Saturday - all the Bs. And more castles.

[byslantedlight]

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!

Comments

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Your Saturday with butterflys and all the other things sound good to me. And let me guess, is the story "The Secret Beneath" by Sally Fell?

And good, that they let you warm your hands on that fire and that they explained so much about the old times. And the medieval feast sounds good too. It looks as if you have a lot of fun in your holiday.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

You're quite right about the story, of course! *g*

It was a fun day, a proper break day!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Your sat nav must be related to ours, which through a wobbly because we ignored its instructions to turn right (into a one-way street) and later tried to take us a cross a ploughed field.

Looks like you had a really good day, despite the promised wet weather. Enjoy today's sunshine!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's not tried to take me where there isn't a road yet - it's just that I've been a bit dubious about whether they're roads or not! So far it's been proved right each time... *g*

It was so nice, not having rain! I usually quite like winter, but I'm rather looking forward to better weather now!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an exceptional day. I can't say which I would have enjoyed the most, you managed to visit so many wonderful spots! Is the castle behind where you ate Tretower, or somewhere else?

And what a unique feast! No cutlery? Did you drink the soup straight from the bowl, or did they at least have spoons?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It was a nice day!

The castle where we ate was the one I'm staying in - St Briavel's Castle. And no, not even spoons! Forks hadn't been invented, knives were potentially threatening to the lord, and spoons... I can't remember what they said about spoons! Obviously they existed then, but... We drank our soup from the bowl, and we had bread to mop up with too. *g*

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

The Third Week in April by Ellis Ward, and The Secrets Beneath by Sally Fell - both among the favourites!

Wonderful pics again - and oh my, those manor house beams - they're basically whole trees, aren't they. Spectacular.

Hope your Sunday is just as tasty as roast and honey-cake *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten The Third Week in April as having Fishbourne in too! I was thinking of The Secrets Beneath, of course... *g*

And thank you - about the pics and for the good wishes! The hall was fairly huge and spectacular - in fact the manor house was pretty impressive just in an ordinary way, if that makes sense. It wasn't overly grand, but it was... solid. *g*

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

I suspect your SatNav was a rambler in a previous incarnation...

What a nice surprise to discover the living history people in the buttery (and their nice warm fire!)

Not sure Tretower Castle would be a good place (for the Pros lads) to take refuge in, what with it having no roof and all, but the medieval hall is amazing.

I do so love your landscape photos - the palette of misty blues and greens is very nice indeed.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

The lads would definitely get wet if they tried to shelter in Tretower Castle - they'd certainly have to huddle together... *g*

And thank you! It's surprisingly green for a dull day - maybe the contrast to the grey sky makes it stand out more... *g*