Gardeners Rest #19 (2024)

[Nicos]

It’s that time again folks!!!
The Gardeners Rest will be open over the Festive Season from Sunday 15th December to Thursday 2nd January inclusive.

Please feel free to join in- the more the merrier tbh!

[Nicos]

As the frost crunched underfoot Nicos gazed around at the winter beauty of the village green and pond.
Nestled right next to them was the Gardeners Rest.
She pulled out the large, heavy key from her pocket and headed to the front door.
Turning the key she grinned . So much had happened in the past year and she glanced down at the newspaper clipping in her hand.

Headline in large bold type….…“The Gardeners Rest has been refurbished.”

The Gardeners rest has been refurbished.
Lottie Dolly, a.k.a Miz Spelling, the new landlady, is waiting to welcome you all along with her best friend Mrs Go-4it who is none other than our famous catering manager, a.k.a. Greenishfing.
We have modernised all the ancient bedrooms and installed new modern kitchens.
There is also a well equipped games room, gym, sauna, jacuzzi and splash pool.

The builders,Mr Bodgit and Mr Scarper, have now left. Staff required. Please apply within.

This year, we are hosting the Gardener's Rest Christmas Bake off. All are welcome to enter. Luxurious accommodation will be provided. There will be several "celebrity" entrants ......to be announced later .... although we are sure they won't actually win the competition!? We have the famous recipe for Christmas puddings, as supplied by René Artois. Baul and Brue will be our celebrity judges.”



Miz Spelling and Mrs Go-4it were already indoors excitedly doing something…

[lottie dolly]

Hello all,I Miz Spelling and my good friend Mrs GO-4it would like to welcome all to the newly refubished Gardeners rest,a free drink with a mince pie and sausage roll awaits the first 5 to sigh in,we hope you enjoy your stay with us ,so once again WELCOME

[lottie dolly]

Mrs Go-4it is busy in the kitchen as i speak,i am sure she will make an appearance when the kitchen staff are all settled into their brief,the cosey log fire is gently glowing,the christmas tree is looking extra beautiful twinkling lights are a real treat for the eyes as they dance about the baubles,the fairy dressed in gold sits proudly on top of the tree,i am pretty sure i even saw the smiles dancing around,maybe that's what Nicos saw earlier on,it was them on a dress rehersal
,the resident cat a ginger tom may be seen at times,there are also sprigs of Mistltoe about if you look up,

[Snoop Puss]

Oh, said Snoop with a very pronounced sigh, am I one of the first to sigh in? She sighed again as loudly as she could and then apologised. 'So sorry, Miz Spelling, I know what you meant but I'm so keen to try one of the mince pies I thought I'd better make sure I complied with your requirements.'

She looked around and sighed again, this time with genuine pleasure at the sight of the Gardeners Rest in such fine fettle. She was pretty sure the fairy gave her a wink as well. Unsure how to respond, she turned around just as...

[Nicos]

Hmmmmmggrhump said Nicos looking rather shocked…..She’d accidentally stuffed a rather yummy looking sausage roll in her mouth without realising she was supposed to sigh first
Her attempt at sighing with a mouth full of flakey pastry wasn’t really being pulled off….

[lottie dolly]

miz Spelling jumps in to give Nicos the heimlich manover,suddenly the sausage roll shot out as she suddenly was reminded how she got the name,it shot in the air and ....

[lottie dolly]

Sat there wondering what the noise was,on investigating,it was a santa on his sleigh,it was not music just a horrible noise,there was a christmas tree,snowman and other things not recogniesed bouncing around in the street,and some with buckets,not the usual one that we have had,one that made you want to go out and and wave ,i hope he not going to show up at gardeners rest,or else sparks will fly,no idea it was even taking place,very bad planning indeed,better luck next year

[lottie dolly]

Miz Spelling sat and thought about the first day of opening,and hopes more guests will SIGN in during the next few days,i will check and see if all the media has responded to my request for advertising the opening,i am also thinking a celebraty should have been engaged to cut a ribbon,i will now take stroll around to check all is well with the guest we have,then retire to my room,where i HOPE for a peacefull nights sleep

[greenishfing]

Mrs Go-4it crept quietly downstairs towards the kitchen to put the coffee pot on. All was peaceful. Everywhere was deserted until she stuck her head into the bar. A woman, definitely enough to know better, was snoring loudly, curled up atop the pool table. She was sure that she recognised that face.......

[Nicos]

’Flo?’ she asked, gently shaking her shoulder….’you ok?’

Flo slowly stretched, then grinned.
’ I just popped in last night to see if you had any decent brandy for my homemade Xmas puddings, but I had no idea you stocked so many!…I only had the teenest sample of each one - honest!’

‘Ah well…come on, I’ll fetch the one I use , just bring back what’s left please as I’ve another batch of puddings to get going later today’
and off they both headed to the kitchens…old friends reunited
(And when I say ‘old’….we’re really not talking about age here Rary - if you are reading this!)

[lottie dolly]

GOOD MORNING ALL shouts Miz Spelling as she walks in after hearing voices(and no no no real ones),there stood FF and Nicos ,a bottle off house brandy on the table,Miz Spelling giggled to herself,little did they know,as to what was really in the bottle,or if it was placed deliberatly,hope you had a good sleep Nicos,and do not forget to SIGN in FF,i will have your luggage take to your room,with that she departed to try and find Mrs Go-4it

[Snoop Puss]

Snoop stumbled through the door. What with all the racket, giggling, clanking of bottles and shouting that she'd heard on her way downstairs, she wasn't sure what she was going to find but certainly not an empty room. Where was everyone?

She looked around and caught the fairy's eye. Yes, that was a distinct wink. No doubt about it. Hmm, Snoop thought to herself - and indeed who else would she think to - I won't say anything till someone else mentions it. They'll think I'm bonkers if no-one else has seen it.

The smell of coffee wafted from the kitchen. Are guests allowed in the kitchen? she wondered...

[lottie dolly]

NO they are not said MIz Spelling,it's against health and safety,if need any thing please just snap your fingers and a waiter will be along to assist your needs,Miz Spelling twiches her nose,mmmmmm,hope snoop has not realized what makes the tree fairy appear to wink

[Snoop Puss]

But I can't snap my fingers, said Snoop. Listen... And it was true. There was just a dull kind of noise, nothing that a waiter would notice, still less pay attention to.

And I can't whistle either... And I don't want to shout oi, you, waiter! Any other suggestions as to how I might draw attention?

She didn't like to mention Florence Fennel and Nicos, who were clearly visible in the kitchen. Giggling around what looked like easy half a dozen brandy bottles and it was only just ten o'clock in the morning...