I can’t believe it! No, really – we finally seem to be close to opening.
Since I last wrote, Ann and Chris have been in to hang pictures;
I have bought the crockery, and been to the bank to explain we are nearly ready… the electrician has been in to certify Mike’s work….we have put the fridge and freezer into position and switched them on….
Yvonne and Julie visited this weekend and have been wonderful sports, giving a hand to clear up some of our most disgraceful little messes as well as doing the lion’s share of the cooking.
Even more impressively, Yvonne walked to Betws-y-Coed earlier today and will send us her route in a few days to share, as she tells us it was absolutely stunning.
We have been practising different recipes of paninis over the weekend, which has also seen Mike finishing the plumbing, Julie and Yvonne clearing down the restaurant space, and me doing some patching to the paintwork.
Today, unusually for us, has not been a total day of rest. I went to church but then, after bidding goodbye to Julie and Yvonne, we went to B&Q for light fittings and then to Bookers Cash and Carry to buy food and other bits and bobs- ready for the restaurant to start! On our return, I am cooking Sunday lunch whilst Mike undertakes the last outstanding big job – he is encasing the electricity consumer units (in the new kitchen) in a cupboard so that they (and all we are cooking) can be kept clean.
We have also received some wonderful feedback via Facebook (you can find us at facebook/penaeldroch) – and it only took me four phone calls with our children and several attempts to respond vaguely as I had originally intended. Grrr – I am going to have to arrange some serious training in social media if we are going to get this right, but I plan to set up my much-needed welsh lessons first!
I am still not 100% sure when we might be open, but I do believe tomorrow Jane is likely to be prepared to test the cooker and other equipment, so I guess I can be confident we are now very nearly ready…..oh the excitement (and other things best not mentioned here!)
