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!