One of the less common species now encountered on the Tube is the goth, perhaps because, in these dreary COVID-19 times, being deeply miserable now is the norm, especially if you’re fond of football.
I rather miss them. Their deathly pallor, spiky hair, heavy eyeshadow and torn fishnet stockings gave hope that not every millennial had chosen a career in law or accounting. Though I suspect that gothic plumage is now totally acceptable in the professions — but not, of course, in IT, where cargo shorts, flip-flops and Fat Face shirts remain de rigueur.
I spotted one a week ago on the District line, staring into space and nodding quietly to a soundtrack, and wondered what sad songs appeal to goths. Lots by The Smiths, of course, and doubtless a dollop of Lou Reed. But the most depressing song would not have been on her iPhone because it’s only heard in the countryside. And it’s a sound rather than a track.
No, it’s not the plaintive cry of the curlew nor the soulful lament of the turtle dove. It’s the steady ‘pop pop-pop’ of someone else enjoying a great day’s shooting. Round here, where I’m surrounded by shoots, you get accustomed to it in the season. Though it rankles, you have the solace of knowing you’ll be out with the gun later in the week. In the late summer, it’s torture, as it signals some other bugger is having a big day on the pigeons, while your farms, which you’ve visited constantly for a week, are utterly ignored by the grey hordes.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 4, 2021-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 4, 2021-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside