Dear Diners and Quaffers,

On a damp and dreary day in West End, Andy Johnson is set to cheer you up with some fantastic fresh fish from the coast - mussels, oysters, crabs, lobster, Sea Bass, Ling - I could go on but I might be accused of being piscatorially boring. He will set out his stall at about 1pm, just in time for you to have nipped down here for lunch and then strolled outside to choose a flapping specimen for tea. A short amble to the wine shop to see Dan and he will talk you through an appropriate Alvarinho or Godello to drink with your atlantic catch and all will be well.

Sunny, on the other hand is feeling distinctly unwell. I accidentally let him get a look at the front page of the torygraph this morning where Hugh flipping milkingstool was suggesting that a spot of Labrador on the menu was perfectly acceptable. Sunny immediately sloped off to a dark corner to make himself look unpleasant and smell worse in the hope that I would not look at him with the unblinkered culinary eyes of a supposedly top chef. I gently explained that at £600 plus injections, board and keep, scans etc there simply wasn't enough margin to make it worthwhile and he cheered up no end. There seemed a completely different edge to his affection and retreiving thereafter, most welcome.

Ann - Marie is an excited bunny this morning as she is going to see farmer jones at Hyden Farm, Clanfield, to catch a chiken or two and snaffle a bit of well pearled barley to show Lee what her recipe could do for our menu here at The Inn. You may remember she won our competition for the Dish of the Year competition (yes, yes, and her recipe was good too, thankyou Tony) and will finally have her day of glory. The trip was nearly bazzookered yesterday when The Inn van did a bit of coughing and spluttering but nothing that our freinds at West End garage couldn't fix with a bit of sticky stuff and a man that knew how. We look forward to tasting the finished product today - not the sticky stuff, the chicken with Pearl Barley.

On the tasting note, don't forget we are having a wine tasting supper on Sunday October 23rd to try out six wines with a two course supper. Dan is going to scrabble round the dark recesses of the cellar to see what he can find to challenge your taste buds. At just £29.50 it is a bargain so why not nobble a few friends and book a table.

Our vine here at The Inn has produced well and Johnny, our very own naked chef, is going to make a grape chutney from them in the next few days. They are almost enough in quantity to think about making a bit of Chateau West End, so that's my project for next year.

Well, enough of this Tuesday morning drizzle. I have wages to pay, people to meet, leaflets to design. Must dash, see you later.

Gerry, your touchy feely landlord