Indian Summer

September was a perfect end to a (mostly) good summer, warm and sunny, and visitors came to enjoy with us the mellow beauty of the season. When children go back to school people who like a quieter town are tempted a take a late holiday, and we enjoyed their company.

A highlight for us one sunny and cloudless day was to walk the cliff path from Aberaeron to New Quay. Incredible shades of blue and turquoise lit the sea and sky. The stunning views from the promontory of New Quay with its rows of cottages following the cliff contours, across to Aberaeron, nestling comfortably at the river mouth, with the sweep of Cardigan Bay and the Lleyn Peninsula beyond was breathtaking. Seeing a Kestrel hover close by before descending on its prey was another bonus.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has launched a nationwide survey on its website to discover what makes our local heritage special, and what it means to come from a particular part of Wales. The results will be released to mark Wales Identity Day 2006, and incorporated into a mural that depicts the collective heritage of Wales. The Manager of HLF Wales, Jennifer Stewart, says 'The aim of both the survey and the regional events is to encourage communities to think about the past on their doorstep and the importance of safeguarding it for the future'. A regional event is to be held on Thursday, 5th October, at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, holds a Festival from 27th October - 9th November, featuring talks, exhibitions and celebrity guest appearances, www.dylanthomas.com. Dylan Thomas' lecture tours in America, shortly before his death, is the subject matter for a one man play by the Aberystwyth writer Gwynne Edwards. Performed in the Arts Centre early September by the Swansea based actor Peter Read, 'Dylan Thomas in America' is based on his letters and writings and looks at his hilarious encounters with women, stuffed shirts of academia, 'hiraeth' and longing for Wales. Also domestic squabbles with wife Caitlin and his struggle to complete 'Under Milk Wood' for its first performance in New York. It promises to be an entertaining evening!

Missing from the last blog was news of the Hafod Estate, with the wonderful walks and scenery. Harddwch Hafod (The Beauty of Hafod) was an exhibition held in the Church with proceeds going to the Restoration Fund. Artefacts were donated by Ceredigion Museum, (voted the 'Prettiest Museum in the UK', and free entry).

The first Church was constructed in 1620 by the Herbert Family, who also built the Mansion. One of their daughters married into the Johnes Family who rebuilt the Church in 1803 which sadly caught fire in 1932 destroying also the famous Chantrey Statue. This was to commemorate the Johnes' first daughter, Mariamne, who was a sickly child and sadly died unmarried aged 27. Illustrations show the magnificent mansion situated to lead visitors through views of the woodland, river, cascades and hilltops above. Bendigedig, wonderful!

Earlier today walking in the sunshine through the Craft Centre, an unexpected treat was to see a rare Humming Bird Moth, a tiny version of its namesake. We have everthing in Aberaeron!