Oh dear – I’ve been told off for not updating this more regularly. Didn’t realise anyone looked at it. I promise to be less lazy.

h.Art is approaching and this year we have opted out of being a venue. Last year we were very disappointed to be stuck in the back of catalogue under “Other Events” because we were unwilling to (ie incapable of!) open every day. Andy Hazell and Co will be opening at the Old School in West Street and that’s always worth a visit and a laugh. And Castle Hill Pottery with be open at Knucklas. Maybe John and I will actually get to some of the exhibitions ourselves this year.

We booked our exhibition before we knew of the news from h.Art and are delighted to welcome printmaker, Pauline Bradley, from Worcestershire. Come and see her wonderful collographs.

We will be closed from Monday, 27th August until Monday, 4th October inclusive. Eighteen months of soup-making and kettle boiling means we need to do a bit of decorating in the kitchen so be won’t be sunbathing in the Med.

Hope to see you all soon!

Well, Sophie’s hares and sheep have sold like hot crossed buns. Why are hares so magical? Paintings, cards and bronzes always sell.

Next month, we are welcoming back Caroline Dovey with her wonderful paintings of local doors, sheds, chimneys, etc. She had a very successful exhibition here last year but was known then as Caroline Mackley!

On the home and away front, a large contingent of the great and good (including us, of course) visited France last week to sign our town twinning charter with the Canton of Varades in Loire Atlantique. Thirty of us stayed with families and had a wonderful weekend. John and I would like to thank our hosts, the Guéry family, in particular, for their kindness and patience with us. We hope to see them here in Knighton soon.

Eva’s wonder paintings have now arrived and are gracing our walls. Eva and Tony have been snowed in for weeks at the wolf sanctuary – but managed to get down to us last Sunday. Do come and see her work.

Our next exhibitor is Sophie Bignall with ‘Mad March Hares – with a few sheep on the side’. Guess what the theme is? There will be s private view on Sunday, 28th February. Phone for more details.

As I sit writing this, it is starting to snow again and the town looks wonderful! It gets more like Hogsmead every day.

During these first few weeks of the year we are continuing with our mixed exhibition of small pieces of work by local artists and makers.

The one-man shows will kick off again in February when we have our first exhibition by local artist, Eva Dutton. Her wolves and hares are quite wonderful. You can see examples of her work on www.runwolf.net/websites/eva/. I’ll update details of this show asap.

On the India & China Tea Company front, we continue to go from strength to strength, with people walking into Knighton yesterday – through all that snow – for John’s soup!

Although local cafes are advertising unlimited WiFi – we wish to continue to be a place of relaxation and calm. Even mobiles don’t work – the reception in Knighton is lousy on all networks. – We’re a little OFFA the edge here!