Spring, or is it summer?

We’ve had a wonderful April, with the weather being fantastic it has brought a lot of guests to our region – and more importantly, staying with us. It’s certainly been our busiest month so far. Norman and I were lucky enough over Easter to even sit out in our garden – the first time together since we moved here!!! Our guests certainly made use of the swing seat on the west patio, as it has wonderful views.

There are so many activities going on during this spring – with a walk from Dolanog for a 3-4 mile tour (almost up to our house) and then a barbecue afterwards… always a lovely way to meet-up with our neighbours. And my homemade cheesecake disappeared quickly! Our dogs enjoyed the exercise too – even if we don’t do much walking nowadays, at least we can do this once a year!

Also, there’s been quite a few rally’s held locally; from the Bulldog Rally back at the beginning of April, through to a bike rally and then the MG event in Llanfair Caereinion. So, something motorised for everyone to enjoy.

Coming up at Lake Vyrnwy over the coming few weeks: a sponsored walk around the lake, birdsong recognition and a dawn chorus event from the RSPB, SpringWatch will be back for bird ringing and you can even learn to be a Nature Detective – how to learn about nature with the clues it gives us. For more information on events at Lake Vyrnwy, or the Welshpool area, click here.

Countryfile returned to Lake Vyrnwy in March, to update on the news about the tallest tree in Britain having to be felled – that storm I mentioned in the last blog had a lot to answer for. Then there is the 2 page spread about the lake and the environs in the latest Countryfile magazine, as part of Julia Bradbury’s great days out features.

We retained our 4* status with Visit Wales, so we’re obviously maintaining the standards we set when we first opened. I was particularly relieved; as it’s like having to sit an exam all over again… never did much like them at school! Our assessor was impressed with the few more touches we’ve added – nice and comfy leather tub chairs in the guest lounge.

Something which has proved popular with our guests is my banana and chocolate chip muffins. It’s become the welcome treat on arrival, along with a choice of teas or coffee. Very much enjoyed when the weather was fantastic and it could be taken on the patio! So, for those that have asked, here’s the recipe – Courtesy of Lesley Jones of Chelmsford – in the Macmillan cancer support “The Little Book of Treats” which is full of lovely little teatime specials:

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:     125g (4½oz) butter

175g (6oz) soft brown sugar

2 ripe bananas, mashed

2 medium eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract or essence

175g (6oz) plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

100g pack plain/milk chocolate chips

½ tsp ground cinnamon

Method:           Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas mark 4.

Line some muffin tins with 12 paper cases.

1. Melt the butter either in a bowl in the microwave or a saucepan over a gentle heat. Add the sugar, bananas, beaten egg and vanilla extract and mix together well.

2. Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into another bowl. Add the chocolate chips and then fold in the banana mixture.

3. Divide between the muffin cases equally and bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm but springy to touch.

Finally an update

Well, thought it was about time I updated everyone. We’ve had a busy few months since I last posted a blog…

Firstly the snow and then the cold spell were unprecedented. I believe Wales had a new November record for the lowest recorded temperature! We suffered a burst pipe during that period, which caused one room to be out of action – it needed a new carpet and complete redecoration. Fortunately the bed and bedding only got wet and was fine once it had dried out, and then washed.  Once the snow settled in we had the very cold period, but it was quite stunningly beautiful. The deepest snow we had been 10 inches in places, so it was also very quiet.

Then February rolled in with a vengeance… we had the windiest weekend I can ever recall, which lasted for nearly 5 days, non-stop gales and with gusts of up to 90mph. These winds were the culprit for damaging the tallest tree in the UK up at Lake Vyrnwy (see the Countryfile program on March 20th). Also the rain on the Saturday was the cause of some flooding on the main road into Welshpool, and even our bridge became a ford again on our drive! That was a shocker for us…

However, the weather in April has been lovely, so far. With odd days being a bit dull, with some mizzle (not quite drizzle but a little more than mist!) and yet it’s pleasant to be outside. I am sure there have been some new records for April temperatures – it’s been positively scorching this past weekend.

We have a few lambs in one field, most are not due to arrive till the end of April, but these ones are shy, and sticking very close to their Mum’s… although they soon come to the trough for feeding! We’ve also had 5 rams resident for a couple of months, and they’re entertaining too – and just as shy.

Bonnie & Beau have been very lucky in the last couple of weekends, with the guests taking them off for a walk – a treat for them, and meant some extra time for us to do other things!

I suppose the biggest news for us was being chosen as one of the top 50 B&B’s in the UK by The Independent newspaper – to say we were thrilled would be an understatement. Click here to see the complete list.

So, for 2011 we’re off to a flying start, with some returning guests and new ones from as far afield as Argentina… Hopefully the weather we’ve had so far this month will be a portent of things to come, so everyone can see why we chose to move to Mid Wales.

And something new to this blog, we will be posting some reviews by our guests – as they often put it better than us. Here’s our first:

First Time Review of Mid Wales Bed and Breakfast

New to staying in a Bed and Breakfast, we have had the most wonderful time and would certainly recommend Mid Wales and especially Lake Vyrnwy to anyone.

We cannot fault Gwaenynog Farmhouse B&B; the atmosphere, the scenery and the remarkable attention to detail all make for a highly relaxing stay that really let us get the most out of all Mid Wales has to offer.

We spent a lot of time at Lake Vyrnwy where there are plenty of outdoor activities and stunning views, and we equally enjoyed amateur bird spotting from the comfort of the Bed and Breakfast – a particular highlight being seeing the woodpecker and nearly catching sight of the owl!

Thank you so much to Fiona and Norman for a really excellent first Bed and Breakfast experience!

Mike and Sarah Simpson, Bournemouth

Winter has arrived!

I tried to persuade myself that the wet weather in November 2009 was a one-off, as well as believe the locals when they said that it was not normally that bad, but November 2010 has blown-in on a gale with some rain thrown in for good measure. So, not sure I am going to believe our neighbours in future! The difference this year is that we’ve done a lot of drainage work, which means the run-off is going down the stream and the channels we created – instead of going across the yard like last year!

Having said all that, the sheer delight I have on a crisp clear morning when I can hear and see the birds even better than usual, and hear the crunch of the frost under my feet – nothing quite beats it. So long as I wrap up warm, I can wander the field looking at grubs/insects and try and identify plants, or watch the antics of my dogs… there’s nothing better!

We had our very first four-legged guest recently – a little Jack Russell called Poppy. She seemed to like the accommodations, albeit with her own bedding and food/bowl, etc. She was good as gold – only time we heard her was when we took our two dogs out for a walk in the morning, and she obviously sensed/heard them, so woofed a bit! My two were curious about the new smells in their outdoor kennel, but didn’t give a hoot about the increased space and tidier decor in there (we’d tidied-up in anticipation of our guest!).

Something we always enjoyed before we moved was eating out. There are a great many places to choose from nearby, and we’ve sampled the majority. Two have stood out in particular – Seeds in Llanfyllin and The Walls in Oswestry. Both offer excellent cuisine and are housed in unusual buildings – see our “Eating out” download on our website, under Food, for more info and details and their addresses.

And I couldn’t finish without mentioning Christmas and New Year. We are open, so if you fancy a getaway break, why not join us..? See our Food page for greater details on what we’re offering… Or we can put together a package just for you should you want to take over all 3 of our rooms. It is certainly a magical place – although I cannot guarantee snow!

Hwyl am y tro

(Bye for now, I think!)

Our first year as a Bed & Breakfast

Well, what a year it’s been! With the scorching weather in May and June; then the showers in July & August; a bright but cold September and the very mixed October – we’ve had it all. I won’t even mention the blustery start to November!!

We opened in May to our very first guests – who truly tested us; with evening meals & packed lunches, as well as the cooked breakfasts of course, it was quite a start. To then find out one was a chef was daunting to say the least! Alas, that was not the only chef to stay with us!!

There have been a great variety of guests – from California to Brisbane, and Kent through to Leicestershire, Cornwall to Anglesey – and all points in between. Each and every one has had their reasons for being in this beautiful Mid Wales area, for example: attending a wedding at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel; meeting up with family who live nearby; completing the Glyndwr’s Way or sometimes just passing through – mistakenly some have said, as they didn’t realise it was so beautiful. Some even came to escape – leaving the kids with others to have a birthday night away! Hopefully their stay fulfilled their wishes – I think so, considering the lovely comments they put in our books.

Some of our guests have had adventurous journeys to get here– we’ve had to tow one out of a field entrance nearby – they’d given way to someone and didn’t realise the land sloped away; others have missed turnings and had long detours (I managed to save dinner for 2 hours, so one couple could still eat on arrival) and some have got lost – either not reading/bringing directions or not using the satnav correctly. But all have arrived…

I think the weirdest moment for me was when a guest apologised for booking the superking room, as she knew how much I hated ironing the sheets – all from my blog…! I must correct that now – the ironing is no longer the battle it used to be, as I am getting more skilled at using the machine and I am not burning my hands as much as I used to…!

Something which has been a surprise, is my enjoyment in baking – I have always loved eating (!), just never been much of a cook. I know, why open a B&B? Well, Norman cooks most of the breakfasts – as he has always enjoyed cooking. So, now I have taken on the puddings for our evening meals, and am experimenting a bit – still pretty simple choices, but making sure they are good quality, and tasty. A favourite is the baked cheesecake, as well as the bread and butter pudding (my B&B pudding I call it!); a recent addition is the chocolate mousse (how could I have not had anything chocolate on the menu…? Ah well, that’s rectified now). In addition, we offer tea/coffee and some sort of cake when guests arrive (if they are late, we offer it the next day – so they don’t miss out) which is usually a Bara Brith, a Welsh classic, or sometimes banana loaf or even banana/choc chip muffins. I am flattered to say that 2 sets of guests asked to take home a Bara Brith… they’d enjoyed it so much!

Another reason people have come to stay with us is to see the birds – Lake Vyrnwy has RSPB sites all over its estate, so it’s a good reason to visit. I am happy to say that we are lucky with the birds we get at Gwaenynog – due to the varied habitat. I now recognise the Peregrine sound when I am out walking the dogs… they are a sight to behold. One day I might remember to take my camera with me!!

One thing which was a delight for us – we are members of the Mid Wales Tourism, which is where my availability calendar and booking facility is – and they sent a journalist to chat with us and created a short article about our hunt for a house to turn into a B&B. Our surprise came when the Shropshire Star put us on the front page of the Lifestyle section way back in June. I had heard we were there, but never realised we were front page news! It was a lovely surprise, and we have a few copies for posterity!

Now, as it’s a little quieter, we’re able to do one of the things we wanted but were unable to due to time constraints – and that is being a tourist! We are lucky to be surrounded by beautiful countryside, with some dramatic scenery too – at the top of the hill behind us, you can see the mountains of Snowdonia National Park to the north-west, our nearby mountain is Moel Bentyrch which is visible from the house and grounds (it’s an extinct volcano apparently!) which you can also walk to the top of. In addition, a lot of attractions in the area are all a drive away: Ironbridge and the Blists Hill Museum (well worth a visit); Llanymynech Rocks; Dolgellau and Cader Idris; Clywedog Lake; Devils Bridge Falls; Aberystwyth; Chester… to name just a few. So, our plan is to try and do these during our quieter months.

Also, we’re preparing for Christmas and New Year. We’re open for both, and have created a package which we hope people will feel is a good deal and will enjoy the ambience we will to create. It’s very traditional, with mulled wine, turkey and homemade Christmas pudding as well as our open fire… (See our Food page on the website www.gwaenynog.com for greater detail and costs.)

I hope you have enjoyed my review of our first year, perhaps enough to come and stay…

Gobeithio gweld chi cyn bo hir!

(Hope to see you soon!)

Fiona & Norman,

Gwaenynog Farmhouse B&B

(And of course Bonnie & Beau, our dogs!)

Trials and tribulations of running a B&B

One of the things I was aware of in running a B&B, but not entirely happy about – was the ironing. Despite having an ironing press, the ironing of sheets and duvet covers is still a trial. A particular nemesis is the superking duvet cover… I am beginning to hate it immensely! The trouble is that we have more requests for that bed to be made a superking than we do for it to be set-up as a twin – something which has surprised me. So, I’d only bought the one superking set – thinking I would only need it occasionally and could wash/iron and it would be available for use… silly me. This meant I had to buy another two sets – one on the beds, one in the wash and one ready for use – that’s the theory anyway! Sadly, because I am not that big a fan of ironing, it tends to be left a bit and I therefore have a marathon of ironing to tackle. I know, I should do it as I go along and then I would not have to do this… Maybe one day I will be organised enough to do that.

Not sure if we have been lucky, or if any statistics would show we are just part of the norm, but accidental damage has only happened to us once (so far!). This was to the towel rail in one of the en-suites. Our guest did “own up”, apparently it was putting a wet towel on it – not sure how, as we’d had lots of guests in that room already without problems – but I was grateful to them for letting me know, but we had to change the set-up in that room and get the filler and paint out… (Thought I’d seen the last of paint for a while!!!). And so far (touch wood) that has been the only damage we’ve had.

 

I’d say that the biggest thing which has been a trial to me, is trying to remember to say everything that needs to be said, without bombarding guests with information as soon as they arrive. So, we’ve put a lot of things in our bedroom books – a lot we’ve picked up by staying in loads of B&B’s when we were house hunting, but most are from our own experience – when we had to ask our hosts or just found out for ourselves when staying somewhere. An example is the instructions for the showers – I started out by explaining to guests how they worked, but I felt a bit like a schoolmarm doing it. So, I don’t do that now, just try and remember to say that instructions for them are in the book. Also, we have fresh milk available for each room in a small thermos in the fridge on the landing – and I kept forgetting to tell them, so ended up throwing away milk because no-one knew it was there! So, now I have a laminated card on the tea-tray stating this – there’s no way they can miss it. One less thing to remember to say… I hope we’ve struck the happy medium now!

 

And a bit like the saying – you learn something new every day, we’re learning something with every guest!

Sheep and mowers…

One of the things I have found highly amusing is the sheep. I know I have mentioned this before – and being a townie, I probably will again. Their owner often just tells me “…they’re sheep!” in answer to almost anything I ask. They do the daftest things: the lambs climb on top of the silage cage (their feeder) and almost anything which is higher than the ground (even on a tree stump!) – must be something to do with wanting a better view. They also amuse me when they are on their front knees eating grass… means their food is nearer, but it looks like lazy eating to me! The funniest thing was after the ewes had been sheared – the noise of the lambs and their mothers trying to find each other… was absolutely hilarious. Also meant that I could not tell them apart – but the greedy hungry ones are still pretty obvious.

We had our first quiet weekend last week since we opened, so as we had plans to be out on the Saturday evening, it meant we didn’t have to worry about guests arriving, or being away when they were coming or going. So a relaxed time – we even found the energy to dance a few times! We certainly weren’t slacking though – we cleared a bit more of the pond (when I say we, I really mean Norman – I only helped towards the end, when we were removing the weeds and grass, he did all the hard work of pulling it all loose!); we both then did sections of the hedging around the garden with the trimmer; I cut the lawn grass; and then we both attacked the area on one of the fields which had been dug for the soakaway and needed some grass seed. So hardly an inactive weekend, but we felt more relaxed being able to make a mess around the place. I know, most guests would not mind it – they can see we’re working, but I prefer it to be ready to receive guests rather than a work in progress.

We’ve had a few trials with mowers – there are far too many rocks in the ground, or should I say just buried under the ground, so the blades cannot cope. We had to get the petrol one fixed within a month of buying it, and the Flymo which is supposed to hover (the clue is in the title, right) didn’t last long either. Needs a new central part for the “blades” to be attached – they’re only plastic sections, but even so – expected it to cope more.

Ah well, we didn’t move to the country for an easy life, just a slightly easier one! Depends on your definition of easy, I suppose!

The joy when the weather improves…

Although we need the rain to help the soil produce fresh grass for the animals, sunshine does make a lovely & beautiful place become an absolutely stunning one. It also encourages all the birds to sing their hearts out, even when they are busy making nests or even going through their courtship routines!

We joined about 100 other locals and visitors on a circular 4 mile walk during May, finishing off with a barbecue at the community centre. It was ideal walking weather – sunny and mild, but with a breeze to cool off the exertions. The views were spectacular from the hill fort above Dolanog; the image below to the right is almost from the top – looking south-east towards Gwaenynog.

A view back to Gwaenynog

This walk covered part of the Ann Griffiths route, so I can recommend to anyone who likes countryside settings, but with the occasional spectacular view. There are some steep bits, but mostly its a gradual incline.

An Inspector calls…

Our very first guests were ideal candidates – requiring evening meals as well as packed lunches. So they were testing out all we had to offer. As they were also very keen bird watchers, they were able to tell us about a few we’d missed either in our woods or down near the bog area. They seemed to enjoy themselves – their feedback was super, and they said they hope to return. Obviously we are doing something right. They headed to a car boot sale over in Churchstoke – managed to find some reasonable binoculars too, as well as finding a nature reserve nearby to test them on – just goes to show that you can combine shopping with your hobbies! Just a shame the weather was not as good as it has been during the previous fortnight, but it was not so bad that they couldn’t go walking around part of Lake Vyrnwy. There’s just so much to see and do here…

Then we were onto our grading inspection. That can be nerve-racking; its a bit like exams or taking your driving test. You know what you have is good, but when you know someone is critiquing it and inspeting every nook and cranny, it can be stressful. And then sometimes things can go wrong – and they did, we managed to overcook the croissants!! She fortunately overlooked that, as the meal the previous evening, as well as the cooked breakfast, were all “perfect”…! I think there’s no greater accolade!So, we are proud to say that they gave us 4* as our Visit Wales inspection grading. All the hard work over the past 6 months has paid off with a great start for our 2010 season. Now we just have to wait for the “official” paperwork so we can show the Visit Wales logo on our website.

Now you just need to come along and see for yourself. There are no problems with an ash cloud if you stay in the UK, and if you come to Mid Wales, you’ll be discovering the magical area known for its Lakes and Mountains.

Spring in March?

It certainly has the hallmarks of Spring, but because we have had all sorts of weather since we arrived in October, including the worst snowy winter for over 20 years, I am a little sceptical that we are there just yet. The daffodils have poked their green shoots out of the ground, but no yellow buds yet, and the forsythia has sprouted its little yellow flowers - so the telling shoots of spring are definitely there.We have had some longed-for rain in the last few days – those quiet showers that continue for a bit to give the ground a drink. Nothing like the downpours we had in November. It was definitely needed and things are greening up nicely.

Sunsets continue to be spectacular (see photo, right) and is one of the joys here – it’s a big sky, so they seem to be infinite…

The lambs and their mothers continue to entertain. The lambs seem to like climbing up the piles of earth around the stone barn – a bit like “I’m the king of the castle” type games, I think. They definitely josh for position on the top. We have been feeding the sheep daily, so taking the nuts to their troughs can be a challenge – they follow us to the troughs, rather than wait for us there – and then as soon as we pour into one, they barge us out of the way. The really funny thing is, they then follow me to the next trough, rather than eat what I have just put out. Then the next daft thing – they follow me towards the gate with the empty bucket!! So, rather than eat, they think they are going to miss something. How daft is that.  

And yes, I know I sound like a townie – but that’s exactly what I am. There is definitely some simple pleasure in watching what happens with the animals. A real added bonus to being here…  

Spring is here…?

Thought it was about time I added an update – there was no point whilst we were only continuing to decorate!We have had the drive re-done – so no more problems with grounding of the cars, and as we’ve sorted out the drainage at the yard, we should not have the same problems with the tracks becoming streams… plus we’ve had the ford concreted over, so it means that it would have to really be a full river to cause wet tyres. (It does have 3 large pipes underneath it for the water to progress!) 

The photographer was with us on Friday last week, taking the internal shots - so expect to have them available to upload onto the website from later this week. www.gwaenynog.com for those who are interested. That means the rooms are ready for occupation… we even have our first booking on March 26th! Admittedly a friend, but still… first “official” guest. 

We have had a short break away from all this DIY when we went curling in Scotland a couple of weeks ago, so it’s not all been work. However, Norman ended up with “housemaid’s knee” from crawling along painting skirting boards, and I had tennis elbow from so much painting… It didn’t help the curling, that’s for sure. However, I won the prize for the best pearler – fell over on the ice! And Norman’s team came second. Not bad for novices! Anyway, it was beautiful up at Lochgoilhead – crisp clear days and freezing temperatures, but no snow. That arrived there after we left, fortunately! 

I don’t think anyone can be prepared for the amount of work, but we’ve enjoyed our time here so far… long may it continue. There are things we would have done differently, with hindsight (I’m sure everyone says that!!!) but when you’re a pair of townies coming to the countryside, even Countryfile cannot help you with the weather, the builders mistakes, the weather, when a shower refuses to stop leaking, the weather… I think you get the picture. Some things we would not change – the people who are our neighbours. They have welcomed us and made us feel very much at home, even the lady we bought from has helped enormously with a list of all the people she had used for differing maintenance tasks over the years - even down to drawing a map of who our neighbours were, along with their phone numbers! We could not have managed without that… Obviously now its down to us and how we interact with everyone, but I would hope we’ve made some good first impressions… 

The weather here in mid Wales has been perfect since March rolled in… Crisp clear blue skies, but very low temperatures and heavy frosts in the mornings. We’ve certainly felt as if spring was here today though, especially as we now have lambs in the field – only a few at the moment, but they’re all pretty cute! Even cleaned some of the windows!  

So, with the testing of the water now done, and given the all clear, and the EHO visit imminent, we’re ticking off a lot from the things to do list… When we get the photos, we will pay a visit to the local tourist information office and get them helping to fill our rooms. We’re “Awaiting Grading” which means we can be offered as a possible place to stay – it’s up to the visitor as to whether they choose to stay with us. We will get a visit soon from them soon, to go through the grading… I thought it would be anonymous, until they tell us our grade, but apparently they book it in with us at least a week before – its only at renewal that they do it incognito! Our marketing is taking off – gone into WiRE, been added to the Lake Vyrnwy Marketing Association – they extended their area to include other B&Bs, and TIC and hopefully onto the Visit Wales site soon, so we’re off and running. 

 

 

With all the work we’ve had done, one thing has helped us – Martin, with his height (he can reach some of the ceilings and tops of walls without a ladder!) his youth and energy (definitely has much more than us!) and his music, be that from the laptop or his own vocals, he has made it that bit easier. So, thanks Martin, we appreciate all the help you’ve given us. Good luck with the saving for your American trip…

"Lemme out!"

We’ve had quite a few firsts along the way. One weird joy today for example, was rescuing up to about 20 frogs from the drain at the bottom of a downpipe… As Norman said, their Mum obviously put them in the wrong place – I am surprised they survived as long as they did, as it was quite a squeeze there! 

 

  

This has been a lot of fun – and a learning curve, to write a Blog. Thanks for following us and offering feedback on our journey through the move and development of our B&B. We will be continung to run a Blog, but from our own website now – so keep following there. www.gwaenynog.com

  

So, this is my final Blog here, many thanks for reading and letting me know about the stories you have enjoyed – we have had fun (mostly) in getting to this point!!!

 

Ciao