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Open all Year Round, all Day Every Day

Following a very successful summer we are planning a winter programme of events. We will be lighting fires daily so walk the beach and come in for lunch or tea. Book for High Tea or supper with the family or come and taste the exciting themed meals on Tuesday and Thursdays. We have set up an emailed letter once a week and there are already over 300 names on the list. We mail every Monday with information on spontaneous events particularly the themes for the week. Let us have your email address to be included in this scheme
FOOD AND DRINK Under the influence of Angus and the cooking team, we have taken a step forward, adding to what we can offer in the way of sustenance! We now offer “delicious delicacies” from 8.30 a.m. till 9.30 p.m. without a break. The emphasis will vary through the day but the times below will give an idea of what to expect. They are turning out some exciting meals…..Let Chris, Guy or Jon produce their best food to sustain and delight the palette. We still include children, of course, but it is on the understanding that they are adult enough to cope with grown up food and atmosphere. It is essential to book.

Exciting Times! Another special Chef has joined the team. Ex 3 Main Street, The Bar and Williams in Solva, Guy Morris has added another dimension to our mealtimes. We will be offering
delicious delicacies from 8.30 a.m. till 9.30 p.m. without a break. The emphasis will vary through the day but the times below will give an idea of what to expect.

Breakfast from 8.30 to 10.30 (please book as this is very popular especially with the residents!)
Morning Coffee (new Expresso Machine!) with croissant and buns from 10.00 till 12.30 p.m.
Lunch the usual bar style rolling and ever changing menu from 12.30 till 2.30 but in future some tables in the dining room will be bookable for those of you with more elegant standards!
Afternoon Tea from 2.30 till 5.30 There will be savoury as well as sweet so if you miss lunch….. A nice bit of Ham, Savoury Vegetable tart or cold pie and pickles…..?
High Tea from 5.30 till 6.30 to suit children (and their parents) who want something immediately after the beach but quickly, before falling asleep.
Theme Meals on Tuesday and Thursday 7.00 till 9.00 p.m. Indian, Greek, Italian, Thai, Mexican. For up to date information please let us have your email address and we will keep you in touch.
Dinner in the Dining Room—from 7.30 p.m. till 9.30 p.m. This is a candlelit affair with the emphasis on grown up, quiet, slow-down, after the children are in bed, space. Take your time over a good bottle of wine and a tasty sustaining dinner. We still include children, of course, but would like to get their orders around 7.00 for 7.30 in case they get impatient.


	HERE IS THE NEWS FOR 2005. Rod and Jane are taking their foot off the accelerator pedal as they approach retirement so you had best get used to it! Luckily for you Angus the charming son and heir is taking over and has already started to make his mark on the old place with his extraordinarily skilful kitchen creations. He feels strongly that he would like to continue running the place in the style that you have come to know and love. It is expected that he will develop his own ideas as Rod and Jane slow down. Rod is not slowing down at all at the moment…. He has bought a small red sports car with a noisy exhaust that he says is "high performance"! Jane has sold her horse and discovered travelling - probably a gipsy at heart. Both of them will be propping up the bar for a few years yet to come and I am sure that Jane will be found pruning roses or planting crocus bulbs for the voles to dig up and eat. Bring your pocket money for those Druidstone cuttings of fuchsias, fig trees and the famous and ancient vine (probably related to the Hampton Court Vine as it had an aristocratic childhood). Also scheduled for early 2005 is the semi-retirement of Peter Gowling who has been with us for close to half our working lives. Pete is going to continue to disentangle the books for us but at present Rosie McMullen, Beth Wilshaw and Hopcyn Huw Henry will be taking on most of the reception, telephone and booking duties. They will not let me put their photographs in the Newsletter. I told them it was a joke and could not possibly be construed as "Cheesy"!

INTERESTING……...VERY INTERESTING!

The new 6 term year is starting to make a difference to the school holidays already. We had youngsters on half term in both the week before and the week after the usual Autumn break, which, this year, started on the 22nd October. If this becomes routine we are going to be able to take more new family bookings for the school holiday times. Over the last few years it has become impossible to introduce new families to the glories of the Pembrokeshire coast because the "regulars" had cornered all the spaces. Autumn has been very special this year. Rainy and stormy but with lots of beautiful sunshine in between. And the surf was up. So if the pattern repeats in 2005 we should be able to help some of you would be Druids to get your tootsies in the door. Book those surf lessons, order that wetsuit. February Half Term is next up….


	Inside… Weddings past and future, Puppies and Kittens galore, Indian Adventures, Birdwatchers bonanza, Cycling and Princes Trust News, Calendar for 2005

Val Mulder was kind enough to compile a bird list during her visits in May and July 2004.

Nesting:

Robin

Blackbird

Goldfinch

Jackdaw

Linnet

Wren

Blue Tit

Dunnock

Stonechat

Swallow

Whitethroat Great Tit

Grasshopper warbler

Sedge warbler

House Sparrow

Pied Wagtail

Around:
Peregrine

Chough

Buzzard

Raven

Magpie

Willow Warbler

Chiff Chaff

Usually around but not this time:

Kestrel

Coal Tit

Bullfinch

Yellow Hammer

Also sighted the once rare but now quite common Red Kite, only two miles from Druidstone. Add that to the Golden Eagle and Griffon Vultures sighted in Croatia! But for me I can only manage the big birds. No actually, just last week I had a great morning watching the activity on the outside of the big garden wall. 7 Blue tits, 2 great tits, 2 wrens, a robin, a stonechat, 2 gold finches and a linnet all gathered for a picnic. Please let us know of any interesting sightings…….