14/08/2026
B o o k s a n d s m a l l n o o k s !
After a narrow, tight, reversing, 1,000-point-turn kind of start to the day, things thankfully just got better and better in Crickhowell and Hay on Wye.
A few of my main takeaways and learnings from yesterday:
Butterflies form a chrysalis. Moths make a cocoon, honestly every day is a school day when you're in the company of under 5's.
Origami cranes! If you’re in my class or live in my house, you’ll know I get a little obsessed with origami, so this made me very happy.
Crickhowell Library, one of my favourites so far for decoration, atmosphere and just generally feeling like a brilliant community asset. What a lovely space.
Hay-on-Wye, the Town of Books. Ha, ok I'll admit, I had created a whole scenario in my head where everyone would be completely over the books I’d brought and I’d somehow be exposed as a fraud for attempting a story and movement session in the Town of Books. But really? I just got to move with some lush families in a brilliant library.
Iced coffee is my love language. especially yesterday.
Dance practitioner in the rural wilderness, I often wonder what I must look like loading and unloading my little van from session to session. A rocket, multiple trees, rainbows, banners, flags... I've nearly perfected it into two trips, but I think a trolley might be my next investment.
Found a rock in Hay. He looked like he was taking shade from the sun, so obviously he needed to be documented.
If you're a community dance artist dancing in the heat...
You’ll be drinking water by the gallon AND locating the toilet at every venue. Priorities.
But my biggest takeaway from this whole tour so far is every library I land in, I meet the kindest, friendliest librarians.
Honestly, there must be some kind of recruitment process where “nicest people on earth” is the main criteria because we are SO lucky to have them. So if you’ve ever felt unsure about using your local library, please don’t. This tour has rshown me just how vital, busy and well-used our libraries are. They are places for families, communities, creativity, connection, learning and, of course...books.
StoriPowys Powys County Council Crickhowell Library / Llyfrgell Crughywel StoriPowys: y Gaer & Llyfrgell Y Gelli / y Gaer & Hay Library