Q: Only 10%? That doesn't sound like much.

A: Everything in the investment world has to do with risk vs. return. This is 10% for a 3 to 6 month investment, or 15% if it takes longer. That's a 20/40% return on an annual basis, completely secure, guaranteed and safeguarded.

The real point is, your money is never at risk, will be in only in two forms -- cash in a company account, a company in which you have shares -- or in the form of a first mortgage against a property worth about three times the value of the loan.

Q: Why are you doing this?

A: To fight off some bottom feeding financial sharks (and I'm sorry for the insult to all the self-respecting real sharks who get an undeserved bad rap).

The back story is an old and tired one, but common in today's crunch. About 18 months ago I got a nasty diagnosis and was told I had less than a year to live (I'm 75).

So I did the obvious and went looking for the best cancer treatment available.

I found a clinic in the USA, hugely expensive of course, so I had to make a decision between continuing to pay the bank mortgage, or to pay for my advanced but unconventional treatment, which wasn't covered by our private health insurance plan, nor on the UK or Spanish national health plans.

So my choice was between spending our liquid cash to try to save or extend my life, or pay the bank.

Frankly, that was a no-brainer. What would you have done?

Well, in the end it was expensive, uncomfortable, painful sometimes and boring sometimes, but it worked -- I'm still here. At least for now.

What followed was utterly predictable -- the bank couldn't actually foreclose on us, but put our loan up for sale and several opportunists with liquid cash are trying to buy the debt and throw us out of the hotel, leaving us with nothing after twenty-some years of work.

But they won't be able to do it if we can raise the funds to buy the debt before 1 June.

Q: So there's a deadline. Isn't that dangerous for your investors?

A: No, because not a penny will move until all the funds have been pledged and the purchase of the debt has been arranged. Then it will all happen quickly.

Q: Exactly what will happen?

A: The company lawyer will collect your investment and issue your shares. Remember, we are not part of the company. He then will buy the mortgage from the bank and the company will hold the debt on the property. We ourselves will move forward -- as in fact we already are doing -- to sell the hotel. When the new buyers pay off the mortgage debt held by your company, you will be paid back your investment, plus the premium, dividend, interest, or whatever you choose to call it -- your profit.

Q: What if you die before this all happens? You said you're ill.

A: Everybody dies. If I die before this is all wrapped up, my partner and my son and daughters will take it over and make it happen.

Q: What if you can't sell the hotel?

A: Everything sells at some price. The worst case scenario might affect us, but not our investors -- if it doesn't sell for 2.9 million, or 2.5 million, or 2.1 million, or 1.8 million or 1.5 million, or 1.3 million, it will surely sell for 1.1 million, which is the price needed to pay off all the investors, with interest.

Q: Could the investors' shares be diluted?

A: No. Shares will be offered on a one euro for one share basis and the total capital will be limited to one million shares, sufficient to buy back the bank loan, make some aesthetic upgrades to the hotel to make it even more saleable, take care of some very small tax and staff perk debts, and have enough to make a large marketing splash to sell the property. It's in the company's interest, the investors' interest, to make those extra expenditures.

Q: Is there a minimum investment?

A: Yes, but we haven't completely decided what it should be. Certainly it isn't worthwhile to run up our legal fees for small amounts, and so we'll be looking for more substantial sums, but at the same time would like to keep the door open for people who like the idea but who may not be all that liquid. Tell us what's comfortable for you.

Q: Is this a speculative investment?

A: No. At least none of the legal and professional investment people we've talked to see it that way. You start with a pledge, non-binding. Then your money buys some shares, all backed by the cash you put in, on a one euro to one share basis. Then your money buys a first mortgage on a valuable asset, that once sold, yields you a dividend payback. It's as simple as that.

Q: Are there any perks for investors?

A: Why not? We'll throw in a week's stay in one of our suites for every investor, subject to availability and the potential sale of the property.

Q: Who is acting for you?

A: The lawyers won't be acting for us; they'll be acting for you. The first investors in will get to choose them. We'll keep you advised if you express interest in coming aboard.

Write to me at myhideawayinspain@gmail.com

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