Last minute checklist

These are things you should bring:

• Pillow case, single sheet, single duvet cover (or additional sheet to protect the duvet). If you don't you'll be charged £4.50 hire charge.
• A torch
• Warm & waterproof clothes and shoes
• Slippers or indoor shoes to wear in the cabins - no external footwear allowed.
• Food for Friday night (if you're not eating on the journey)
• Snack food if you want it
• Your own towel
• Directions to CAT (and to the cabins)
• My phone number in case you get delayed: 07970 643555 (and an emergency backup phone in case the main one doesn't have reception: 07733 554619)

Weather and Travel

Despite the extreme weather, it's looking reasonable for travelling.

The Met Office have issued a "Be Prepared" weather warning for Wales on Thursday and Friday, but Saturday and Sunday are clear.

The latest weather forecast shows a minimum temperature of minus 2 degrees C, which isn't too bad, and then a bit of snow on Sunday.

For latest traffic information have a look at Traffic Wales or AA Roadwatch.

Finding the cabins

When you get to CAT you'll need to find the eco-cabins.

If you arrive after reception is closed, make sure you study this aerial photo / map.

Essentially you should park in the car park, and then take the path to the south which leads up to CAT via the eco-cabins. As you go between the two poly-tunnels you'll see the cabins to your left, beyond the vegetable gardens.

After the poly-tunnels take the first path to the left, and the entrance is in the centre, between the two cabins.

If you're expecting to arrive after dark bring a torch with you.

Travel

The venue is The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Machynlleth, Powys, Wales, SY20 9AZ.

CAT has published a page of travel information.

Here's a map.

If you are travelling by train, the centre is 3 miles from Machynlleth station. There are buses/taxis but if you let me know when you are going to arrive I'll see if we can come and pick you up.

If you're willing to offer lifts from the station, let me know, so I don't have to make half a dozen trips personnally!

People staying off-site

There are two of you staying off-site and coming for the Saturday evening meal and party.

There are 33 or 34 people staying in the cabins.

I've paid for 36 people to stay in the cabins and get free entrance to CAT.

So if you're thinking of visiting CAT for the day, I'd appreciate it if you told them you're part of my party and staying in the cabins (so you get in free) and then pay me the entrance fee instead. That would help me offset the £32 loss I'm making on each of those empty beds :-(

Breakfast food

This is what I've bought for the breakfasts:

• Kellogg's Cornflakes
• Ready Brek
• ASDA Frosted Flakes
• ASDA Fruit and Fibre


• ASDA Organic Sweetened Soya Milk
• Milk (skimmed/semi-skimmed/full fat)


• Orange juice with fruity bits
• Fairtrade orange juice
• Apple juice
• Exotic juice drink


• Fairtrade breakfast tea
• Fairtrade earl grey tea
• Fairtrade organic instant coffee
• Sugar


• Bread (mostly wholemeal, some white)
• Butter
• 'Pure' soya marge


• ASDA clear honey
• Hartleys best raspberry jam
• Hartleys best bramble jelly
• Fairtrade organic chocolate spread


• Cox apples
• Braeburn apples
• Fairtrade bananas

Snack food

I've bought the following:

• Hobnobs
• ASDA Bourbon creams

There's 8 packet of biscuits for 30 people, so about a quarter of a packet each. So enough to go with your afternoon cup of tea, but not to really fill you up if you're hungry.

It's worth you brining some snack food if you like to eat between meals.

Party food / drink

I'm bringing a couple of vegan chocolate cakes to the Saturday night party.

If you want any drinks (alcoholic or otherwise) please bring them with you.

If you feel you might want some party nibbles, please bring them with you.

Other food

You will need to make your own arrangements for food for Friday night, Saturday lunch and Sunday lunch.

Machynlleth (3 miles away) supposedly has some shops and two takeaways. The Centre has a restaurant open on Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes.

You can bring your own food to cook in the cabins. The cabins have a wood stove and a gas cooker. The cabins do not have fridges, so plan accordingly.