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| Dutchman wins bookshop in west Wales win raffle draw | Dutchman wins bookshop in west Wales win raffle draw |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| As far as raffle prizes go, they do not come much bigger, or as surreal, as the one offered by Paul Morris. | |
| The 57-year-old book store owner gave customers the chance to win his shop Bookends in west Wales along with its contents if they spent more than £20. | The 57-year-old book store owner gave customers the chance to win his shop Bookends in west Wales along with its contents if they spent more than £20. |
| Mr Morris, who is taking early retirement, said he wanted to give it to someone who may not usually have the chance to run their own business. | Mr Morris, who is taking early retirement, said he wanted to give it to someone who may not usually have the chance to run their own business. |
| The winning ticket was picked by sci-fi fan and Dutchman Ceisjan Van Heerden. | The winning ticket was picked by sci-fi fan and Dutchman Ceisjan Van Heerden. |
| He will be giving up his job in customer service to relocate to Cardigan in Ceredigion, on the west Wales coast. | He will be giving up his job in customer service to relocate to Cardigan in Ceredigion, on the west Wales coast. |
| "I was so shocked when I heard I had won," said Mr Van Heerden. "It's surreal. I had a coffee and a sit down to take it all in." | "I was so shocked when I heard I had won," said Mr Van Heerden. "It's surreal. I had a coffee and a sit down to take it all in." |
| Father-of-two Mr Morris set up Bookends in 2014 after decades working in the publishing industry. | Father-of-two Mr Morris set up Bookends in 2014 after decades working in the publishing industry. |
| "I'd always thought Cardigan needed a book store and one night I was on eBay when I saw 18,000 books for sale - and it went from there." | "I'd always thought Cardigan needed a book store and one night I was on eBay when I saw 18,000 books for sale - and it went from there." |
| Two lorry trips later - and six days of shelf stacking - the shop was up and running and has hosted in-store appearances by poets and authors. | Two lorry trips later - and six days of shelf stacking - the shop was up and running and has hosted in-store appearances by poets and authors. |
| 'No-one loses' | 'No-one loses' |
| However, with Mr Morris' osteoarthritis worsening over the years he reluctantly decided to call it a day - but wanted to sell it with a difference. | However, with Mr Morris' osteoarthritis worsening over the years he reluctantly decided to call it a day - but wanted to sell it with a difference. |
| For three months, people who spent more than £20 were entered into a raffle. | For three months, people who spent more than £20 were entered into a raffle. |
| "I didn't want to sell the shop and then see a chain take it over - I wanted it to stay a bookshop but give someone different a go," he said. | "I didn't want to sell the shop and then see a chain take it over - I wanted it to stay a bookshop but give someone different a go," he said. |
| "I figured a raffle would be good, because no-one loses. Even if they did not get the shop, they still have some great books to read." | "I figured a raffle would be good, because no-one loses. Even if they did not get the shop, they still have some great books to read." |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| On 1 September, number 33 was picked out of the hat to the tune of The Winner Takes It All by Abba in a packed bookshop. | On 1 September, number 33 was picked out of the hat to the tune of The Winner Takes It All by Abba in a packed bookshop. |
| Its new owner Mr Van Heerden, known to friends as CJ, learned of his good fortune through a text message. | Its new owner Mr Van Heerden, known to friends as CJ, learned of his good fortune through a text message. |
| He said he plans to run the shop with his friend Svaen Bjorn, from Iceland. | He said he plans to run the shop with his friend Svaen Bjorn, from Iceland. |
| The pair have been friends for the past nine years after meeting on the internet - but have never actually met face-to-face. | The pair have been friends for the past nine years after meeting on the internet - but have never actually met face-to-face. |
| "It might sound strange, but we can make it work and it is just an amazing opportunity," said Mr Van Heerden, ahead of the formal hand-over on 5 November. | "It might sound strange, but we can make it work and it is just an amazing opportunity," said Mr Van Heerden, ahead of the formal hand-over on 5 November. |