Monday, February 14, 2011

MANY FEET IN A SMALL PLACE

During one of the Summer/Autumn walks I went on to learn about the existence of, and to admire the remnants of the ancients, the group stopped off on the way at an old but not so ancient cottage. The landowner, on whose land and water paths we were trailing, and who was our knowledgeable tour guide, wanted us to see original features that were retained in the sympathetic restoration and refurbishment of a dwelling, now used as a holiday cottage. 

About a dozen of us arrived and started to trudge around the nicely prepared homestead, at the same time as the holiday-makers turned up with their very sociable hunting dogs, plus their hunting,shooting and fishing luggage. As we stepped into the sheltered garden to inspect the original three hundred years old stone wall of the house and the reconditioned roof line, we were met with an array of hunting birds on static perches stretching their wings. The birds were also part of the holiday group's outdoor pursuits accoutrements.
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We talked to the bird handlers about the birds, finding out that they were reared in captivity (under license) especially for the purposes they were going to be used. The dogs and the birds had travelled by road, about 500 miles, from Derbyshire - not in the same vehicles - to the remote estate where we saw them.
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2 comments:

Flighty said...

I've never been into hunting, shooting or fishing. I've always been happy just looking!
Wonderful looking birds. Flighty xx

ZACL said...

There are groups of people who satisfy their sports needs in the hunting,shooting,fishing fraternity. Some have few ethics, or perhaps do not follow sports rules of this country.

One interesting point about this group was, they were not from the autocratic and aristocratic levels of our society. We see a large number of them, and they are less agreeable than these people were.

Like you, Mr F, I like to observe.