River Cottage HQ - Hugh's a Legend... Anyone been?

[mew]

Hi All

It was mine and my OH's 6th wedding anniversary last week (and my 30th Birthday.... cough cough!!) and we went down to Dorset for 3 days having booked an event to see Hugh - 2 May - Hugh Does Seasonal Produce.

Just wondered if anyone else has been to any of these RC events (with or without Hugh) and what they thought. - I was a little star struck I have to say

I can highly recommend them - we had an absolutely fantastic evening - the food was divine, the service was superb and very relaxed, Hugh was very friendly, entertaining and funny - and a lot thinner in real life..... (the old wives tail of being bigger on TV must be true after all...), the chickens were the friendliest I have ever met, and the sunset over the rolling (60 acre) hills were truly breathtaking.

The walk back to the B&B in our High Viz jackets (with Hedgehog Corner printed on the backs!!!) and torches was lots of fun

Cant wait to go back (was really sad - and hungover on english sparkling wine and stinger nettle beer - the following morning!! - worth it mind together with the longer journey back to Stoke on Trent) - if anyone is thinking of a holiday or present for that someone special then it really is fantastic.

MEW

[Clara]

hmmmmmm hugh fluffy-woollyshawl

Think I´d probably get thrown out for trying to fondle his curls....

Clara x.

[Cassiepod]

My OH and I found out about the courses the other week and are keen to do one. I 'm glad to hear it seems to be as good as we might hope and will get something booked (fishing for him, meat for me I think)

[the.fee.fairy]

hmmmmmm hugh fluffy-woollyshawl

Think I´d probably get thrown out for trying to fondle his curls....

Clara x.

Not if i got there first!!

[Shirley]

It's soooooooo expensive though - we're thinking of doing a fishing course up here sometime. We've got some experienced fishing folk on Neeps! and we like to share our skills. Hopefully end it with a barbecue to cook the catch ;)

[Bugbabe]

How do you find about about the courses? Would love to go!

[mew]

Hi bugbage. Check out the rivercottage website for all the details of events etc - [/url]www.rivercottage.net[url]

Thanks
MEW[/url]

[Andy Hamilton]

It's soooooooo expensive though

It is rather, I am sure that there are other people out there with more experience for a cheaper price too. Perhaps Neeps and Selfsufficientish should join forces at some point and offer similar events at realistic prices.

[pskipper]

Surely it would be more in the ish mindset that where possible courses were run in exchange for barter or labour? While I'm impressed with the message that Hugh is delivering about living more in harmony with your surroundings he seems to be falling back into the commercialism thing. River Cottage does seem to be becoming a big business, ish courses while of course offering a financial route for people who don't have time or barterable items could reflect a more community spirit.
Lets face it, the reason most people contribute to this site is the community, we know that we can always receive help of one kind or another (shared knowledge being one of the greatest and most important) here.

Anyway I'll finish my drunken ramble here.

[mew]

Hi folks, yes I see what your saying but at the same time im a big fan of Hugh so for me it was worth every penny just to shake his hand never mind the rest of the experience which followed that evening. Its not everyday you can meet one of your idols so a little indulgence once in a while is worth it (for me at least anyway).

Id definitely go again - and we are hopefully going to next year for more of Hugh and the River Cottage Experience - maybe I'll get chance to play with his curls then (fingers crossed)

[Shirley]

It's soooooooo expensive though

It is rather, I am sure that there are other people out there with more experience for a cheaper price too. Perhaps Neeps and Selfsufficientish should join forces at some point and offer similar events at realistic prices.

I'm with you on that one Andy!

[Andy Hamilton]

Surely it would be more in the ish mindset that where possible courses were run in exchange for barter or labour? While I'm impressed with the message that Hugh is delivering about living more in harmony with your surroundings he seems to be falling back into the commercialism thing. River Cottage does seem to be becoming a big business, ish courses while of course offering a financial route for people who don't have time or barterable items could reflect a more community spirit.
Lets face it, the reason most people contribute to this site is the community, we know that we can always receive help of one kind or another (shared knowledge being one of the greatest and most important) here.

Anyway I'll finish my drunken ramble here.

I get what you are saying, it would be good to at least cover the costs though. The biggest downside to a webforum community and trying to stage events/courses is location. We are all spread out all over the world! If we do manage to sort out some courses we would want the speakers/tutors to at least get their travel expenses. - right, thinking off the top of my head here......

We would have to think about the payment structure of it all and perhaps have some paying people who can afford it and some that barter. Off the top of my head (again), I would be happy to offer a class on growing in small spaces in exchange for learning about keeping chickens or learning how to coppice, also I imagine we could get some government funding for people on the dole. When I was on the dole ten years ago you could undertake a course and get an extra £10 on your dole for it. Whoever held the course would also get paid the full amount that a course would take too. If something like this still exists then that would be a way forward.

Also there is no reason not to have a friends of selfsufficientish set up with benefits for membership, such as free or reduced courses. Each person could have the payment for such a scheme looked at in respect of earnings/outgoings to see if they can have a reduced or free membership. - of course this could be a no go as there would be administration involved and there is no way I would expect someone to work for free.

Anyway - these are ideas to think about after 31st August when the book is finished. It would be good to have something up and running during the promotional tour in May 2008, that way we could drum up some support for the courses and friends of selfsufficientish.

I will copy and paste this post to my calender and get a reminder in September so I remember it.

Mew - was not going against your experience at River cottage as it sounds like it was worth every penny for you.

[pskipper]

When the time comes if there is anything I can do let me know!

[contadino]

A friend did a day fishing and an evening cooking with Hugh, and he loved it. I think it's Hugh's charisma that you're paying for, and I can't fault celebs that aren't afraid to speak their minds without being concerned about it inhibiting their chances of TV advertisement commissions.

Good luck to Hugh, and fair game to him for charging what people are willing to pay. I couldn't afford to go on any of his courses, but then I don't think they're really aimed at people like me.

[Bugbabe]

I would pay to go!