The Aardvark Blog

Amazing August, and Fast and Furious September
21/09/2026

The summer went in a blur this year, as we were still sorting things out at home and in the new Aardvark Bookshop (sadly currently not open to the public). I have been surprised by how busy our new online only shop has been, with everyday bringing a crop of new orders, and thus repeated visits to the wonderful Post Office in Kington.

Speaking of Kington Ethel did a brilliant walk up Stanner Rocks on Saturday as part of the Kington Walking Festival. The Festival is now over for this year, but I will certainly be looking out for it next year. Still on until the weekend is the fantastic 'Radnor Lily' show at the Ridgebank Gallery. I cannot recommend this show enough, as the quality of both the art and presentation are first rate.

Also on for a little longer is the Sidney Nolan Art Prize Exhibition at our neighbours at the Rodd. Speaking of art we had a wonderful visit during H.Art to Far Hall where Jason and Julienne Braham mount an incredibly strong show each year, with their own art and a small group of friends whose art they feel to be complementary to their own. I am always struck by Julienne's facility with paint, and so many of her pictures would improve any wall they were mounted on. Before H.Art there was another outing of the Presteigne Open Studios, an even that goes from strength to strength each year, and which is the perfect accompaniment to the Presteigne Music Festival which runs at the same time.

So many highlights at this year's Presteigne Festival, but my particular plaudits go to the several performances of the 'Hear And Now Quartet' that we attended (particularly the evening recital that included the Ravel String Quartet), and the incredibly strong lecture programme which this year included a powerful lecture on George Sand by Fiona Sampson. Fiona will also be talking about GS at the Knighton Literary Festival next month and I would urge you to go and listen to her if you missed her in Presteigne.

Looking forward, the Aardvarks will again be attending this year's Frankfurt Book Festival, so expect this website to be filled with new art and design titles from the end of October onwards. We are toying with the idea of having a pop-up shop to showcase some of our best Christmas stock, so keep an eye out for any announcements.

Finally it is a long way away, but we have now completed the registration processes for next year's National Garden Scheme, so our garden and the two gardens at Rodd Court will be open as part of the NGS's 100th year celebration over the weekend of the 12th & 13th of June. The Rodd will be opening the long-closed front garden as part of this weekend, and we will be on hand to talk about the history of our garden as well.