Today we have mostly been a hunting.

[pepper]

Today we went beating for our local shoot, who my kids have worked for for years. Louis was great, we let him off the lead in a few of the more controlled drives to chase out the pheasants from under all the scrub, he worked hard all day and had a wonderful time.

Here he is on stop (preventing the pheasants from running back to their pen) Also with James at the end of the day with some pheasants ready for a lovely game terrine.

 

[Bluebell]

Wonderful pictures, Pepper. James will be able to show his grandchildren what life in rural France was like in the olden days!

 

[pepper]

Sorry Bluebell, its rural Warwickshire, but for all the alleged differences between the French and English, country life is very similar indeed.

I did think James looked a little like those old rural photos you see in the ancient past magazines!

We love beating its great excercise for both ourselves and the dogs and we get to walk over land thats normally not accessible to us.

 

[ian Stanbury]

..Keep up Bluebell, keep up..

..Surely you can see that the Pic of James has not been taken in France - If it had been, he would be wearing tight light blue overalls and not an Old Barber that his father has handed down to him!!

And he would have his imitation Burbery peasant feather scaff wrapped round his neck poprerly rather than over one shoulder like my Square Mile Banker chums!!

Personally Pepper, I prefer train spotting to Peasant shooting - As I tell everyone I am more a Shunter and Hooter than a Hunter and Shooter!!

 

[ian Stanbury]

..Talking of Beatings Pepper..

..You just beat me in giving Bluebell a geography lesson!!

And again, you should be careful mentioning beating and children on popluar websites!!

And remember - Whats the difference between an egg and a day beating with your children?

The answer... You can beat an egg but you can beat a day beating with your children!!

 

[Bluebell]

Doh! They don't go shooting pheasants in France, do they? Wild boar are much more fun. It was the frost that deceived me - it's been minus ten here most mornings.

BTW Ian, I wish you'd drive more carefully!

 

[RichardIRL]

What happened the animal on the bonnet?

 

[ian Stanbury]

.It was hit by a Land Rover in front of me..

..on my way to Pangbourne.

And here's a story you're not going to believe -

I picked up the deer and as it was a so big I couldnt get it in the Renault so I strap him onto the bonnet of my car, and I'm driving home along the Pangbourne to Reading road.

But what I didn't realize was that the deer was only stunned. The Land Rover had knocked it out, knocking him unconscious.

And I'm driving through Reading and the deer wakes up. So I'm driving with a live deer on my bonnet and the deer is signaling for a turn. And there's a law in Berkshire against driving with a conscious deer on your Bonnet on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

And I'm very panicky. And then it hits me-some friends of mine in Maidenhead are having a fancy dress party. I'll go. I'll take the deer. I'll ditch him at the party. It won't be my responsibility.

So I drive up to the party and I knock on the door. The deer is next to me. My host comes to the door. I say, 'Hello, you know the Solomons.' We enter. The deer mingles. Did very well. Scored. Some guy was trying to sell him insurance for an hour and a half.

Twelve o'clock comes, they give out the prizes for the best costume of the night. First prize goes to the Berkowitzes, a married couple dressed as a deer. The deer comes in second. The deer is furious! He and the Berkowitzes lock antlers in the living room. They knock each other unconscious.

Now, I figure, here's my chance. I grab the deer, strap him on my bonnet again, and shoot back to the woods. But I've got the Berkowitzes dressed as a deer!

So I'm driving along with two Jewish people on my bonnet. And remember, there's a law in Berkshire that states that you cant carry a live deer on your bonnet on , Tuesday, Thursday, and especially Saturday...

The following morning, the Berkowitzes wake up in the woods in a deer suit. Mr. Berkowitz is shot, stuffed, and mounted at the Reading Football Club . And the joke is on them, 'cause there is a law in Berkshire that says stuffed animals arent allowed to be mounted within the county of Berkshire!!