Cows and Ceilidh!

This weekend was hot and' hopping' in the gardens !!

We knew something was afoot on Wednesday morning last week when the guys from  Hanbury Marquees arrived in the garden with some boards and started laying them out on the lawn - the cows arrived soon after to make suitable helpful suggestions and "cowments"

The guys were already "moo ving" as fast as they could!

A day or so later a splendid marquee was up -- it is the biggest we have seen in the gardens here.  Lots of work then ensued, setting it up to make it look really special for Bride Amy and Groom Simon who got married in Northfield on Saturday and then brought their guests here to celebrate their marriage.

The couple could not have had better weather for their special day - and they had a big surprise waiting when they came into the garden as Amy's Mum and Dad had arranged a piper to pipe them into the gardens  -  another first at the Jinney Ring!

Amy and Simon -- a lovely couple and a super day!

The marquee was boarded throughout, as the couple chose a ceilidh band and dance for their party - this was really successful with everyone dancing and clapping in no-time. The band "Big Jessie" talked them through the dances and then they all had go -- not bad considering it was such a warm night!  As you can imagine we kept out of the way and stayed on the ponds most of the night but we could see that it was great fun...

It was a good job the marquee was so big when the dancing started! 

Everyone was quite tired by the end of the night and went off to bed - they were a very nice group and left the garden really tidy and clean for us - we hope to see many of them again, although the guests seemed to be from all over country and some from abroad too.

The next day the staff worked really hard to tidy up the marquee and move all the furniture for a Wedding Fayre, so once again we did not get much sleep!  Within the Wedding Fayre we had flute players "Champagne Flutes" and Electric Violin Player Pete Hartley playing to the visitors and to the garden, both were lovely to hear.  There were a good number of local wedding service providers including flowers, jewellery, fireworks beauty and hats.  Lots of brides and grooms came along to have look.

All sorts of things for a wedding!

We would like to think that this week will be a bit quieter but is does not look like it as there is another wedding next weekend just before the Diamond Jubilee celebrations  -  oh well sleep is for the other birds!!

Breaking news -- a couple of mallard ducklings have just hatched in the incubator - we are waiting for more arrivals shortly.......