Day one

I think we are all suffering from information overload! The day started with an early morning walk around the grounds whilst everyone was sleeping, I have to say that the grounds around the school are beautiful. Set in 100 acres of organic farm, the gardens and grounds are amazing.
We converged on the school for a welcome breakfast at 8.30am, followed by a welcome by Darina and a tour of the gardens. Having spent time listening to the million and one herbs and plants I have to learn, I have now approached panic stations, thankfully the fridge in the house has a photocopied list of key herbs which will need studying for the test in week 6!
We then planted our own spring onion seeds so we can appreciate the effort required to grow produce. Each one has our name on it so we can check back and see the progress.
Lunch was a typical extravaganza which started with Tomato and Basil soup followed by a smorgasbord of smoked mackerel and eel, pickled cucumber, tomato and basil salad, egg mayonnaise, prawns, chicken liver pate and a smoked mussel, this was finished with a strawberry and raspberry pavlova, vanilla ice cream and a blueberry compote! None of it was made by us, although I am assured this will be possible after the next 12 weeks.
The afternoon was spent in the demo kitchen where tomorrows recipes were demonstrated by Darina. The afternoon finished with a list of dos and donts and a number of sing up sheets for the various things we can get involved in, for me milking the cows is a must along with the chance to work in an artisan bakery for a night!
Well we are all back in the house now, really tired but looking forward to the next day and the first day of real cooking, must go and iron my whites!!
Peace
T