What better place to launch my new book than the Van Institute, with friends and family, food and drink and a bit of a get-together with those whose stories inspired the book.
Here I am, covered in an old white shirt to keep me clean while we set up. Very suitable venue:
Publisher and books all present and correct:
Frances has given everyone a drink and now they are sitting comfortably — mainly because I am on mute, then it all becomes very interactional…
Can you hear me?
No!
Can you hear me now?
No!
I thought they were all having me on, Can you hear me now? Yes,you can.
No! We can’t.
Then a lady jumped onto the stage, grabbed the mike and un-muted me. After that it all went very smoothly.
As a warm-up, the previous week, I gave a talk at Hay Castle — splendid venue!
I performed in the new bit — the Tudor mansion, the part with the roof!.
It is a magnificent community arts centre, and they made me very welcome and laughed a lot at my extracts which was gratifying.
Meanwhile Bill was unsupervised in the several wonderful second hand book shops for which Hay-on-Wye is famous. We returned home with the boot full of books.
Don’t forget the books!
Available direct from the publishers www.logastonpress.co.uk or from your local bookshop.
dianaashworth 
S’mae Diane,
We moved to Mid Wales , 23 years ago – not to farm – and love your descriptions of the countryside, the weather, – isn’t that just different types of rain- your animals and Pedro.
We bought your book from Nick at Staylittle Stores and as I kept reading out bits, the other half, John has now started from the beginning. Most important, as he usually reads the end of a book first.
Shall definitely be reading your other books. Thank you so much that we can relate to. For instance we have a rescue tri colour collie now 5 yrs. Still a but worried by the world as he was rescued at 2 and 3/4 in the January and came to us in the March with no sense of house living. One day we were out in a field where it was safe to let him off, initially all went well with him returning to me when suddenly he disappeared. Then the urgent barking. The river is like yours down a deep ravine and I found him below me in the river with fleece in his mouth
My heart went into mine until I realised he was helping, pulling this lamb to the bank whilst the ewe just stood watching. My descent was a slide, stepping to help, I slid on rocks up to my chest in very cold water. Definitely no wild water swimming for me!
The silly lamb started to go back but Ben blocked its way. Between us we got the lamb back to its mother. Then the struggle back up to the field above us. Stick in hand, dog lead around waist, roots purchased for a handhold gave way but eventually we were back on firm if muddy land and squelched our way home. Clothes and trainers in the washing machine and Ben and I in the shower.!
So many thanks, a most enjoyable read!
Thanks Sandra, good to know one is not the only one to flounder in icy water rescuing feckless sheep! Your dog is getting you into shape!