Sunday 26 November 2017

ROCKWOOD HARRIERS - HOYLANDSWAINE AND EMLEY

A couple of Rockwood Harrier meets - nothing exciting -

Rockwood Hariers Hoylandswaine meet - 18th November 2017

As usual, hounds find children.

A Master addressing the do's and don'ts of hunting within the law etc.

Keen to get going.

I never saw much more that day.

Rockwood Harriers meeting at Emley o the 25th November 2017

Strong wall to wall sunshine but a cold day and dark shadows.

A work of art!

I can't compete with this tackle! Will be some good pics somewhere.

Not sure what these were but don't think they were mince pies.

These were ham sandwiches in half bread buns or teacakes as we call them here. One supplemented the lunchtime sausage roll still keeping warm in my pocket, with a small sachet of Colman's English mustard.

Go on, have one.

I think the horse has the same feeling, whatever that is.

This is a Newcomers/Lawn Meet. So it is intended to give a gentle introduction to those who are not regulars and want to give it a go. As a Lawn Meet it basically means someone is hosting the meet at their establishment and providing some titbits and a drink to set you up for the day ahead and I suppose it is a sort of social thing too.

Go on, smile!

As a Newcomers Meet it means the novices and children are especially catered for in the field.

The hot mulled wine was brilliant on this lovely cold day

An attractive ham sandwich.

The Chairman.

Some fine horses about.

Unavoidable very deep shadows.

Probably hungering for some ham sandwich the huntsman is attacking.

A splendid courtyard where the meet was held.

Natural born killer. red in tooth and claw.

The lady photographer asked for this pose so I took advantage. I suppose with tackle like she has one can ask for rearrangements with confidence.

Moving off and about the only action I would see this day.

I got a distant glimpse of the Field as I drove to where I thought they would go but they went the other way so my trek across wet fields with big mushrooms of cloying clay growing around my boots was wasted.

I never really saw them again apart from another glimpse of some of the Field in this stubble just before I left.

Overnight, before the Meet, there was a sprinkling of snow lingering over the tops of the Pennines - but none where the Rockwood were at Emley which is pretty high up. Maybe this is the tail end of the foretasted big three week sub zero freeze with dire snow events that never happened here. (We had 14C one day).

Anyway here is a Blue Hare, to be found in our part of the Pennines, just beginning to change its coat, passing-by on some early real snow at another time and nothing at all to do with this day out.

As for the weather, 'they' are determined we will have to suffer as reported by the Daily Mail today.

Get used to life in the freezer! 'Significant snowfall' is forecast for Britain THIS WEEK as month-long -7C snap tightens its grip

The Met Office warned of 'significant snowfall' in the north as temperatures around the UK continue to drop
Could dip to -3C in sheltered spots, while health watchdogs have urged people to prepare for prolonged cold
The Met Office said that Britain's -7C coldest nights of winter are possible on Wednesday and Thursday
Public Health England warned those at risk from cold to take precautions after thousands of deaths last year.

I wonder if this forecast will prove any more realistic than the previous one I mentioned. (The 'north' often seems to relate to Scotland and so the ski slopes will be happy). I suppose if you cry wolf often enough it will come right eventually. The local forecast here says a bit of frost on Wednesday night.

I am getting tense in anticipation. Isn't this just part of our expected climate here anyway? Our Arctic Hares had better get a move on with changing their coats.

Monday 13 November 2017

A FEW BITS OF BOTH - HCVB AT HOLME AND ROCKWOOD FROM DUNKIRK

Assorted recent pics of the HCVB and the Rockwood Harriers.

The Holme and Colne Valley Beagles, the HCVB, 17th October 2017 at Holme.

Hounds go though or under obstacles -

or run up and over -

But will get there -

Somehow.

A Rockwood Harriers Meet at Dunkirk.

Still some autumn colours. The clocks have now changed- pity really, 8th November.

A few a bit similar as I like the Englishness here.

"'Ware seeds!"

The huntsman has gone off on foot somewhere - gorgeous countryside.

Another day another Rockwood Meet. The Mustard Pot on the 11th November.

This pony seemed to like to stand poised on three legs.

The Hon. Horse-Muck Shoveller, fully equipped and poised for action. Horses have no sense of decency.

When I was a small boy, on Station Road in Skelmanthorpe, which is a steep hill, coal wagons used to grind slowly and laboriously up it from the colliery and odd bits of coal would tumble off the heaped inside. There were horses and carts around in those days too, like the milk delivery by horse and milk-float from the farm where the Rockwood are now kenneled. The locals residents tracked the progress of the laden coal lorries and collected the bits of coal that fell off as well as ensured that the roads were swiftly clear of manure. It was waste not want not then.

The Horse-Muck Supervisor with divining rods and hightech moon boot ensuring nothing is missed.

Footnote - Not training for a lunar landing but actually a living example of how dangerous are equestrian activities, being crippled for the best part of a year.

The Field. Lots of poles and wires in that area.

The Galloping Whip

If life is a business, existence is fun,

When duty and pleasure and sport are in one,

And so he wears ever a smile on his lip,

'tis a labour of love to the Galloping Whip.

Tally ho! Tally ho! Tally ho!

Hark for'ard good hounds, Tally ho!

Brake test! I'm wondering if an America spelling of the word might be more appropriate - 'Break'.

Just a bit of exuberance.

Some sloppy gateways.

Hare in the snow - well there will be some sometime soon we are told. The 'Mail On-Line', as ever, keeps warning of arctic air and double figure sub-zero temperatures and the bookies have reduced the odds on a white Christmas.

(I am told with authority that this is a Blue Hare - Lepus Timidus, despite not at this stage, having had a change of coat to its winter white).

14 November - National weather forecast (Provided by Met Office)

Snow is set to fall in the South of the UK for the first time this season as a new icy Arctic blast sends temperatures plummeting.

Set to strike within days, the blast of Polar air will cause temperatures to tumble from Scotland right down to southern England, which is facing its first snowfall at the weekend.

The white stuff could fall on higher ground in the South and South West of England, it is said.

a body of water next to the rock: Credits: WENN.com

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: WENN.comIt comes after forecasters warned that Britain faces a lengthy cold snap - beginning later this week - which is likely to last a staggering three weeks.

Chills of minus 15C have been predicted this winter.

Oh dear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Getting hairy! Update 18th November - not happened yet!

Does anyone believe this stuff!