Weekly newsletter from the Landlord
CHRISTMAS MENU 2010
ROASTED PARSNIP SOUP WITH CRUSTY BREAD
OR
TRADITIONAL PRAWN COCKTAIL WITH BROWN BREAD
AND BUTTER
OR
DUCK AND ORANGE PATE WITH CRUSTY BREAD
OR
DEEP FRIED BREADED BRIE WITH A CRANBERRY DIP
**********************
CHOICE OF TURKEY OR BEEF FROM THE CARVERY
WITH TRADITIONAL ACCOMPANIMENTS
OR
POACHED SALMON FILLET WITH A GARLIC
& TOMATO SAUCE
OR
FESTIVE BUTTERNUT SQUASH & STILTON PIE WITH
A CRUNCHY NUT CRUMBLE TOPPING
OR
MOROCCAN LAMB STEW
*MAIN MEALS SERVED AT THE CARVERY SO THAT YOU
CAN HELP YOUR SELF TO VEGETABLES*
DESSERTS :- CHRISTMAS PUDDING OR A CHOICE
FROM THE CAROUSEL
TEA OR COFFEE CHRISTMAS CRACKER!
COST PER PERSON £19.95
31 Aug 2010
Dear Customers,
Now wasn't that a Bank Holiday to remember? The only thing that was remotely good about it was because of the awful weather a lot of you stayed close to home which gave us reasonable Sunday and Monday trades. The rest of the week was pretty average to say the least and when I say average you can read this as very quiet. Still never mind a few of you ventured out and I hoped you enjoyed your time up her at the Fortress.
The week was completely without meetings and functions which perhaps we can blame on the last week or so of the holiday season. Marakesh and Big Girls Blues both held practice sessions and we had two notable Birthday celebrations. Jean Sleight celebrated her 82nd birthday and Mrs Tydeman celebrated her 93rd. Congratulations to both and we hope to see you for many more like days.
I know it's late and I should have told you last week that this Thursday the 2nd we are holding our next Quiz night . You should know by now that we hold these on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month but it never does any harm to remind you. The Bonus pot is now well over £50 so it is well worth winning for the stake of just £1.
I think I have managed to locate the source of the leak in the Function Room. It was not the central heating joint but on the roof where the mortar which sealed the tiles joining the valley had come adrift and the driving rain had got under these tiles and found its way down the heating pipes to the ground floor . I have covered the valley with sheeting and must now wait for a good rain to see if I am right with my diagnosis.
I know it is still a long way away but we now have our Christmas Menu available and have in fact sent several out and have taken quite a few bookings already. I will check when I have finished this letter if it has been put on the Flying Fortress Webb site and if it has not I will make sure that it is put on very soon so you can check it out. I know I could do it now but I am frightened that if I leave this letter it may disappear for ever and I will have to write the whole thing again. See I am learning how to use the computer but I still know my limitations.
You will be please to hear that the Big Van is back on the road with yet another engine. Thank you Stephen and Bunny from Station Yard Garage, Thurston. I took it out on Friday and it ran like dream. You never know how much you need a van till you are without it.
It seems likely that the Musical Festival will go ahead after the Organisers held a meeting to discuss the event and only the local Councilor Trevor Beckwith turned up to question them. Let's hope that if it does go ahead there will be no problems and we all get good nights sleep.
Well I think I have entertained you enough for this week . If you want to hear more you are welcome to come up to the Flying Fortress at any reasonable time ie when we are open and we can take the discussions further. Please do not like one person last week ring me up at 8am , apologise for ringing so early and then ask could we possibly cater for a coach party in May and could some of the party bring their own sandwiches. I amazed myself at how politely I answered his questions.
Goodbye again and don't forget where we are.
Yours faithfully and sincerely
All at The Flying Fortress
24thAug 2010
Dear Customers,
No excuses this week , I just found it more convenient and less hassle to write this on Tuesday rather on Monday when I always seem to be in a rush. I hope you did not miss me too much.
Well, another strange week what with the weather not making up its mind what to do next and with the school holidays in full swing I expect that several of you have been wandering further afield. Whatever it was we certainly noticed it was a lot quieter than of late with very little happening on the party or meeting fronts. Still not a disastrous week and it was nice to gather our thoughts after 2 or 3 realy busy weeks.
On Monday we hosted a small funeral gathering to celebrate the life of Simon Fong who died recently. Several members of the family managed to make it from Hong Kong as well as more local friends and relations.
During the week Marakesh and Big Girls Blues both held practice sessions and with all this practice we will be expecting great things when they put on their performances at the Flying Fortress in the near future.
On Thursday night we held the Pub Quiz with a very good turnout considering the time of the year. There was some debate if the team at the Bar had five or six players but the extra person assured us that he did not know any of the answere anyway so he was no help to the team. They were also reported to have asked two young ladies one of the questions but this has not been proved. We will have to keep an eye on them.
On Wednesday evening we hosted a Hen night for Miss Rudling who tells us she has finally managed to nail her man. Congratulations! The rest of the week was relatively quiet although Sunday did pick up a little . On Sunday evening Harry Boughton celebrated his 85th Birthday and was pleased to see his son back from America for the occasion. Also on Sunday we were blessed with good weather for the Crazy Golf Day which went very well. This was organised by David Brown and he was very pleased with the amount of money raised for his computers for Africa charity. There were five people who tied for the longest putt and the winner was decided by our waitress Kerry who picked the Domino with Martin's number on thus winning him a meal for two at the Fortress.
I noticed in the Press that the meeting called to discuss Development up on the Moreton Hall was very well supported. I also noticed that it seems to be a fait accompli that the 500 new houses will be around the Flying Fortress although this it was said to be still undecided. Who do ethink they are kidding? I just hope that the Developers and the Council use a little common sense and not put houses right up to our boundary. It is well known that we host weddings and functions and these quite often have musical entertainment which can go on into the early morning. I would hate to see us have the same problem as some of the pubs do in the town with complaints from residents and a curtailment of a major part of our Business.
Some thing I would like to point out to Suffolk Highways and Sustrans is the Dangerous situation at the Entrance to the Flying Fortress. Both customers coming to the Pub and Cyclists on the track often children have no idea of the existence of each other and sail over and up our drive way oblivious to the danger they are in. It is only a matter of time before an accident happens. I have notified both Suffolk Highways and Sustrans of these dangers and they have done nothing about it . I ask you to be my witness that there is a problem here and they have been notified. When the accident does happen they will not be able to hide behind a claim of ignorance.
I think I have aired my views long enough and it looks like it might rain so I might be able to find where the roof is leaking and causing part of the floor of the function room to rise. Sorry Mike I think now it is not the radiator pipe but thanks any way for coming to sort it out.
So Goodbye to you all , hope to see you soon.
Yours faithfully and sincerely
All at The Flying Fortress.
16th August 2010
Dear Customers,
Sorry if I am a day late with this letter but yesterday was such a nightmare morning that I just did not have time to put finger to key or is it pen to paper? The problem was due to our credit card machine which because of a faulty telephone hand set had not registered the totals back to the bank for three days. This meant that the machine had to be re programmed but because the machine is on the same line as the one I was speaking on I had to rush upstairs for a mobile to call on another number. Did you notice I said I had to call as the credit card company can not phone out. How convenient! Anyway the problem has been sorted and I have been credited with all the money that was sitting inside my terminal.
As you probably know last weekend was the Rougham Airshow up here on the old Airfield . This always brings us a lot of extra business and this year was no exception especially on the Sunday when a lot of people come up for lunch and then stay in the garden for the afternoon display. Some just come up for a drink and watch and some cheapskates just come up and watch. As we were so busy I was unable to see much of the flying display but did manage to see the Sally B Flying Fortress doing its marvellous display all around the Flying Fortress. And then to crown it all we were honoured with a visit in the evening by the Sally B owner Elly Sallingboe and one of the pilots of the plane.
The rest of the week comparatively speaking was fairly quiet but we had two Bands practicing and a reasonable number of people dining both lunchtime and evening. On Saturday night we had two groups down from the airfield as well as Derek Smith and some fellow workers from the Sally B support team and it was very nice to see all of these once again. Sunday evening was busier than usual with some people stopping on their way home from Rougham and others who perhaps would have come at lunchtime but chose to come in the evening instead. Any way thank you all for a busy week and keep up the good work.
Two coming attractions for you to remember this week . On Thursday we have our second Pub Quiz of the month when the Bonus will be over £50.00 and on Sunday we have the Charity Family Golf Day when you will be able to prove to one and all that all the time spent on the Golf Greens has been put to good use. The day starts around Noon and will go on for most of the day. We hope that you have a meal or a drink whilst you are up here but you will be most welcome if you just want to take part in the Golf.
I think I have seen the writing on the wall as far as the new development up here is concerned. On Monday morning a huge lorry loaded with paving bricks came into the car park and the driver said he had been told to leave them up at the Flying Fortress. I was awfully tempted to tell him to unload them on the grass but my better judgement got the better of me and I told him I thought they must be for on the Estate. I was just going out then and was very relieved in the afternoon when I returned and there were not 30 tons of bricks sitting here. I can only presume that the developers have got a head of themslves and the paved path between the Estate and the Flying Fortress will be going in at a later date.
One important party I must remember to mention is Thomas Clegg's 8th Birthday. Following an afternoon watching Ipswich Town and an early Bowling game he insisted on a Carvery at the Flying Fortress to complete his day. Well done Thomas although it is a pity that Ipswich could not manage a win for you.
Well now I am in the mood I could go on writing but I expect you like me have other things to be doing so I will take my leave of you and hope to see you shortly up here at the Flying Fortress when I trust that we will be able to cater for most of your needs with a smile and a friendly word.
Yours faithfully and sincerely
All at the Flying Fortress