The Hall Booking: Two Conflicting Notices
You want to book a community hall near Caernarfon for Saturday 14 March, 2-6pm, for 30 people, with use of the kitchen. You have two sources. A newsletter dated 1 February this year says: the hall is closed from 10 to 14 March for an electrical inspection; the kitchen is unavailable until 20 March; bookings are by email to [email protected]; the deposit is £25; capacity is 40. A poster on the hall door says: 'Available most weekends - kitchen included - call 07700 900123.' The poster is undated and mentions last year's summer fair. You need a definite answer before paying a deposit, and you do not want to turn up on 14 March to find the hall closed.
1. Can you book the hall for 14 March with kitchen use? Explain using the newsletter dates.
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No. The newsletter says the hall is closed from 10 to 14 March for an electrical inspection, and 14 March falls inside that range. Even if the hall reopened late on 14 March, the kitchen is unavailable until 20 March, so your kitchen requirement is not met. The capacity of 40 is fine for 30 people, but capacity does not override closure dates. The correct next step is to ask about Saturday 21 March or later, when both the hall and kitchen should be available, and to confirm this in writing before paying the £25 deposit.
2. Write a 40-50 word email enquiry in Welsh that states your needs and asks two specific questions.
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Annwyl Swyddog, Rwyf am holi am y neuadd ar ddydd Sadwrn 21 Mawrth, rhwng 2 a 6pm, i 30 o bobl. A yw'r neuadd ar gael, ac a allwn ddefnyddio'r gegin? Hefyd, faint yw'r deposit, ac a oes angen talu nawr? Diolch yn fawr, [Enw]. This is about 45 words. It gives the date, time and group size, asks about availability and kitchen use, and asks about the deposit and payment timing. The register is formal but simple: 'Rwyf am holi', 'A yw... ar gael', 'A allwn...'. It does not mention the old poster, which avoids confusion.
3. Why should you not rely on the door poster? Give two reasons and one safe next step.
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First, the poster is undated, so it may describe last year's arrangements. Second, it refers to last year's summer fair, which suggests it is out of date, and it conflicts with the dated newsletter's closure and kitchen dates. A poster saying 'available most weekends' is not a confirmed booking. The safe next step is to email the address in the newsletter and ask for written confirmation of the date, kitchen use and deposit. Keep that reply. If you only phone the mobile number on the poster, you may get verbal information that cannot later be checked.