Week 1 Ballymaloe

3 days in and oh so glad that I handed in my notice to do this course in Ballymaloe. Theres another 11 and a half long weeks to go but so far its been absolutely brilliant. Intense and slightly crazy but brilliant. My internet access is a bit crap so far so easiest just to list some of the things I have done in the first 3 days and post a few photos. I will get around to more detail over the coming weeks I promise.

• Tour of Ballymaloe including a trip to see the pigs, hens and greenhouse where I planted some of my own wee spring onions



• Introduction to all 63 other students. A good mix of people including a bunch of gap year students, 10 or so blokes, quite a few over 50's and a large selection of people in between wondering whether they can do something in the food industry from all sorts of industry including solicitors, doctors, accountants and teachers.



• Got my knives - all fingers still intact so far

• Put on my chefs uniform for the first time

• Got my new lovely house in Cork



• Attended 3 demonstrations from Darina Allen and her brother Rory O'Connell



• Had my first morning of cooking in the kitchens which was tested as part of the certificate



• Signed up to work in the kitchens of Ballymaloe house for a night



• Signed up to milk a cow early one morning (not sure why)



• Got into school at 8am to make chicken stock for the classes

• Had 3 good walks on Garryvoe beach

Tomorrow we have wine and food safety lectures and then one last morning in the kitchen and a demonstration on Mexican food before the weekend. Its all incredibly exhausting and fantastic so far.