Well we had quite a range of people staying last week, from a single female who lives in Beijing and who came to Rhayader to see a psychotherapist and who also met one of our ghosts as part of the deal (not planned) we were talking in the bar and I happened to mention some of the stories about various sightings.  She recalled her eventful evening when I saw her the next day on check out, she looked a little tired.  Apparently she had gone to her room and watched as the bathroom door swung shut, she ran from the room and let out a bloodcurdling cry, but noone was there to hear her.  She returned to the room determined to be brave and had a hot shower only to see a face in the misted shower cubicle which freaked her out more.  Her next ploy was to make her self busy around the room and keep talking to herself this kept her awake for most of the night and accounted for her rather weary appearance.  After hearing the story and not managing to keep my face straight I can only assume that she was blessed with a very highly attuned sense of imagination.   

We also had another couple staying at the same time, Margaret and Ken (not real names) who were with us for five days and Margaret was very severely handicapped.  She could only move her head, a ceoliac and quite a challenging customer but very pleasant and not in anyway bad tempered or irritable.  Ken her husband was a star, he did everything but not with any frustration or anger just pure love, it wasn’t a hardship or a chore.  You couldn’t feel sorry for them or take pity on their plight its just the way it was and I for one was humbled by their steadfast determination not to let it get them down.

Vintage car enthusiasts, twenty plus Morgan Cars dropped by for lunch. Then or so for a wedding anniversary;  the parents of Tony who we buy our mutton from www.elanvalley.mutton.co.uk.  We also had staying fifteen very loud and happy golfers who are bikers in disguise and more dogs and owners than you can ‘throw a stick for’, we seem to have become the billet of choice for folks entering their dogs into the four dog shows that take place in Builth Wells Showground and a very happy group of people they are, I can only assume that dog owners get a rough deal at other hotels based on their comments. 

Mid – October and we are starting to take Christmas bookings and this weekend the bikers are back along with half a dozen couples who are attending the cob sales (Welsh Mountain Pony Sales) and three couples walking and trying out our Welsh Tapas Menu, that and another party of twenty  will keep us all gainfully employed  for at least this weekend.

The organic food is going well and although I was very sceptical at first just doing it for the marketing aspect I can really taste the difference and more importantly so can our customers.  My current favourite starter is confit of duck leg with red onion marmalade followed by Organic Herb Crusted Rack of Welsh Lamb with leek and potato dauphiniose and a red wine reduction for desserts I have been making among other things a white chocolate and blueberry mousse.