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.Chapter Eight
Christmas in the Beaterwagon.
Mid-winter is very special for beaters.
Firstly, many of them are getting a bit tired after many days beating and really look forward to a break.
Secondly, Christmas-time is often great fun in the beater-wagons.
As the festivities draw nearer, more and more boxes of chocolates, bags of sweets, not to mention the bottles of port, are opened to keep the flagging beaters going.
The colder w eather and shorter, darker days seem to make everyone hungrier. Beatresses who have been dieting for months and telling us all about the many lost pounds whilst declining polo-mints can now be seen delving into tins of Quality Street with abandon.
Mince pies start to appear at soup-time.
The Spaniels, who were starting to look a bit lean are now suddenly treated to mini-sausages and beef rolls instead of just being flung the odd bit of bread roll.
Lunchtime becomes a feast, turkeys and Christmas puddings are served on the last shooting days before the beaters have their holiday.Yuletide spirit abounds and quite a lot of other spirits too, whisky macs and sloe gins being particularily popular and seasonal. The bottles of port get passed in all directions on some shoots, whereas others specialize in chritmas crackers. The athmosphere varies greatly but it is a very generous and cheerful time everywhere.
On some shoots, the Beatresses decorate the beater-wagons with tinsel and even flashing lights.
People wear Father Christmas hats and entire snowmen can be spotted here and there. There is singing of Jingle-bells and carols.
Best of all, there are Beater balls! These are very festive and are usually held in pubs. Disco-dancing may take place.In some regions there are barn-dances and we’re assured that in Scotland the beaters leap about in Highland Flings.The greatest excitement is seeing the other beaters in Festive Clothing.
Now the poor game-keepers are in for a real test:
What on earth are the Jilly-Anns to be called now that they appear in skirts, showing totally unexpected legs and other assets and wear high heels instead of green wellies? The game-keepers retire to the ba r with their pints in confusion.
The many Bobs and Robs change amazingly and there may even be those that find their soul-mate, or a body-mate, at the equvalent of the Office party.
A very good time is usually had by all. And one may discover amazing information, a beater I had thought was called Martin for the last three years turned out to be called Christopher…
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