I wrote Keith a few days ago and his reply follows ---This is NOT good! I'm sure
moral and spiritual support (if you are so inclined) would be welcomed!
Hi Emily,
Thanks for the e-mail, heaven knows we need some cheering up right now. I
presume news has not reached your parts of the National Disaster that we are
enduring in Britain?
This is the trouble, if you do not have a flood, famine or earthquake,
nobody gets to know.
Right now, we are in the 3rd week of a national outbreak of foot and mouth
amongst all cloven-hoof animals!
Already thousands of animals have been slaughtered, farmers have to light
huge bonfires to dispose of the carcases.
Tourism is at an absolute standstill, bookings are being cancelled as all
public rights of way have been closed. There is a £5,000 fine if you
disobey.
It really is most distressing and our government is closing its eyes to the
enormity, all they have said is that there will be compensation for the loss
of animals, meanwhile multi-million pound business of tourism is at a
standstill. Our tourism bodies are trying to tell people that there are
still some things to do, but it is feeble. Even the Lake is cordoned off for
fear of transmission of the disease by dogs / humans carrying the virus.
Disinfected straw mats are everywhere to try to kill the virus on car tyres
travelling from infected areas to currently non-infected areas.
If you want to read a bit about it, see
www.visitwales.com/foot_mouth.html
Sorry I'm a bit glum, but everyone is absolutely devastated, especially in
rural areas. For us personally, our investment of the apartment is starting
its 3rd year, a time when you expect a business to be starting to mature.
Did I tell you I had re-written the site to a multi-page one?
www.balawales.com/bryntegbach
Hope you are mending well. Regards, Keith.