Ho ho ho, time flies by when you’re freezing your nuts off on a damp riverbank...that’s chestnuts of course, which Ma Beese likes best when they’re hot and salty, so this festive greeting is intended to cleverly disguise the fact that this newsletter is becoming more irregular than finding a balanced, well-argued article in the Daily Mail.

But it hasn’t all been sunning oneselves in warmer climes, the putting up of feet and feeling all warm and toasty on the sofa, although there has been plenty of that, obviously. Ma’s been cracking the whip so that plans are already afoot for 2010, and Matt, our scruffy but talented chef, has come to realise what being indentured to Ma really means. Yes, he’s going to need some false teeth soon.

So in an effort to stave off such a violent outcome, Matt’s got busy by making changes to the menus for next year, and already he’s planned out all of the fish suppers that we’ll be running next year. The format will be the same as this year: they’re on the first Wednesday evening of each month, with bookings accepted in advance with a deposit. We’ll be sending you more details of these in the New Year, but you’ll have to get your skates on as this year they tended to fill up six weeks or more in advance. Of course, Ma and Pa Beese weren’t overly surprised once word of Matt’s expertise got out. The Evening Post even got in on the act with this rather spiffing review of the first fish supper, so he’s now got to maintain the standard (if he doesn’t, he’ll be trying to maintain his posture after Ma has administered some disciplinary action...).

The menus aren’t fixed yet, but you could find yourself feasting on roasted monkfish with braised puy lentils and rosemary infused balsamic reduction...mmmmmm...or lemon sole with marsh samphire, dauphinoise potatoes and lemon and herb butter...mmmmmm...or mackerel with crab and saffron couscous and coconut veloute...he’s a dab hand at the ol’ desserts too, making them all himself this year (none of yer Marks & Sparks bought-in puds here!). Strawberry and champagne trifle with shortbread...Portuguese custard tart with caramel sauce and caramelized banana...apple and blueberry crumble with amaretto crème anglaise...maybe we should have a dessert evening...

If that’s got your lips smacking, you can head on over to the Beeses calendar and start plugging those dates into your diary. You’ll need to scroll down a bit as it only shows the next few weeks at first, but as you do you’ll see we’ve already got other events booked in such as Professor Beese’s quiz nights, the beer festival (our fifth!), and several bands including Elvis Fontenot and the Sugar Bees, Groovegrinder, Ponchartain and Straight Shooter.

We’re going to love you and leave you, or it’ll never get sent. Ma and Pa wish you all a super festive season, and we’ll see you again in the New Year.