Fires go out in Wales

The Sloop at Porthgain in Pembrokeshire started building legend status a few hundred years ago, providing beer to thirsty workers at the granite quarries in cliffs nearby. It's slaked the the thirst of many since then, including many adventurers from TYF. It's current owner, Matt Blakiston, took a great step last year when he committed to stop using patio heaters when the gas that he'd already bought ran out. There's one left, and the rest are standing, unused and ready for recycling. They look great. Buy the man a beer.

Names in Hay

Spent a great afternoon checking the lists of people coming along to the four days of Hay on Earth - we're up to around 200 folk that range from the First Minister to students, chief executives to Transitioners, business leaders, activists, farmers and shop keepers.

The alchemy that this mix creates will be just what we need to create properly considered plans that take into account real questions about how to make change happen, rather than just what needs to be on the list. If you think you should be joining us, then drop an email by.

Judge a book by it's cover

Last night's stay in the lovely mid-Wales town of Brecon was a lesson in quality and hospitality that makes a stay here extra-rewarding. The Bridge Cafe is run by Jon & Carole Paish, a couple of seasoned travellers, cyclists and mountain bikers who know more about good business, quality and common sense than anywhere I've been for years (and longer). With a fine eye for simple, functional design, and consideration for the comforts that only outdoor folk appreciate - hooks above the radiators to hang dripping waterproofs to dry and maps to borrow for the day, coupled with a love of home baked bread and cakes and Jon's obsession with making the perfect cappuccino, the Bridge Cafe is testament to good business.

And then there's the books. Whilst it's good to be aware of perceptions and 'covers' when judging new people we meet, the quality of books on the shelves of a place you're staying give a better insight into quality than any grading system.

The End of the Line

One of the best things about living in small communities like St Davids is that connections somehow seem closer than they do in the big smoke. Last weekend, we had a preview screening of the End of the Line, the new film that's based on Charles Clover's well-received book, The End of the Line: How Over-fishing is Changing the World and What We Eat. As someone who's stopped eating fish 25 years ago, knowing that killing a beautiful, silver scaled mackerel was no longer justification to suage my hunger, the reminders of the scale of destruction caused by industrial fishing was stark. Folk who have never stopped to think where their poisson comes from may well change their habits. Take your friends.

go and play when you think you can't

There's a lot to do. Last Saturday was one of those days, but the spirit of play was strong enough to stop four of us getting on with small stuff, get out of bed at 5.30 on a weekend and go riding. The forest at Brechfa was magical and the Raven black run challenging in the right places. A wipe out and shoulder hurt slowed me down enough to notive the view in places that would have been blurred before. The downhills were still great.

Ade wrote some good thought on the howies brainfood blog that are worth reading here