A Duck's Diary from the Jinney Ring Craft Centre

Just some of the stuff that I see here!



Friday 25 March 2011

Goodbye to John a friend and a craftsman!

Yesterday we all said a very sad goodbye to one of our long standing craftsmen from the Jinney Ring.  John Baldwin, who had been resident here first "Spinney Craft" and then "From the Tree", had sadly lost his battle to cancer and at the age of 56, died peacefully in his sleep.

John was quite a character during his time here - an ex-marine and ex-policeman he had seen something of the world and had a wealth of tales and an excellent sense of humour.  He was also a very strong hockey player and had very good legs ... he was seen in his shorts at work for most of the year!  We will all miss John but are glad he is now released from the cancer and the suffering of the last few years.  John's son Phillip has taken over the business and developed it and his wife Carolyn is heavily involved in the business too (as well as helping out in several of the other workshops).



The funeral was at Worcester Cremetorium with the funeral wake held here at the Jinney Ring - it was a lovely warm spring day just right to remember John in the gardens here where he spend so much time.

The garden has been opened up a little more now with fences being moved. as the repair work in the garden takes hold.

Friday 11 March 2011

Make up night

Esther of Esther Marie Make-up was here on Wednesday night for a real "Ladies Night".  She showed the ladies that attended how to make up their faces in a very natural way to bring out the best in themselves.  Also on show were the "Hattery" - the milliners (who are at the the Jinney Ring every Friday) came along with some of their hats.  After this the ladies all had supper and a good laugh.  What a lovely evening!

Esther demonstrating on her model Penny

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Pancake Day

What a lovely day it is today - the sun is out and so are the visitors!
They are apparently all here for Pancakes - the Kitchen staff have not stopped making them today, sweet and savoury.

As the weather is so nice the garden has dried enough for some turf to be laid around the ponds - the edges look much better now, won't be long until the grass is growing again and they can take the temporary fencing down for us to get nearer to the bread supply!.

Friday 4 March 2011

New Flowers!

It is all change on the gardening front - Rachel who has been looking after the gardens here for the last two years has left the Jinney Ring to go to work as a tutor/gardener in Stourbridge. While she was at the Jinney Ring she had some works experience assistance each week and showed natural talent for teaching and encouraging youngsters so we think she will do well at this and everyone here wishes her the best of luck.

We are about to enter a really busy time of year gardening here so Jean and Mike from Arkle Plants have agreed to help out getting things going and then Christine Evans (Mike's wife) will take over the gardening on a part time basis at the end of April. This week Primroses and little daffodils have been planted in the pots and spring colour is already starting to emerge. In the meanwhile Dayel Durney who is doing many gardening and maintenance jobs around site, is busy finishing off the pond edging with clay and new turf. Soon the ground will be dry enough to reseed some of the grass areas where we carried out the pond repair work earlier in the year.

Juiliet Doyle opens new Florists Shop at the Jinney Ring
As well as colour coming into the gardens we also now have a Florist on site who is already selling daffodils for spring. Juliet Doyle has a thriving internet business in synthetic wedding flowers and accessories but now what has taken the plunge and opened up next to the restaurant. It is great to have some colour on show!


On the ponds - my friends and I are starting to pair up with our soul mates and are thinking about having families....... It can be a bit traumatic at this time of year but the ducklings make it all worthwhile!!