A Duck's Diary from the Jinney Ring Craft Centre

Just some of the stuff that I see here!



Monday 30 March 2015

Cameras, Music, Action!

Well actually no music but plenty of camera and action this week in the Centre....

Firstly we had Sherlock Holmes here on Friday night - in the guise of the "Don't go into the Cellar' company.  A cosy supper in the conservatory was followed by a one man performance taking guests through the "Singular exploits " of Sherlock's life, it included cameo performances from his brother Mycroft and also the dreaded Moriarty!  The acting was marvelous, facial expressions and mannerisms that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would have been proud of!




We followed this performance through the windows but could see that it went down very well.  The next bit of "action" was some filming for an Edgar Allen Poe film by Big Frog Productions.  The filming was in the area that the local school children use for their Forest School which is in the small woodland at the end of the site.  We are looking forward to seeing the film and hope it is a blockbuster!



Aside from this is has been a relatively quiet week in the gardens, lots of my friends are pairing up now and the mallards that fly are disappearing to find new nesting sites where they can 'be alone'. Two of my female friends have been struck down with swollen ankles which is making them limp quite badly.  They are resting in the pen by the pond and are being given antibiotics - it seems to be doing the trick even though they both hate having the syringe put down their throats each day.  Hope to see them back on the pond soon.




Sunday 22 March 2015

St Patrick's Day!

It was Irish Stew and Soda bread on the menu for this last week on the menu in the restaurant to celebrate St Patrick's Day, also Team leader Mandy got creative and decided to decorate the counter a bit - we were short of leprechauns but we do have a fair selection of green Gnomes so they just had to do....


The weather this week was so lovely that Dayel the Centre Gardener worked hard with us all week putting homemade compost on the gardens and digging it in - we all pecked in to help...he was thrilled (well I think that is what he shouted....!).

Dayel the Garden with diligent helpers!
With the nice weather we also saw the return of "Little Black Pig" Farm Stall at the front of the site - they are selling all sorts of farm meats, including home made (award winning) sausages, hand made pies, vegetables from the farm as well as milk, cheese and other bits and bobs.  It is great to have them back - they will be here for at least 6 months on weekends and possibly a bit more too.



Tuesday 17 March 2015

Dragging my webbed feet!

It has been quite a while since I have written in the ducks diary and I have made a resolution to stop dragging my webbed feet and get back to keeping up to date with the comings and goings here more regularly. My excuse is somewhat feeble - we have just had an amazingly busy time since the last post back in summer 2014.

Early in the summer the Jinney Ring restaurant buildings became licensed to hold Civil Ceremonies (in lots of different ways) and during in august/September the first two were held in the barn building, these were both really lovely events and involved garden marquees so we saw everything that went on and were part of the wedding party (of course!).

A Civil Ceremony for the marriage of Geoff and Carolyn 

We had a garden full of weddings and some brilliant parties throughout the summer, I don't think there was one where we did not get corn provided and some pictures with the guests.  Here is is a picture of the last one celebrated here - it was a barn dance in a lovely marquee.  What do you think of this photo of the first dance? - pretty special we thing (it was taken by Frank Wood)!

Belinda and Michael our last wedding of the season in 2014
In the Autumn we also had our Annual Sculpture Trail to look at during its month long exhibition - we have lots of chance to review these pieces and unlike the children we even climb on the pieces occasionally (and no one shouts at us!).  We even had some pieces in the water so we were able to swim around them.  It was a great show and we love having these big pieces of art here.



At the end of the Sculpture Trail we had a day of Apples and Apple related things going on, this was run with Avoncroft Museum and the Transport Museum in Wythall. Visitors were able to travel between Avoncroft and Jinney Ring on a nostalgic old bus - we don't get many buses in Hanbury so this was a huge treat!  This day was so nice that it is being repeated again in 2015 on Oct 4th.

  

Christmas was then upon us with some super parties, lovey atmospheric decoration and village carol singing in the lead up.  The New Year Eve party was a 1940's theme and the staff dressed up as land girls for the occasion, the entertainment was provided by Sylvia Starlight who was a terrific singer. 
The 'Jinney Ring Land Army' with Sylvia Starlight
Since The start of the new year we have had Valentines Day with a fully booked breakfast and a smoochy romantic evening for couples in the evening, the first pudding night of the year and last Saturday all the  "Mum's" and their families came to see us.

Busy, busy - and now it is officially spring it is time to look around for a mate in the garden - I hardly have time to quack!!