Work on the old mine continues. Still got electrical problems and MANWEB (our local supplier) has dug a big hole to try and improve the earth connection!!

As to the future? The mine is an absolute gem and needs to be saved for the Welsh Nation. Open market solutions do not really wash! The site and the collections are uniquely Welsh and should stay within the control of the area. We are looking at a Third Sector (Not-for-Profit) solution. Any assistance with the mechanics of this process would be most welcome. How do we get safely into harbour? CADW and the National Trust have declined to help. Any ideas?

A bit of rain in the Cambrians today but quite mild! Frogspawn has hatched in the pond and tadpoles are everywhere.

The rogue Eagle is still being sighted in the hills, along with our resident Red Kites.

Greetings to all our members in hard-rock mining areas of the States. We would love to hear from you and perhaps you could help with future plans for our Silver-Lead Mine.

Best wishes,

Peter

PS. How are our friends in Oak Hill, Ohio?

Spring has come early in the Cambrian Mountains! A good rate of progress yesterday, with the electricians upgrading various bits of equipment and the 'old firm' working on scraping tattered paintwork after the severe winter.

Sad news about Liz Taylor. In the 1970's she was a regular visitor to the area as her son, Michael Wilding Jnr, lived in a happy hippy place called Ffynnon-wen at Ystumtuen. The 70's was like that in Mid Wales! All the older generations of local folk were still alive with the Welsh speaking communities still largely intact, but with a scattering of fascinating in-comers! It's not like that anymore and the area is split between the humdrum and the ultra-greens!!! Despite everything, the Welsh language survives, particularly in the remote farming communities. Long may it do so.

Anyway, back to the old mine and more paint scraping!

Peter

36 years in one spot on a Ceredigion Mountainside and I've had enough! In those years I've restored a complete hard-rock mine with a 260 year old heritage, put together a unique collection of mining gear and established a large reference library & archive! Last September, I decided to retire as the joints were creaking a bit more than usual! Probably something to do with the rainfall on Pumlumon!!!

A deal was done to sell the old mine and my lifetime's workl! All was going well until February when the keen buyers

removed themselves from the market! So, I'm up in the hills for yet another season, giving guided tours and telling people about the Welsh Lead Miners of long ago. In the 1880's many travelled to the USA and we have a sizeable link with the Silverton area of Colorado!

Any Welsh exiles out in the USA who fancy a hard-rock mine back home in Wales? I'd be most pleased to hear from you!

Peter