I always feel that, to (mis)quote Tim Haywood, grappa should gently lead you into a quiet alley before smacking you around the head with a sock full of sand.

We got tickets for the Radio 3 "In Tune" Christmas Special yesterday & they had The 4th Choir on & they were truly magical as well as The Connaught Brass & some great jazz. A lovely start to Christmas.

Bit cruel.

I’ve lived in the countryside for three decades and I don’t knows anyone who hunts. They’re all from elsewhere. And if you think they’re animal lovers in some way ask what happens to hounds when they’re too old to be of use.
They’re shot.

I had an entire hunt in my garden once and only just managed to save our own wire fox terrier. The hounds were completely out of control and when I gave the master of the hunt a piece of my mind I suspect he’d have used his whip on me if there weren’t police and sabs around. Ban it.

There are country people who daren’t speak out about hunting. Those who do it are part of the land owning class who can cause you trouble. One of the minions during my run in with them said ‘We know where you live!’
The brainiac was standing in my drive at the time. Class eh? It never goes away

The good news is I never see them near us these days for one simple reason: pretty much every land owner round here has sent them legal letters banning them from their fields. Shows how much they’re loathed.

Of course he could have bribed one of the local cats to wear it while he sat at home sipping a vodka martini...

Yup, that'll do it!

No suprise but the Countryside Aliance have said that "people across the countryside will be shocked". Really?