11:13am Thursday 18th June 2009
By Jon Reeve
CRISPIE duck isn’t on the menu at a Hampshire restaurant.
But it’s to be found in the bar, in the lounge, in the hall, in the garden – in fact anywhere restaurant manager Terri Seabright goes.
Crispie has now become a bit of a celebrity among customers at The Mill at Gordleton restaurant in the New Forest.
It comes after manager Terri became “Mum” to Crispie when she was just a day old and ignored by her mother.
Worried about the Aylesbury duckling’s fate, Terri took her home and popped her in the bath.
Now she has her own pond in Terri and husband Mike’s garden at Holbury.
“I bring her to work every day in my car and she travels in a cat basket,” she said.
“She really is a pet. She’s more like a little dog than a duck. She likes little walks and we’ve taken her out across the Forest for a little wander.”
When she gets to The Mill in the morning, Crispie has a routine which includes checking out the interior before she goes out in the garden.
“She does make a mess. We tried to litter train her but we couldn’t. That was impossible,” said Terri.
“Every night when she goes to bed she has iceberg lettuce, and she’s very good at de-slugging my garden.
“She lays an egg every day. That’s my little thank you, I think,” said Terri.
Two years after Terri saved her life, Crispie has become a feature at the restaurant in Silver Street, Hordle.
“We have ladies who phone to book tables and they only book tables if she’s here,” said Terri.
Crispie has even featured in two calendars to raise money for First Opportunities playgroup at nearby at Ashley.
The owner of The Mill, Liz Cottingham, said: “Our Crispie calendars are going brilliantly. They’ve made £620 this year and we did it last year as well and raised £550.”
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