Opening Squirrel Meet - This Sunday, 4 pm. Hooray!

[Connaught Square Squirrel Hunt]

Hallooo, and a great summery welcome to the opening of the (drag-) Squirrel Hunting season! 

 

This season bubbles over with exciting events for young and old, 2 legged and 4 legged, urban and rural.  Your Joint Masters, the Secretary and their committees have slaved over the damp and dreary winter coming up with things for your enjoyment, dear followers, and for the general irritation of the anti-foxhunting brigade.

 

This drip, drip campaign of ridiculing the law by following it to the letter will gradually make the world laugh at the prejudices that created the Hunting Act and, in only a few years, raise the question in all right-thinking minds: " what on earth did we thing we were we doing?".  Oh, the history, the grandeur!  I feel a marching song coming on; I must sit down.

 

So to work ....

 

OPENING MEET - THIS SUNDAY, 4 pm , Duke of Kendal, 38 Connaught Street W2 2AF

 

Yes, dear followers, we know how you love the shortness of notice now traditional for the opening meet.  It's the daily distraction of wondering as the leaves start to open on the trees when, oh, when, will that e-mail arrive.  Trembling fingers clicking on the send/receive longing for that rush of warmth and satisfaction, followed by the shock of knowing that your sick Aunt will have to go unvisited or your golf partner pick up his own balls because you just HAVE TO BE THERE.

 

Well, this time we have given you a whole 4 days to come up with excuses and book alternative flights because the whole clamjamfry starts THIS SUNDAY.   (I have always wanted to use that word in print!  See: http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1085448)

 

The pattern will follow that set down in the now mythical period of 2005:  at 4 pm we meet at the Duke of Kendal, courtesy of the ever welcoming Jo & Mo, for a stirrup cup and sausage roll.  Your Joint Masters will be dressed in their hunt coats (midnight blue velvet with shocking pink silk lining) and we encourage followers to sport their own (or at least ratcatchers) not to mention breeches, which can be very fetching!  Visisting packs of 1/2 couple hound are asked to make themselves known outside the pub as the Health & Safety people have now forbidden dogs inside (I know - don't start).  We move off at 4.30 pm to hunt areas of Hyde Park for those tricky drag-squirrels.  After taking just as much exercise as is safe for a Sunday afternoon, or maybe a little less, we return to the pub for a well deserved Hunt Tea of beer and crisps.  (for those kiddily inclined, proven to be enjoyed by all ages and finished before bathtime)

 

See you there!

 

.........................................................

 

Other things, less pressing but equally important ....

 

(1)   The 2007 MEET CARD IS NOW ONLINE :  please check it out on our shiny new improved website: www.csshhq.org.uk.  (OK, it's not that improved, but a bit).  You will never be able to complain of insufficient notice again!

 

(2)   Your hunt has sponsored a race at Newmarket on 27 MAY 2007, THE CONNAUGHT SQUARE SQUIRREL HUNT HANDICAP!  Please do come and join the revelries.  More anon.

 

(3)   SAVE THE DATE: the 2007 HUNT BALL will be held on 18 OCTOBER 2007 at Banqueting House, Whitehall.  Now firmly established as the stylish, sophisticated and silly start to the Autumn London season, join us right in the heart of Government!  Plans are

well underway to improve on the spectacular successes of 2005 & 2006; we will let you know when tickets are available and at what price.  They will go like hot-cakes so, to be first to know, please register an interest at csshu...@gmail.com. 

 

That's all folks, now Get Back to Work!

 

Duncan Macpherson

Edward Seyfried

JMSH

 

(and Dillon/Dylan, of course)