Monday 10 October 2016

Annoying the Country Folk (Controversial post alert)









I knew moving back into the countryside would bring up very different issues than living in the city, one of which is hunting and the whole 'Countryside Alliance'    So when the local hunt sent a card to the  house addressed to the previous owner saying they would be hunting in our fields I rang them and pointed out that we now owned the property and would not be allowing hunting in any shape or form here. Evidently I was not believed and the very next morning someone came to the door asking for the previous owner while refusing to say who they were.  No doubt they will try to find the person who bought the rest of the fields to get permission to hunt all around us.  I found it all rather menacing as he told me on the phone that 'no doubt I would be seeing them sometime'.  Many years ago we rented a winter let on a farm, early one morning the hunt turned up and I had to rush out to rescue my two terrified cats as the hunters laughed making lewd comments about my 'pussies'.  All very unpleasant and not an experience I would want to repeat.   It is a subject that people feel very passionate about on both sides, I have had chickens killed by a fox, I didn't blame the fox who was doing what nature intended, I blamed myself for not keeping them secure.  It is awful when lambs are killed by foxes but I don't believe using dogs to hunt them is the answer.  None of my farming uncles and cousins have ever felt the need to don the scarlet.  It may not make me popular with some local landowners but I will not be welcoming them.

Of course there is the good side of living in the Countryside, someone from the local village knocked on the door asking if we could store his camper van in our barn - it's surprising how popular having a big barn can make you ;)  When he discovered we are new to the area he went out of his way to tell us all the goings on in the village and dropped by this morning with all sorts of info about activities including the W.I.  My only experience of the W.I. was when I worked in Sheltered Housing and the lovely ladies from the local W.I. would come around with all sorts of things for our residents.  My immediate thought was I'm far too young for the W.I., and it's all jam and Jerusalem, but realise that I may be doing them a disservice.  Are any of you members and what are your experiences?  Would they welcome a left wing, gobby atheist?

Our local town recently elected a Mock Mayor after throwing the real Mayor into prison.  He processed through the town, in and out of the shops while people threw sprouts at him.   I have no explanation......but I love weird goings on.












In the evening the history of Penryn was illuminated onto the towns buildings.  Luckily my friend who is a born and bred 'Rinner'  did a running commentary for me which included the fact that the towns people hid a very infamous lady pirate.












Life has been extremely busy but came to a halt of the weekend when I came down with a horrible cold and spent most of it sleeping.  I hope you are all keeping well, there seems to be a lot of things going around at the moment.

Chickpea xx

24 comments:

  1. Yes you will be welcomed by your local WI I used to belong and I am a gobby pagan

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  2. I agree with you about the fox-hunting as I don't like it either. Wasn't fox-hunting banned? I believe that we are responsible for wildlife, as we are the ones who built on their natural living and hunting grounds, so shouldn't be surprised when they venture nearer towns. I know you live in the country now, but you shouldn't have to put up with the attitude that I believe a lot of huntsmen have when it comes to hunting. They are not a law unto themselves as they like to think they are.

    Joan (Wales)

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  3. Good for you for putting your foot down. It will be interesting to see what their next move is! I joined our local WI last year but am afraid that I only went 3 times. They were all very welcoming and the talks were interesting, but I was the youngest there by at least 20 years and felt a little uncomfortable. That may just be my area though- I remember seeing a programme about the Liverpool WI and many were in their 20s, so you may be lucky. I love your local traditions. xx

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  4. How awful to have hunters feeling they have a right to use your field!

    If you can get a programme, maybe start with a WI meeting that appeals to you? A visiting speaker that sounds interesting. We have been going to the local garden club meetings - for foraging for wild food, chameleons, eland, Chelsea Flower Show - and the regulars missed the proper gardening (which doesn't appeal to me ;~))

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  5. Each area has different membership at their WI you may get lucky with some younger members but don't disregard it just because of someone's age, fun is sought at any age. Loving some of these old traditions you have locally.

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  6. I have always hated fox hunting with hounds, well done you for making your stand. Village life is such fun, hope you see more weird things going on, it's all about history.

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  7. I'm with you on the fox hunting, well done for standing firm. I thought it had been banned too? Have things changed? Re the WI, I fancied joining too when we moved to the village but chickened out at the thought of being one of the youngest. Maybe I'll try to pluck up courage again.
    Love the photos, Chickpea, it all looks fun x

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  8. do you have the date of the hunt? If so, please keep all animals in, incase they come close. I am sure there are signs you can put up on your land. I know dogs dont read, but it may make them call the dogs back?

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  9. Like the vegetable wearing lady, hate foxhunting

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  10. What a colourful life you have now. I hope you don't have any trouble with the hunt. The WI probably depends on the age group of the local branch as activities will be geared towards them.

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  11. Of course they should respect you not wanting hunting on your land, common curtesy if you ask me. What a cheek to laugh at you getting your cats. Stand your ground, it's your land. Pam in Norway

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  12. I thought fox hunting was no longer allowed? No doubt there are some loopholes for the diehard. Glad you are standing your grounds, it is a disgrace that the local hunt does not simply accept your decision.
    On the whole though, living in the country seems to suit you well, so much going on!

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  13. Good for you. I can't believe that such barbaric 'sports' are still allowed in this day and age. The Mock Mayor show looked great though. The eccentricity of English country living at it's best!

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  14. I guess the hunt are drag hunting, fox hunting is indeed illegal. I have belonged to WI for many years, not in my local village but only 20 mins away, we have had wonderful outings this year, excellent speakers on a wide range of subjects and g et involved in village life, litter picking, etc. And yes we are mostly older but once a left wing green activist, always a left wing green activist, politics and religion are your own affair, we welcome all women of all nationality, colour and creed, please give us a go.

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  15. I joined the WI as I wanted to learn to make jam. none of them were at all keen to share their skills, and they didn't sing Jerusalem. I went for a couple of years and then left.......

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  16. Hey Chickpea,
    The hunt traditionally meets every Boxing Day. It's not something that I would ever endorse; all that class nonsense and killing of innocent animals. I have an old school friend that belongs to her local hunt. We have had to agree to disagree (she is a farmer's daughter). I had a lovely mooch around Penryn in May. It's a lovely town. The architecture is great. And there was someone really. really enjoying Queen at top volume too ;) I hope your cold subsides soon. I hate colds. They bring out the absolute worst in me.
    Leanne xx

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  17. For all those asking, yes hunting is banned still at the moment and hopefully will remain so. However if they come across a fox while out on a drag hunt they sometimes 'accidentally' kill a fox. What a surprise, dogs trained to kill foxes let loose in the countryside kill a fox. The hunt was a week ago, we set up a camera and they didn't come near our field as far as we could see this time luckily.

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  18. Lots of different views about the W.I. Each group are probably very different as their members will be very different. I'm in two minds.........will let you know what I decide.

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  19. You were lucky to catch that Mayor-making ceremony; it was the first one after a gap of 122 years!!! Hopefully it will continue year on year now. Here's a report in the local paper - http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/14779027.Anarchic_air_in_Penryn_as_Mayor_of_Mylor_ceremony_returns/?ref=mrb&lp=4

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  20. You'd hope respect for your wishes would be fundamental for anyone coming near your land regardless of how views differed. I guess it doesn't always work like that. I'm not a fan either. Horrid to think of the cats being frightened. Love the mayor ceremony too! Xx

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  21. Hi, I followed a link from Crimson Kettle to get here. Can I just say I agree totally with your anti-hunting stance - and I'm a country girl. Keep it up. And if the WI don't want you, start your own group for gobby, left-wing atheists. (The GLA) I'd join!

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  22. Totally with you on the hunting! Hope you feel better soon xx

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  23. Love Penryn! Such an interesting, ancient borough.
    I've lived most of my life in Penryn, and although I moved to Camborne 8 years ago, (I know! I know! But love is blind) I still think of myself as a Rynner. :)

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  24. I'm glad you stood your ground with the local hunt. It must have been a little intimidating. You can always give the W.I. a try and see if it's your thing. X

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