It is always a funny month with Easter somewhere in the middle and people never sure whether the weather is going to be good enough for a ‘do’ outside. This year we seemed to have been blessed with sunny days and not too much rain but very cold nights. The events have been at least one a weekend and then there was a film shoot to add to the fun. April 13th was a repeat booking for X-Tek Nikon, just the other side of Aston Clinton. This one we have done on an annual basis for at least 5 years. However this year there was the added task of fitting in a film shoot at Hatfield House. The spec was for an Elk on a large platter, cooked of course. Well there are not too many Elks in the UK , if any. This therefore causes a problem. However in the world of filming this is not a real obstacle if the ‘smoke and mirrors’ syndrome is applied. I was asked to supply a lamb – ½ cooked. A fully cooked lamb doesn’t shoot to well. I also had to provide a cooked joint which would be carved and be part of the feasting. Not your usual hog roast in Hatfield!
The plan for the day was to set up for the Nikon hog roast and leave Ken to continue with cooking and service. This allowed for me to travel onto Hatfield House (where I have actually played real Tennis and won!). On arrival I off loaded the lamb and I then helped fix some antlers + head onto the neck of the lamb. Hopefully I didn’t over step the mark, but I think my help was appreciated. It was then decided that more cooked meat was needed to put around the carcass. This meant popping off to the local supermarket and buying all the joints of lamb that they had – plus a few beef joints. I then had to cook them and help slice. These were then arranged around the platter. It was all good enough to eat. The food stylist Katharine was fine for me to be involved since actors were to be on the set at 11.30 am. All was ready with 10 mins to spare. It was however very surreal to be surrounded by actors/extras who were in early 18th. Century dress (1720 c.). I quietly left the set and returned to the Nikon hog roast event where all was nearly over. Both went well and it was back to base after another successful day.