Hay fever: what I'm up to at the Guardian Hay festival

Hurrah, here I am the Guardian Hay festival, and the sun is shining. The blog may go slightly quiet for the duration (I'm going to a scary number of events, writing for news and G2, and doing some chairing of events myself). If you do fancy coming down to the festival I can thoroughly recommend it. If you can't, you can always listen to our podcasts and suggests some questions for our interviewers to ask . I'm excited about the events I am chairing this year. Aside from the amazing Hilary Mantel (sold out I'm afraid) they've got a definite classical tinge to them. There's Peter Stothard , the wonderful editor of the Times Literary Supplement, who has written On The Spartacus Road – part memoir, part travelogue, part history, based around the Spartacan rebellion of 73 BC. That's on Sunday morning. Then on Wednesday I've got two Cambridge ancient historians – Prof Paul Cartledge , who is going to talk (brilliantly I suspect) about ancient democracy and how it relates (or doesn't) to modern democracy; and Dr Richard Miles , who is going to talk about Carthage, the subject of his latest book. Meantime, if you are planning on a visit, here are some tips from an old timer. Do bring wellies and a cagoule. It's Wales. We love the weather, but it does rain. (If you forget wellies though you can buy them quite cheaply in town). Don't miss going into Hay itself; you may find the second-hand bookshops expensive but they are still pleasant to browse and there is a baker (wonderful welshcakes), greengrocer and deli (great Welsh cheese) from which to furnish yourself with a picnic that might save you the queues and expense of eating on site. If you don't also buy some delicious fresh asparagus here you are missing out. Eating out: the Old Black Lion is the traditional place for hearty suppers but the man who gave me a lift into Hay from Hereford suggested The Three Tuns ; and the Swan is the posh hotel with a decent bar menu and a pretty lawn for sipping an aperitif (I can dream). Don't even dream of trying to find a room in Hay at the last minute; but you might be lucky on this very pretty and friendly campsite near the festival – you would also find yourself bumping into much of team Guardian, who are staying in the cottage here. Till soon!