Latch

O u r f i n a l c h a p t e r . . . .

With September here, it can only mean one thing: our time popping up across libraries in Powys this summer has reached its final chapter!

Our final sessions took us to Newtown Llyfrgelloedd Y Drenewydd a Llanidloes / Newtown and Llanidloes Libraries. , Welshpool and Builth Wells StoriPowys:Llyfrgell Llanfair-ym-Muallt/Builth Wells Library , where I was reminded...

- Always start a conversation about snacks with parents, because THEY KNOW what a good, nutritious and cheap snack is. Holla at my new obsession: apple and cinnamon rice cakes.

- It’s so OK that not everyone loves what you do. Ha! This is always a hard one for a former self-confessed people pleaser like myself, but my god, it’s true. I think if everyone loved everything I did, I must not be taking enough risks or pushing people out of their comfort zones. (Pushing, more like holding their hand for the leeeeeaaaaaaap!) So, perhaps a reminder if you do this kind of work: not everyone will enjoy it, and that’s normal. That’s life. Don’t spend too much time adapting what you do to make everyone happy.

- Gathering ALL the ribbons and ALL the scarves and throwing them all in the air at the same time will never not be fun.

- Teenagers are cool. I met a lovely one in Newtown called Emily, who was spending her summer volunteering at the library. She was wonderful and lovely, and I was very glad she was there.

- I don’t think I want these sessions to end. Working in libraries, meeting people in their communities has been hugely fulfilling. I’ll cherish this summer for a very long time.

So, hey September! Bringing with you a new term and new adventures. Ymlaen!

B o o k s a n d s m a l l n o o k s !

After a narrow, tight, reversing, 1,000-point-turn kind of start to the day, things thankfully just got better and better in Crickhowell and Hay on Wye.

A few of my main takeaways and learnings from yesterday:

Butterflies form a chrysalis. Moths make a cocoon, honestly every day is a school day when you're in the company of under 5's.

Origami cranes! If you’re in my class or live in my house, you’ll know I get a little obsessed with origami, so this made me very happy.

Crickhowell Library, one of my favourites so far for decoration, atmosphere and just generally feeling like a brilliant community asset. What a lovely space.

Hay-on-Wye, the Town of Books. Ha, ok I'll admit, I had created a whole scenario in my head where everyone would be completely over the books I’d brought and I’d somehow be exposed as a fraud for attempting a story and movement session in the Town of Books. But really? I just got to move with some lush families in a brilliant library.

Iced coffee is my love language. especially yesterday.

Dance practitioner in the rural wilderness, I often wonder what I must look like loading and unloading my little van from session to session. A rocket, multiple trees, rainbows, banners, flags... I've nearly perfected it into two trips, but I think a trolley might be my next investment.

Found a rock in Hay. He looked like he was taking shade from the sun, so obviously he needed to be documented.

If you're a community dance artist dancing in the heat...
You’ll be drinking water by the gallon AND locating the toilet at every venue. Priorities.

But my biggest takeaway from this whole tour so far is every library I land in, I meet the kindest, friendliest librarians.

Honestly, there must be some kind of recruitment process where “nicest people on earth” is the main criteria because we are SO lucky to have them. So if you’ve ever felt unsure about using your local library, please don’t. This tour has rshown me just how vital, busy and well-used our libraries are. They are places for families, communities, creativity, connection, learning and, of course...books.

StoriPowys Powys County Council Crickhowell Library / Llyfrgell Crughywel StoriPowys: y Gaer & Llyfrgell Y Gelli / y Gaer & Hay Library

Things we learnt yesterday in Llanfyllin...

Llanfyllin is really quite far away from Builth... but my goodness, the drive is beautiful.

Never let your children loose on your laptop playlists because they'll add Passo Bem, BTS and AC/DC to your carefully curated "Creative Movement" playlist.

Actually... always let your children loose on your laptop playlists because they'll also add Talking Heads. When it comes on shuffle, it might just spark the most wonderful conversation (and wiggle!) with a lovely grandma who was a huge fan in her youth.

Llanfyllin Library is lush. A proper old-school library with the loveliest staff and a whole room dedicated to dancing.

Yellow socks definitely bring an extra level of cheekiness to the dance floor.

Our storytelling tree is, in fact, magic. One tiny dancer gently pulled the branches down to sit beneath the lights before treating us all to the most joyful freestyle dance.

And just, have you ever had one of those days where everything just seems to click? Yesterday felt like one of those days.

The work felt cherished, valued. It felt like exactly where it was meant to be and I left feeling incredibly grateful that I get to visit and join communities across Powys sharing wiggles. What a privilege. Diolch diolch pawb.

We've got 6 stops on our tour next week:

Monday 10th - Llandrindod and Rhayader Amgueddfa Sir Faesyfed & Llyfrgelloedd/Radnorshire Museum & Libraries
Tuesday 11th - Presteigne and Knighton
Knighton Library Friends
Thursday 13th - Crickhowell and Hay on Wye
StoriPowys: y Gaer & Llyfrgell Y Gelli / y Gaer & Hay Library
Crickhowell Library / Llyfrgell Crughywel