Dreaming of a white Christmas

Snow delays play havoc as the country is blanketed in the white stuff, but the meet goes ahead on foot and Tessa Waugh sees the beauty in the snow and the scenery

- Tessa Waugh

I HAVE a new job that involves spending a lot of time speaking to farmers. Before beginning a round of calls, it is often a good idea to - check the forecast or glance out of the window. Extremes of weather provoke nothing but hassle for this tranche of the rural community, and this will invariably colour their response to my call.

I'm sure masters around Britain will keep a similar eye on the weather as they visit farmers on their patch about coming hunting. The endless rain of autumn was a testing time for those finishing off the harvest or trying to keep stock outdoors for as long as possible. No conversation could be had without mention of "the wet".