They usually choose a theme for each issue, and the theme for this one is paper. Hay is very dependent on paper, in the form of second hand books, but we don't usually think much about the paper they are made from. So they start with a history of paper, from Ancient Egyptian papyrus to modern wood pulp (inspired by a French scientist called Rene Antoine Ferchault de Reaumur, from his observations of wasps' nests). After a fairly general session last week, this meeting was more focussed on the up-coming climate action on October 7th and the weeks following that. I was inspired to do some research after seeing the film - the balloon flight in the film was actually made with a male colleague, and Amelia Wren was fictional, but based on some real lady balloonists of the time. There are plenty of great pubs in the area. For historical character, I'd recommend The Rhydspence Inn, a medieval timber-framed coaching inn about five miles out of town. Llanthony Priory, a former Augustinian monastery, is a real historical gem too. Worth it for the magnificent drive through the mountains as much as the ruin itself. In Hay, don't miss burrowing around the second-hand bookshops of course. They're a veritable warren of secrets and surprises.

The walking book didn't even mention the hill fort which is clearly marked on the OS map by Poston Lodge (I'm beginning to think it is of dubious usefulness), and this looked far more interesting, especially since both the Lodge and the hillfort are described in Pevsner. Poston Lodge was built as a hunting box in 1780. So is there a chance these mites will migrate out of the bales and crawl away? (Thinking of storing outside under tarp rather than infest shed) When Oliver Balch wrote Under the Tump, his book about living in the Hay area, he interviewed the people who ran the cattle market. They had seen a decline in the use of the market over the years, since it is quite a small, local one. There were presentations, too - Mary Fellowes got a special certificate, which they'd managed to keep secret from her, and Dial-a-Ride was presented with a Dementia Friendly sign. The lady presenting it said she thought that Hay was the first community bus service to get such an award, and it was all thanks to the enthusiasm of the office secretary, Lesley Moore. And all the volunteers got a little scroll. The service has also been awarded a Community Transport Association Quality Mark, and several awards (from PAVO and others) for Volunteers of the Year. Geoffrey Meadon died earlier this year, and someone has kindly sent me his obituary - he had a fascinating life!From Brecon to Hay, the times are now 6.47am, 9.45am, 11.45am and 15.55. From Hay to Brecon the times are 9.41am, 12.41, 14.41 and 18.46.

Outside the marquee there were food stalls selling a vast variety of take away food - Indian, goat curry, Parsnip-ship's organic and vegetarian food, Welsh pizzas, mulled wine, and more. Stagecoach, which runs the service, have said that they are concentrating their resources on the South East of Wales, where the need is greatest, but that doesn't really help those of us who live in more sparsely populated areas. Ive been reading these types of mites normally feed on other insects, not the hay itself, and have come in from the field - usually dont survive in dry bales for long, preferring 60% moisture to continue their life cycle. Water is the next point of connection. The Swan's Well behind the Almshouses is still used to provide fresh drinking water by some Hay residents, and Timbuktu is founded around the Well of Bouctou. "Tom" means "water well," and "Bouctou" means "belly button", and is also the name of the woman who owned the well originally - so both Hay and Timbuktu have a tradition of strong women founders, as Matilda de Breos was responsible for the building of Hay Castle. I remember belly dancing demonstrations, in the middle of the tiny bar - which also featured in Dandelion Dead, which was filmed in Hay in 1994. Just about the only thing they did to change it for the filming (which was set in 1923) was to take out the 1970s broken games machine.The jugglers weren't the only buskers - up at the top of the Pavement was a chap with an electric guitar who has become a regular fixture, playing something mellow. The two smaller trees in the porch were decorated with all natural materials, as Cusop Church is now an Eco Church. Regarding costs, it seems to me you get what you deserve sometimes and I would suggest you go to the Bull with an open mind and less attitude. I was sad to hear yesterday of the death of Lucy Powell, legendary landlady of the Three Tuns before the renovations, which were done after the fire which ended Lucy's time there.