"Now That DEFRA Have Released The Movement Ban, Can We Go To Slaughter Now?"

With the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth in Surrey, little piggies like these have had a stay of execution!

Their sisters are going off to the great pigsty in the sky tomorrow and these little piggies are still putting on weight for a couple more weeks.

This Is the Old Extension That Was Put On in the 1760's

Only joking!

King Edwards Five Ways School build a kitchen block extension in 1976/7.

In 2006 Beth and Daniel added another storey to the extension.

This gives us three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs.

It cost twice what I paid for the whole place back in 1997.

The Oldest Part of the House

The house dates back to before 1700. This is the old front door and the avenue that leads down to it would have been the orginal enterence off the old green lane. No room for cars, but just carts and horses in those days.

The french windows you can see replace the old barn doors. The hay loft is now a nice light room where I listen to my old records and sort out my projects.

Ted loves to watch the rabbits, although I don't think that he would want to eat one. Funny how the cats love to eat (wild) rabbit, but show no interest in our pet rabbits.

It Took Four Strong Men to Get It In

It Took Four Strong Men to Get It In
Originally uploaded by Beth and Daniel Patrick

... and a smart one to get it out.

This is my new secret weapon in the battle to get Tyn-y-Waen ready for the open day on July 28th.

You Must Be Daniel

You Must Be Daniel
Originally uploaded by Beth and Daniel Patrick

Prince Charles came to Welshpool Farmers Market today to buy the finest local produce that we was going to cook with over the weekend at Powys Castle.

We chatted for about five minutes. He started the conversation by saying: what a wonderful name. Ambrosia is the name of our catering company, we have it on our aprons.

Beth expalined that we run a catering company from Tyn-y-Waen, our smallholding in the beautiful Tanant Valley.

We try to us a large proportion of what we grow in our catering company. This gives the very freshed ingredients to our customers, whilst keeping food miles to a minimum. Our food chain is measured in metres, not kilometers.

We take the surplus to market at Welshpool . In addition, we support the local schools, food and farming initiative to reconnect children with the food they eat and the folk that produce it. This is in the form of a farmers market at Llangedwyn.

Who Would Not Buy Any Of Beths Produce?

Who Would Not Buy Any Of Beths Produce?
Originally uploaded by Beth and Daniel Patrick

We go to Welshpool Farmers market once a month.

It pays our mortgage.

Lorne Street Bakery

Lorne Street Bakery
Originally uploaded by Beth and Daniel Patrick

This is an old bakery in the heart of the Welsh Marches Boarder Town of Oswestry. The population has doubled since 1990, making it the third largest town in Shropshire. In addition to Sainsbury and Costa Coffee shop, there is now a M&S, opening in August.

It is a Victorian red brick construction, measuring 120 metres over two stories. It has detailed planning persmission to convert into two flats.

Today my offer to purchase the property was accepted. I am to buy the building and the gated driveway. I have also bought an option on the house which you can see on the right of the picture. This option is open for six months following competion on the Bakery.

My aim is to provide two entry level flats in a joint financial venture with the bank, family members and friends on an interest and profit sharing basis.

I am hoping the financial dealings will be done by mid July. The scaffold goes up end of July for the builders to start in August. The roof goes on first, then the repointing and then the scaffold comes down. The rest of the work is largely indoors before the ground work is done.

Flats will be marketed in November and sold in December. I then take a view whether I realise the option on the house, or lose my deposit.

From now on, I will be updating the Tyn-y-Waen blog site with the developments rather than dominating this site with a day by day progress report.

This is one of the most challenging and risky projests that I have yet undertaken. I welcome any support and encouragement that you may have. This may take the form of ideas, information or sharing contacts, whatever help you can offer will be gratefully received.

Wish me luck!

Global warming comes to Wales

 

Pantry gets a make over

The end wall of the pantry and the ceiling have gone to make way for the oak staircase that goes in tomorrow.