A gilet is essential kit and has become the staple of all countrymen’s wardrobe. The best shooting gilets are loved not just for their versatility and cosiness but also their technical features. Furthermore, gilets are smart over a shirt in the summer and an invaluable mid-layer for chilly days in…
Why We Garden by Claire Masset My immediate reaction to the title was to respond “but I don’t”. However, this is true only insofar as I outsource it because others are better at generating the horticultural joy I crave in the extremely restricted space that passes for a London garden.…
The Lighted Window by Peter Davidson The subtitle of this meditative, lyrical, affecting work is ‘Evening Walks Remembered’, and there is indeed a rambling quality to it – in the best sense. For what Peter Davidson is undertaking here is a cultural, philosophical and intellectual meander around the motif of…
What is good chocolate? The scientifically-based Zoe study says: “Dark chocolate is particularly beneficial for your gut. It provides fuel and promotes the growth of some of the gut’s “good” bacteria. ..Dark chocolate has several times more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. And it contains substances that may help lower…
Hattie Ellis selects the best eggs, with the richest, most golden yolks and entirely irresistable pastel shells. BEST EGGS Easter helps us appreciate the egg. Loaded with springtime symbolism, it epitomises the emergence of new life. In the days when Lent fasting meant no eggs for 40 days and nights,…
Do working dogs have to wear a collar? Yes, it is a legal requirement for dogs in public places to wear a collar, with details of their owner. In that case, you’d best be aware of the smartest gundog collars around. Like all good laws, there are exceptions. Emergency rescue…
Suiting all social occasions from the field to Fulham, a true country gentleman knows the importance of owning a good pair of corduroy trousers. Their warmth and durability have seen these trousers have weather the elements and earn themselves a permanent place in the countryman’s wardrobe. Corduroy first became popular…
At this time of year shooting types are taking a look at their kit; repairing, mending and deciding what will need replacing. It’s inevitable that a favourite wax jacket will sustain wear and tear from a busy shooting season. But there’s no need to dispose of just yet – one…
The best fountain pens are a hand held luxury and are a gift for life. When the post arrives it’s always the hand-written envelopes we reach for first. (Read our love letter to postage stamps.) Finding the best fountain pens The best way to find the pen for you is…
Names of the Fish by Chris McCully Have you ever stopped to reflect on why a trout is thus called when it could have been saddled with something else entirely? A shoat? A ruff? Even if you haven’t, Chris McCully makes a powerful case here for his belief that “cultural…
