Murder Mystery

Saturday November 19th

Priory Hall Hadleigh

It is November 19^th 1949 and the boys are back in town. Priory hall is hosting a reunion party for the American and Canadian servicemen who were stationed in the area during the war. The bunting is out, the band is booked, and there is a party atmosphere in the air….. That is until G.I.Joe is discovered horribly murdered prior to the party starting. Fun is definitely not rationed during this murder mystery. Forget digging for victory and start digging for clues as you try and solve this crime………………….

You will have an opportunity to ‘interrogate’ each of the suspects and visit the scene of the murder………

An occasion for all…..Tables of eight …… £30 per head to include supper …. Couture Catering will be doing Gourmet …’American Style’

Dress for the occasion and  join us….. Maximum number 48

To reserve a table (or place) telephone Shirley Ingham (01473 405882) or Events Couture (01449 723104)

In support of the NSPCC

NSPCC is a reg. charity number 216401 & SC037717

We look forward to seeing everyone hows attending the the Truly Vintage wedding fare at Glemham Hall on Sunday the 5th of June from 10 am till 4pm (entry free).

You will be able to visit the beautiful grand hall, and have a chance to wander in the amazing grounds were we will be previewing our new Picnics at Glemham wedding menu. Please feel free to throw down a rug and join us for a taste for something truly vintage!

Events Couture has teamed up with Consider It Sorted to provide a truly unique murder mystery experience.

The tantalising evening consists of a high quality, personalised murder mystery written by Dave Wrighting, which will also include the crime scene itself, so you can have the full Sherlock Holmes experience!

Dave Wrighting, the crime busting script writer, has been writing murder mysteries since the early 90’s. His love of the spy glass, developed into a professional business in 2006 and Consider It Sorted was the consequence of this. Since starting, Consider It Sorted has aimed to associate itself with trusted local suppliers and they are now looking to expand. This is where Events Couture comes in.

The bespoke, East Anglian events planning and catering company, whilst working alongside Consider It Sorted, aims to provide a unique and inquisitive evening for all ages, accompanied by exquisitely delicious cuisine, for all those in the East Anglian area.  

If you wish to book your murder mystery event why not call 07540185309 or visit www.consideritsorted.co.uk     www.eventscouture.co.uk

Well, everything is burgeoning and spring is definitiely in the air.

There is at least one duck and a pheasant nesting around the area and the birds are checking out the nest boxes. They generally do this and then build in the trees and shrubs.

A new area has been cleared of scrub and brambles and this has given us about a third of an acre of additional land. So far we have planted 2 plum trees and  some rhubarb but we are considering starting a cider apple orchard. The thought of galleons of delicious old fashioned cider is very attractive but probably lots of hard work.

Another 1000 bluebells have gone in, in the green, in the silver birch copse along with 50 new primroses. We may have to wait until next year for them to bloom.

The man who make things has been felling a few trees from around the place, not just to add to the wood store but also to provide some supports for a new open cart lodge. This is to be sited at the edge of the lake and will house our old cart and provide a great focal point as you come through the gate.

The logs are building up now. We have a wood burner in the house that does all our heating and hot water. It is comforting to see these logs drying out ready for the next 2 or 3 years supply but the man who chops and barrows these is beginning to rub his back and complain.

Cowslips are beginning to flower all around the bank of the main field. When we sowed the wild flower area we had a very good mix of seeds but each year there is a different dominance. Always cowslips and burdock but rarely poppies and we cannot grow teasels. We have had several attempts at sowing seeds, planting ready grown plants supplied by reputable firms and have also raised our own plants. Nothing has grown.

The fruit trees are sprouting well and hopefully we will have plenty of fruit this year although I did see a muntjac deer in broad daylight today so fingers crossed that it is not hungry! 

Last week we suffered from a break in to our log cabin and to a vehicle that had been left temporarily on the land overnight. I am not sure if we were unlucky or targeted. Other people in the area were affected as well and the police say that it could happen again. Nothing was taken and only a small amount of damage was done but in terms of inconvenience and time spent then its really frustrating.

The last couple of days have been glorious and lots of new buds are showing. The latest plants to show their heads are the marsh marigold in the lake. Such a rich and vibrant colour against the greenery and water!

Unfortunately the iries have fallen foul of water voles. They have nipped the shoots right back to the water line. Its great to have such creatures but there is always a price to pay. The balance of nature and man!

Well today the sun has been shining and although it is still cold it was light until 6pm. This all makes such a difference.

The snowdrops have been amazing but sadly they are past their best now and the man who tends them is now busily dividing up clumps so that they can be spread to even more areas. 500 new clumps so far and around 100 still to go! This is such a labour of love but next spring we will see the benefit of such hard work.

The daffodils on the island and around the edge of the lake are looking wonderful, such a splash of intense yellow brightening the days. The next planting will be some more bluebells and primroses in amongst the silver birch in the small copse by the road. Now these trees have matured a bit it is great to see the under planting opportunities more easily.

Violets and primroses are blooming in huge patches now and the cowslips are showing their leaves in anticipation. 

Our sheep have been keeping the man busy this month as well. The top small field that has been their home since they arrived last July has become very muddy and the grass is depleted. Coupling these things with the fact that the man who lights fires needed to have a burn up we decided to move the sheep to pastures new.

Much coming and going and not an inconsiderable sum of money resulted in a lovely new electric fenced area in the main field, complete with barn shelter.

The first sheep was rounded up and carried physically down to the new home. It was apparently very happy for the first few minutes, delighting in the lush new grass and so it got on with what sheep to best, munching. However, after a few moments it wandered over to the fence, caught its nose and got a shock. Having never experienced such a thing before it went berserk and rushed at the fence only to break through and hurtle towards the field gate.

The sheep man set off in hot pursuit and had to spend the next hour or so herding said sheep up and down the private road until he was able to drive it towards the original field gate. After trying the same thing with 3 sheep and having the same outcomes he secured them all back in the original field and got on the phone to me to complain bitterly about how stupid MY sheep are.

I wonder who they will have belonged to when we sit down to delicious lamb chops?

In the face of such adversity frustrated man gave up and decided to move them to the third field which is much bigger and the grass not so recovered but it is well fenced and also has a shelter. 4 sheep look very lost in such a big area but they seem happy enough. However, moving them physically caused one to rear its head and take a lump out of mans nose. It is healing but spoilt his rugged looks for a while.

Last Sunday was bonfire day, not great because we had a lot of rain in the days beforehand and on the day but it did get going well in the end. The fire man was joined by 2 small boys for this event but they got fed up in the rain and came back for crumpets and hot blackcurrant before going out in the rain again to play football. Much more fun it seems! The ash is all that remains of the fire now but the logs cut from the felled tree will keep us warm next year.

Planting has been a real theme this month with Valentines day rhubarb plants planted in a sheltered, damp area that is rather overlooked as an experiment 2 new cherry trees for the orchard and 5 new honeysuckles spread around the place to scramble up wood piles and old tree stumps. Fingers crossed for success with these.

There is a pair of moorhens scurrying about on the lake side most days now, always such busy but scatty birds. They are usually much more successful in raising their families than ducks so hopefully they might start nesting soon.

There were waxwings spotted in the village last month too and although they came in our garden we did not see them on the land.  Whether its because the weather has been so bad but there has been a flock of fieldfares camped out in the huge lime tree on the big field. Their chattery sounds can be heard before they are spotted and on the ground they are intent on eating as much as possible although the slightest noise will spook them.

This mix of late winter and early spring indicators is what makes country living so interesting.  We love it!

Congratulations to Mark and Hayley married February 12th 2011 in Little Downham. We wish you and your new family all the happiness and hope that you enjoy your special day, from all here at Events Couture.

Irelands Meadow January diary

Although its really very cold again today, icy wind and sleet, there are real signs that spring is on the way

The snowdrops, hundreds of thousands of them, pushing their heads up around the log cabin and the wooded areas along the stream are only a week or two from flowering properly. Each year, thanks to a lot of hard work, dividing them up when they are in the green and transplanting them, the area they cover grows and grows.

On the island, along the field facing edge, the early daffodils are showing green. Since the alders were cut back late last year it is easier to spot them and they seem to like having more light. It will not be long before their cheery yellow bonnets are swaying in the breeze.

The orchard, newly planted last spring, is looking good. We were plagued by deer damage soon after the trees went in, and having gone to long lengths to try to rid our selves of the deer we have had no problems since, but no yummy venison for dinner either. Hopefully this year the fruit trees with be full of blossom and then laden with fruit.

Plants are not the only indicator that we are moving towards spring. Now that it gets light a bit earlier, one morning last week I was walking around the field, having given the sheep an early breakfast. They are so friendly that they race over to the gate to welcome anyone who looks as if they might have food for them. Its hard to keep a perspective on rearing animals that will be appearing as dinner some time in the future.

On the lake I spotted 13 mallard ducks. They were mainly females with one or two males but that is the way things work in the animal kingdom. No doubt they will be scratching about looking for cosy little nesting places soon.

On this early morning meander, in the New Year resolution name of exercise, I also stood a watched a small flock of Goldcrests scratching about in the compost heap on the far side of the field. This is one of the places where the man with the mower dumps the grass cuttings and it makes a wonderful habitat for all sorts of insects, birds and small mammals. These tiny plump little birds can be mistaken for wrens on first sight but if you look carefully you can see the tiny flash of yellow on the crown of the head. There must have been about 20 but they didn’t stay still long enough to count them accurately.

There are several clumps of primroses beginning to flower along the banks of the lake and will be another welcome splash of colour soon.

We are having a debate about the willows again. The colours of the different varieties make a wonderful display every winter and the mix of hot summer and very cold winter means that this year they are really splendid. The discussion is about whether to cut them back or to leave them for another year. I think we always have this dilemma cos it seems a real shame to cut them back when they look so amazing. I am not so keen but the man with the loppers is itching to get going!

We are going to keep a careful eye on the bird boxes early this year to see if we can work out which types of birds are using them. Its surprising that with so many different habitats the birds still like to nest in these wooden boxes but it is much easier to observe them when they do.

We have another huge bonfire taking shape. Another tree has been felled and some rogue branches cut back. The sheep have eaten the twigs and leaves, the large lengths have been sawn into logs for our stove and the rest has gone to make a bonfire. I always love it when its time to have a burn up. Hopefully we can invite some friends for a winter picnic – mulled wine and crumpets. Ha the joys of country life!

This week is the Launch of our new Suffolk Stag Weekends in conjunction with The Red Rat Craft Brewery and The Suffolk Academy Health and Fitness centre.

What better to serve to your guests on your wedding day than a beer designed and brewed by you with your own label to commemorate your special day, the bottles can also be given in a gift pack for your guests with a commemorative glass filled with handmade chocolates. You can also order your designer brew in barrels to be hand drawn on the day or mini kegs to be placed on the tables for your guests to enjoy.

So why end there? When you can gather your stags and make a weekend of it!

Kick off your weekend with a  full English before getting stuck into some paint balling, Laser quest or a two hour Archery lesson with an instructor ranked number two in the world.

But the fun doesn’t end there and if your not heading off for a sauna and steam why not team up in a tournament of Gladiator duel, go head to head in our inflatable sumo suits or try your luck and skill on the rodeo bull.

Then it’s all off to the Caribbean bar for a few drinks and to something to eat,before pushing on till the early hours round the campfire.

Camping is available on site and packages start from £150, please contact Events Couture directly for full details.

Let us put a little spice into your valentines night!

We can’t think of a better way to start our new blog than to tell you about our exciting upcoming Valentines night meal at The Chilli Farm Mendlesham.

We’ve attached the menu below the cost of the meal is £29.50 a head and you can book by contacting us here at Events Couture or the Chilli Farm directly.

valentines night menu