshop to another through the raindrops... although actually it hadn't started raining yet. And it didn't, at all - there was just greyness. I did notice that I was heading towards snowy mountains, but wasn't sure how close I'd get.
Found this pair of books in one shop, and thought it might make a good Guess-the-Prosfic - but then I thought it was probably too easy, so I shall just offer it up here... Excavations at Fishbourne, anyone...? *g* Hay was quite busy too - turned out it was their independence day (apparently they declared independence some years ago - sounds like the way to go to me!) I stopped for lunch - delicious vegan gyoza and accompaniments in a tiny shop with a single small table that people sat around, and chatted with the owner and each other. Gorgeous food, and a nice atmosphere! Turned out the owner was from the town where I'm staying, too!
And here's the snow - luckily higher up than I was... *g*
Next stop - Tretower Castle
There was a later manor house too.
And when you walked into the kitchen, this is what you saw! They very kindly let me go and warm my hands at the fire. *g*
The living history people were brilliant, very knowledgeable and friendly, and we chatted about butteries (where the butler was based, not where butter was made *g*) and pantlers, and where all sorts of things come from... Thresholds were the steps between rooms that stopped, for instance, the straw and such on the floors of kitchens from getting into the dining rooms where the lords and ladies presided. I love things like that!
And then the way home - which my sat nav decided needed to be more of a challenge than it could be, so took me up around the gods...
...and then down through flooded roads, and steep single-track... tracks (I swear it wasn't a road, that one!) but finally safely back.
And then there was the medieval feast! It was presided over by the Constable, who did very well - we had riddles and tales in between courses.
And of course we ate without cutlery, because they didn't have it back then, which meant very greasy fingers! Luckily they provided napkins. *g* The food wasn't terribly medieval (especially the baked potato halves *g*) - basically a Sunday roast with potage (veg soup) to start and honey cake for pudding, but it was good. And you could take your own wine. *g*
So that was Saturday - pretty good, really!
Then it was off to Hay on Wye, where I figured I could nip from one bookshop to another through the raindrops... although actually it hadn't started raining yet. And it didn't, at all - there was just greyness. I did notice that I was heading towards snowy mountains, but wasn't sure how close I'd get.
Found this pair of books in one shop, and thought it might make a good Guess-the-Prosfic - but then I thought it was probably too easy, so I shall just offer it up here... Excavations at Fishbourne, anyone...? *g* Hay was quite busy too - turned out it was their independence day (apparently they declared independence some years ago - sounds like the way to go to me!) I stopped for lunch - delicious vegan gyoza and accompaniments in a tiny shop with a single small table that people sat around, and chatted with the owner and each other. Gorgeous food, and a nice atmosphere! Turned out the owner was from the town where I'm staying, too!
And here's the snow - luckily higher up than I was... *g*
Next stop - Tretower Castle
There was a later manor house too.
And when you walked into the kitchen, this is what you saw! They very kindly let me go and warm my hands at the fire. *g*
The living history people were brilliant, very knowledgeable and friendly, and we chatted about butteries (where the butler was based, not where butter was made *g*) and pantlers, and where all sorts of things come from... Thresholds were the steps between rooms that stopped, for instance, the straw and such on the floors of kitchens from getting into the dining rooms where the lords and ladies presided. I love things like that!
And then the way home - which my sat nav decided needed to be more of a challenge than it could be, so took me up around the gods...
...and then down through flooded roads, and steep single-track... tracks (I swear it wasn't a road, that one!) but finally safely back.
And then there was the medieval feast! It was presided over by the Constable, who did very well - we had riddles and tales in between courses.
And of course we ate without cutlery, because they didn't have it back then, which meant very greasy fingers! Luckily they provided napkins. *g* The food wasn't terribly medieval (especially the baked potato halves *g*) - basically a Sunday roast with potage (veg soup) to start and honey cake for pudding, but it was good. And you could take your own wine. *g*
So that was Saturday - pretty good, really!