Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Visited Myddfai on my birthday at last


Today is my birthday....... David asked what I wanted to do and I said I would like to visit Myddfai. I have been wanting to go for quite some time but somehow have never managed.

We drove up into the hills and soon came into the one road that services Myddfai with a few lanes surrounding.... We parked by the centre which is splendidly unassuming complete with a little herb garden of lemon balm and borage ...and walked into the the little room plainly adorned apart from some white tiles on the wall that had been painted with the Myddfai healing plants. Next to it were various pictures of the Prince of Wales who had visited in March 2007. and a notepad asking for locals to put down which photos they would like copies of...

We carried on up the road. The main impression is that how the church stands proudly in the centre and the houses circle round it. Reminded me of how Dorstone was when we first moved down into the Golden Valley and how untouched it was.


I went inside the church not before I notice a beautiful red peony just outside one of the windows. It smelt so light delicate and petal like.... a beautiful perfume... Inside, again , humble, very unassuming with a sweet exhibition of locals who had made stained glass window pictures which include the lady of the lake and the physicians table... you could plug in and there were lights behind so one could see the glass illuminated.....absolutely charming....

We wandered up and down and I found a cottage for sale just one up and one down like my one I used to own in Holmfirth... I said that if I had the money I would have bought it and used it to work up there.. It was beautiful with a splendid view of the mountain to the rear garden. Later we went down to Llandovery and found the details where an offer had been made on it. I popped into the information centre and delightedly picked up a translation of the Physicians text in the Red Hergest Book.... just what I have been looking for.

We drove up to Llan-y-Fan-Fach and walked part way up to the lake. We had begun to run out of time.... if was drizzling fine rain but all the same very invigorating. It has been wonderful to help me consider .... I am no longer going to make a needle more a standing stone with the healing plants on now.... it feels right..... see how this idea develops now...

Came home to a post from Kristina from the Gardens and wanting to know if we still wanted to do the guided walk up there.... how timely...

I hope to take the girls up there again this weekend now I know my way about a bit more so Mina can take photos for me....

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

a wonderful day

I was at the Botanic Gardens yesterday for the opening of Medicines in
May. It was a beautiful day, the botanical drawings in the Gallery
were lovely, the spread of welsh cheeses, crackers and fruit was perfect.
Speeches from the New Director was made and I had a wonderful
conversation with Kristina Patmore who has created the Apothecary Garden
there.... Later I enjoyed a guided tour and talk of the Apothecary Gardens and
enjoyed talking with Gareth a historian authority on medicinal plants.

I strolled throught the wonderful apothecary shop which they have
lovingly re-created there and enjoyed peeking into the glass shelves and
much to my delight saw moulds for original I think cachous....... and
how they were made and the medicinal powders held inside. The outer
casing which was made of rice paper would be moulded then the next the
same moulded type after the powders fitted inside would be gently sealed
with water (I think it was water)....... the Apothecary shop was just
how one imagines it would be with spice drawers opening.... antique
bottles including poison on the shelves....and just outside a touch and see
about the myth and legend of the Physicians of Myddfai.

I shall be going up to Myddfai as my wish for my birthday coming up
on the 9th. I want to take in the area and look at insect and birdlife
up there. I will be going later in the month on a walk with Kristina
from the Gardens and another who is putting together a walk up to the
Llyn - y- fan - fach who is a medical herbalist........ and others. It
is quite a hike apparently and I will see the lake......plus plant
life......

Kristina left me with 4 huge piles of lemon balm which is drying
.......from the Garden.... The Myddfai section of the garden is
particularly lovely. The woodruff was out....and many plants growing happily.....
interestingly enough geranium robert which technically speaking has no
scent when curiously I rubbed the leaf it gave off a musty dusty almost
tobaccoey scent.