Out in the field with the shooters today. The Brits are very serious about proper traditional attire for shooting. Lots of tweed and Peaky Blinders caps. Have stepped up my game this year – am not wearing jeans, so will not scare the pheasants.

Learning point for me. Shooting and hunting are different in Britain. You shoot pheasants, grouse and ducks. You hunt rabbits, foxes, and stags. We are shooting.

A day of shooting in the UK is a serious production. Lots of moving parts. Each day you shoot at a different (marvelous) estate. Today we visited the Ruckley Estate in Shropshire, England. The owners, Keith and Margaret were really really really lovely people.

I enjoy watching the shooting, but really I’m here for the doggos. I love to watch them retrieve – they never miss a bird, and they never get tired.

Have a crush on a black cocker spaniel named Buffy. Have already told Ken we need one.

The day: started with tea, followed by a shot of sloe gin. Then a couple of rounds of shooting. Then elevenses (which btw is something we definitely need to adopt in the US) – a cup of consommé and sausages with a glass of champagne. Someone came around and poured another shot of sloe gin into my Champagne. Did not object.

Got a tour of the estate house from Margaret (tried not to gawk like a commoner). Found some garden inspiration – beautiful statue and a bunch of empty pots. I’m doing it.

More shooting.

Sidebar: the owner’s SIL loaned me a fancy walking stick (am sure I looked like I needed it). Felt like Gandalf.

Then lunch, which was delicious meat pies and veggies followed by rice pudding.

More shooting. Pheasants are incredibly beautiful birds.

Then back to the shooting lodge for tea and tiny sandwiches. The world needs more teacups and tiny sandwiches.

Cheers!