The Aardvark Blog

Back from France this time, Flipping Burgers, Hot, Hot, Hot and things to look forward to
13/08/2026

It is nearly two weeks since we got back from holiday in France ( our second this year), and it seems to have been incredibly busy everyday. We have welcomed friends and old customers to our now very brown garden, flipped burgers on the Sidney Nolan Trust/The Rodd Community Day, dealt with another round of changes to our business, crashed a car and had it written off ( the details of which events can only be shared in private across a table of cold beers ), and much more.

I bought a painting at the brilliant 'Radnor Lily' exhibition at the Ridgebank Gallery and now cannot wait for the exhibition to be over and for the chance to take possession. The Show is on until the end of the month and I cannot recommend it enough so doo go.

Other visual art treats on the horizon are a short show at the Bledffa Centre from the 27th-31st of August. Called Grasses it consists of nature paintings by Charles McCarthy whose son Dan had a recent show at the Sidney Nolan Trust. Also at the end of the month is the Presteigne Open Studios from the 28th-31st of August. With over 50 artists and craftspeople taking place it has become a highlight of the visual year in the central marches.

Going back to our trip to France a massive thanks to the incredible Michelle Garnaut one of the world's great culinary luminaries who decided to put on a literary festival in a small french village ( Nanteuil in the Vienne ). Michelle was the founder of the iconic M on the Bund restaurant in Shanghai and the founder of literary festivals in Shanghai and Beijing. So many highlights over the weekend - the incredible Anne Seba on the Women's Orchestra/Band in Auschwitz ( author of 'Les Parisiens' amongst other titles ), Alan Hollinghursrt, Amy Tan and the extraordinary Tash Aw ( so much to say about his quiet and charming authorial voice).

I was probably most moved by an dense talk by Professor Edward Denison and his partner Associate Professor  Guang Yu Ren ( both of the Bartlett School UCL ) on a non-extractive history of architecture. So many ideas crammed into a short hour talk, and then they were generous enough to continue in a private discussion with Ethel and I as we walked through Nanteuil on our way to the car park. Fast forward to this week and I am called in by an ex-customer Will to look at his late cousin the poet Meg Cox's library. There on the shelves were half a dozen titles by Edward Denison who Will informed me was Meg's beloved nephew! Such a small world we live in. For those who would like to remember Meg there is an open service at the Humber natural garden of rest at 2pm on the 28th of August. Meg was a great supporter of Aardvark and I will always be grateful to her for her contributions to our poetry events.

Finally amongst other events not to be missed are the coming of Martin Fry/ABC to Hereford Courtyard's outside tent on Friday Night of the 21st of August. Tickets are still available so do not miss out!

Also not to be missed for those who love a good is a second Kington vintage street Flea market on Sunday August 23rd from 10am onwards, and Elderwood Books August fleamarket on Monday 31st of August from 9am on.

Finally Presteigne Festival starts on Thursday 27th of August as well. One highlight for me will be the talk by Fiona Sampson ( another frequent Aardvark customer ) on her much garlanded new book on George Sand. This takes place on Sunday 30th of August at 4pm at Presteigne Baptist Church. Tickets in advance or on the door.

So much to do, and so much to see and hear. Is there any better place to live in the world than right here in the Marches.