- Dad: Cerdin (46) - Lorry driver
- Mum: Debra (39) - Housewife
- Children: Steffan (13), Angharad (12) and Gethin (8)
- Location: Ceredigion
Why did you want to take part in Coal House?
Debra: My grandfather was a miner so coming from a mining background I thought it would be a great experience and a chance to find out a lot more about how things were. I can't take credit for it though, it was Steffan's idea.
What are you most looking forward to?
Cerdin: I want to see if I'm up to the mining.
Debra: It'll be nice to spend quality time as a family. The children spend quite a lot of time watching television or on the computer or the Playstation, so it will be good to get away from it all and use this opportunity to talk and discuss as a family. We do try to listen to one another's opinion, but it doesn't always work that way!
Steffan: I'm looking forward to the adventure of it all.
Angharad and Gethin: It'll be fun dressing up in different clothes and going to an old school.
What do you think could make your Coal House experience difficult?
Cerdin: Cold dark October nights.
Debra: Having to live without everything we take for granted these days is going to be difficult, not even heating or a hot running bath! I'm not looking forward to having cold feet. I hope there are enough bed socks to go around.
Steffan: Lack of food. I like food!
Angharad: Living without my computer
Gethin: No kids TV.
Why do you think you were chosen out of 150 families?
Debra: I really can't answer that one, maybe because we were just being us. We really enjoyed the selection day.
What do you know about life and work in a 1927 coal mining community?
Debra: We've all done some sort of research and we've been to museums but I don't think we can prepare ourselves for what's ahead. I'll be celebrating my 40th birthday during the experience, which apparently was considered a relatively mature age in 1927.
What do you think you're going to miss most from 2007?
Debra: Cerdin will probably miss his deodorant because he sweats a lot! I don't know what he'll be like working in the mine. I'd quite like to take my tumble dryer with me. Isn't that sad?
Steffan: Television.
Angharad: I'd like to take my pony with me.
Gethin: Luxury chocs.
What kind of family would be your best/worst neighbours?
Cerdin: Nasty, aggressive and antisocial. That can't be good.
Debra: We've been told by our neighbours that we're sociable neighbours and always there when needed. That's nice of them!
What are you afraid of?
Cerdin: Rats and confined spaces. It doesn't bode well for working in the mine, does it?
Steffan: The dark, especially when I've been reading ghost stories.
Debra: I'm generally not afraid of the dark but it depends where I am and what noises I hear.
