Festive greetings to you all

Here at Beeses Aquatic Gardens, we’re getting in the Christmas mood with the aid of The Georgia Satellites blasting out Run Run Rudolph, which is just about drowning out the coughing, wheezing and spluttering of Ma Beese.  It could be that she’s giving the mince pies an over-enthusiastic shake of castor sugar, but judging by the accompaniment of seasonally-related grousing, Pa had better shake a leg with the seventh medicinal brandy or there could be trouble...

Bad Ma Boogie
After the snoozefest we told you about in the previous newsletter, the activity levels have been ramped up as we prepare for 2009.  We signed off last time by saying that there wouldn’t be any work during this winter, but as many of you know, Ma isn’t known for sitting around and admiring the view (unless it’s our regular Fire Brigade inspection...).  As John Lee Hooker might have put it, its in her and its got to come out (much to the alarm of the firemen, methinks...)!

Flush too much
So she’s had to give in and scratch that itch.  If you’ve been coming for a while you’ll know that we gutted and refurbished the bar last winter, and the ladies loos got a makeover.  Accusations of an antiquated display of gender inequality were breezily laughed away by Ma Beeses, blinded as she was by the sheer beauty of the feminine throne room.  Nevertheless, that wrong will be righted this winter and next year gentlemen callers to Beeses will be able to seek sanctuary and relief in surroundings befitting their nobility.  Pa knew that subscription to the Michelin calendar was worthwhile...

So where was I?  Oh yes, Mike Pope, the crack craftsman (try saying that quickly...) we used for the ladies has been given this task, and in other exhausting news, we’re going to be laying a new flagstone floor in the bar.  Well, I say “we”, if by that you think “we” might include Pa Beese, well, you see there’s this old injury, it keeps flaring up see, especially when in close proximity to heavy manual labour...so when Mike’s finished the gents he’ll be doing the floor as well, so don’t go distracting him!

There’s Gonna Be Some Gardenin’
We’re also putting some work into the marquee garden.  Clare, our award-winning gardener, is overseeing the final details of the plan so we can’t say too much right now, but we think it’s going to look even nicer when it’s finished.  She’s clearly not sitting on her laurels as she’s already dug up every flower bed in the place.  It’s a bit of a mystery to Pa as to what Clare’s got in mind as talk of borders, bulbs and bushes can lead to dizzy spells and the onset of a swift half.  But the Bristol in Bloom title won’t be given up easily!  Huzzah!!!

Big Balls
Ma’s been finding time to go gadding about, and has managed to be seen at gallery openings, touring the Norfolk Broads and jumping around at a Night Marchers gig.  Ma is also VERY excited to be going to see a diminutive, sweaty 53 year-old man pull down his shorts to her and several thousand other people next year.  I am of course referring to the triumphant return of AC/DC, and Ma will be going to pay homage to the mighty Angus Young for the first time (Hail Angus!).  It’s the first time that Beeses has seen a different kind of duck walk (arf!)...

Hells Bells
The more observant of you (do try and stay awake at the back...) may have noticed a cunning reference at the beginning of this epistle to Beeses Aquatic Gardens.  And it is true to say that we did have a couple of days when the river decided to poke its nose over the bank and have a wander round the garden.  Ma and Pa are getting used to these events now, but they were out-performed in the complacency stakes by Bristol’s latest entrants for the Darwin Awards who were spotted strolling along the path on the opposite bank.  I say they were using the path, but unless they have some new-fangled glasses what can see through two feet of muddy water, it’s a bit of an open question!

Have A Drink On Me
Ooh, there’s nothing like a bit of finger wagging to get in the Christmas spirit, is there?  And on that uplifting note, we’ve got to go, as those sprouts won’t peel themselves.  We’ll be back with an update on the works in the New Year, and the date of our preview opening ahead of Easter.  In the meantime, if you find yourself day-dreaming about sipping a cool pint on a sun-dappled river bank, give yourself a reminder by taking a look at the pictures from BeerFest08 (accent on the second syllable and after me: beer-FEST-oh-eight!).  Not only did we forget to put them in the last newsletter, we forgot to say thanks to Pete Loft for taking many of them.  Thanks Pete!

Have a great Christmas and New Year, and we’ll see you in 2009.

Lurve

Ma and Pa Beese
Beeses Bar & Tea Gardens
www.beeses.co.uk
www.myspace.com/beeses
Tel: 0117 977 7412