The two sisters Tegai and Luned live in the house where they were brought up, although the building has noe been split into two. The low house is located in a quiet spot close to the centre of Gaiman, the town where Luned used to work as a headteacher, and where Tegai looks after the museum.
owners: Luned Gonzalez & Tegai Roberts location: Gaiman, Patagonia style: A house full of artefacts – nothing gets thrown away here best feature: The American cabinet in Tegai’s kitchen, and the ‘psychedelic’ dining table in Luned’s kitchen
Although Tegai spent some years living away, she inevitably returned to her old home. She declares “I felt as if I was a visitor in the other places, and that this place would call me back in the end.”
The hand of history can be felt throughout the house – as one might expect, seeing as the sisters are related to some of the prime movers in the story of the Welsh colony in Patagonia. They’re descended from two of the venture’s founders, Michael D Jones and Lewis Jones, and their great-aunt was the author Eluned Morgan. Many of her old pieces of furniture can be found in Tegai’s part of the house, where you can also see one of Kyffin Williams' paintings. There’s an interesting ancient fireplace, complete with a collection of goose feathers to sweep up the ash.
In Luned’s half of the house there’s an office/lounge which is full of an eclectic collection of useful objects. There are colourful frescoes with a Patagonian feel on the wall, painted by Luned’s late husband. Luned’s favourite room is the kitchen, a wonderfully light-filled room in which 11 people can sit comfortably around the colourful table.
