The Technicolor Dream Coat

I have had a bit of sport over the years commenting on the longevity of some the Prince of Wales' clothing.  I honor the fact that he recognizes that the "older some things are the more comfortable and familiar they become". Sometimes familiar is taken to extremes. 

My favorite of his vintage clothing pieces may be the Barbour jacket he wore on Countryfile last weekend.  Used while the Prince builds hedges, the coat has been repeatedly patched and repaired with leather strips and odd pieces of fabric. When next it rips another piece will be sewn on.  

It's a wonder Barbour doesn't make their own version.

Toad

Poacher Pockets

I was castigated by a dear friend for never having discussed poacher pockets. I had been reading Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, a story about Danny and his poaching father at the time, so it seemed time to admit that although I have 2 Barbour jackets with poachers, I very rarely use them.

For you non hunters, a poacher is someone who illegally steals animals, fish or plants, usually for food. Subterfuge is important for the penalty for game theft is high. Many sub plots of 19th and early 20th century Brit Lit focus on poachers alluding Mi'lords gamekeeper. Perhaps this November 1959 Field and Stream review of Lady Chatterley's Lover will remind you:

Although written many years ago, Lady Chatterley's Lover has just been re-issued by Grove Press, and this fictional account of the day-to-day life of an English game-keeper is still of considerable interest to outdoor-minded readers, as it contains many passages on pheasant raising, the apprehending of poachers, ways to control vermin, and other chores and duties of the professional game-keeper.

Unfortunately, one is obliged to wade through many pages of extraneous material in order to discover and savour these sidelights on the management of a Midland shooting estate, and in this reviewers opinion, the book cannot take the place of J.R. Miller's "Practical Gamekeeper".

To aid a poacher's quest, full length pockets are sewn in the back of a hunters coat, usually with an opening on either side so a poacher can snatch his quarry with either hand and quickly slip it inside his coat so it is not noticed, and the poachers keeps his hands free.

I'm certain there are thousands of great stories both mythical and real life about the uses for poacher pockets,beyond holding a wet newspaper, a smuggled carton of cigarettes or a bottle of wine which is about all I can imagine. I'm game to hear yours though. Does the Jeremy Irons televised version of Danny really exist?

Toad

My dog is smarter than....

I am ashamed to admit this but Ted the Wonder Dog has a better memory than I.

Ted and I are creatures of routine. He's is pretty hard to rattle, but generally he likes and gets things his way.

Let me provide an example. I am an unapologetic cigar smoker. I only smoke outside, at home. Mrs. T says she likes the smell of cigars in the house, but I know that's a lie. I don't like the smell, so outside it is. So of an evening Ted and I take our cigars and a tipple, head to the rockers on the veranda and spend an hour or so swapping lies, and catching up on each other's day. We have been doing this rain or shine, hot or cold for years. We enjoy the time together.

Another part of our routine is thus. When it is cold out, I always wear an old Barbour Beaufort jacket, and in the handwarmer pocket I keep 2 dog bones. (After his smoke, Ted enjoys a bone). When I put the jacket on, Ted becomes a different dog. He's awake, his animated, he's helpful and will do whatever I tell him, at least until he gets the bones.

Saturday evening was cold, and for the first time this season I wore the old warhorse green jacket. Ted went nuts and I couldn't figure out why. Finally, I caught on. Apparently, I'm not well dressed until I put a couple of bones in my pocket.

Toad