I feel duty bound to inform you that my 2017 book 21st-Century Yokel is currently available to listen to for FREE on Audible, worldwide. If you’ve never tried one of my books, it’s not a bad place to start. Yokel was longlisted for the Wainwright Prize, which is the big nature writing award here in the UK, but it misbehaves a bit to truly qualify as a nature book, being a combination of folklore, wildlife, social history, walking, memoir, stories about the behaviour of my
Thanks for the heads up on this which I spotted last night. I read this yonks ago but I’m currently languishing with a filthy flu thing & listening to this seemed the ideal antidote
* Trigger warning * do not go to sleep listening to this with a temperature of 101.5. In my delirium this narrative became completely alive and I had otters & beavers & giant bags of crisps all inextricably tangled up with black shuck & wicker men. It got very trippy I can tell you. Quite psychedelic in fact. On plus side my temp has dropped to 100.4 this morning so that’s a boon - book must have healing vibes
"hunting" a guy in a fox suit, or riding to hounds who are chasing a scented drag ... fine. Chasing down a terrified animal is just asshollery. Because they roust the poor foxes and close off their dens.
Decades ago I saw an article which did, technically, contain fox hunting but nothing was hurt. The author described visiting an uncle, and the farm dogs were raising a ruckus one night - they were behind a chain link fence around the house and garden. "Ah, the foxes are bored. Tomorrow night we'll go out." That night, the dogs were allowed out and the uncle took the author to a particular hollow tree by a stream. "Now just sit here and watch. Won't be long now." In the distance, and getting closer, was the baying of the hounds. A fox came scampering through the stream and another fox, who'd been sleeping in the hollow tree came out. They touched noses briefly and the rested fox trotted toward the sound of the dogs for a few paces, then dashed off into the night. The dogs, sniffing along the stream bank, came around the tree, didn't even notice the humans, caught the fresh fox's scent and dashed off on the scent trail.
Uncle told the author about every 2-3 weeks the local foxes would get bored and come hang around to tease the hounds so he'd let the dogs out for a run. They never came back with blood on them, and this was why. The uncle chuckled that, "I swear, I heard snoring from that tree! Cheeky foxes. The hen house is fox-proof so I'm not worried about the birds, and the foxes are welcome to the mice and vermin, but they do love to tease my dogs."
THIS is fair fox hunting. When it's a game to the foxes themselves.
Love this news, many thanks, Tom. I'm so relieved that it will be your actual-own voice, so I will feel safe actually own-ear listening. I have tried a couple of AI audiobooks, and frankly, when they are not annoying me and I am not cursing their ignorance about pronunciation, erroneous emphasis, and very bad French, they make me feel used. Looking forward to this! Best, Kate
Thanks for the heads up on this which I spotted last night. I read this yonks ago but I’m currently languishing with a filthy flu thing & listening to this seemed the ideal antidote
* Trigger warning * do not go to sleep listening to this with a temperature of 101.5. In my delirium this narrative became completely alive and I had otters & beavers & giant bags of crisps all inextricably tangled up with black shuck & wicker men. It got very trippy I can tell you. Quite psychedelic in fact. On plus side my temp has dropped to 100.4 this morning so that’s a boon - book must have healing vibes
"hunting" a guy in a fox suit, or riding to hounds who are chasing a scented drag ... fine. Chasing down a terrified animal is just asshollery. Because they roust the poor foxes and close off their dens.
Decades ago I saw an article which did, technically, contain fox hunting but nothing was hurt. The author described visiting an uncle, and the farm dogs were raising a ruckus one night - they were behind a chain link fence around the house and garden. "Ah, the foxes are bored. Tomorrow night we'll go out." That night, the dogs were allowed out and the uncle took the author to a particular hollow tree by a stream. "Now just sit here and watch. Won't be long now." In the distance, and getting closer, was the baying of the hounds. A fox came scampering through the stream and another fox, who'd been sleeping in the hollow tree came out. They touched noses briefly and the rested fox trotted toward the sound of the dogs for a few paces, then dashed off into the night. The dogs, sniffing along the stream bank, came around the tree, didn't even notice the humans, caught the fresh fox's scent and dashed off on the scent trail.
Uncle told the author about every 2-3 weeks the local foxes would get bored and come hang around to tease the hounds so he'd let the dogs out for a run. They never came back with blood on them, and this was why. The uncle chuckled that, "I swear, I heard snoring from that tree! Cheeky foxes. The hen house is fox-proof so I'm not worried about the birds, and the foxes are welcome to the mice and vermin, but they do love to tease my dogs."
THIS is fair fox hunting. When it's a game to the foxes themselves.
I love that!
Love this news, many thanks, Tom. I'm so relieved that it will be your actual-own voice, so I will feel safe actually own-ear listening. I have tried a couple of AI audiobooks, and frankly, when they are not annoying me and I am not cursing their ignorance about pronunciation, erroneous emphasis, and very bad French, they make me feel used. Looking forward to this! Best, Kate
I love your LOUD DAD!!
Ralph looked like a lovely cat, guarding your piles of books. Will be listening to your Audible recording asap.
Thanks Tom. It’s in my library and I’m looking forward to listening to you
And now Ring The Hill has just arrived in the post. I’m spoiled for choice
I am still in Chapter One and loving every minute of it. You have another very satisfied reader and enjoyer of your tellings. K
I'll have to listen to that! I'm nearly finished reading "The Villager" and I have to say I'm loving it although 'Papps Wedge' made me very edgy!
Cor blimey, the spell checker is doing a number on me!!
As usual, I laughed out loud at your wit with special emphasis on your your Dad!
I bought 21st Century Yokel from Amazon Australia who shipped it in from UK. Very excited to read it.
Thanks for the heads-up, just added your book to my Audible library
Congrats Tom on your “bold endeavour Anniversary”! Where did you put on those books? The cat looks a little squeezed in.
Brilliant excerpt, have downloaded ready to listen on my run 👍
Talk about laughing. Brilliant.
Listening right now 🤣🤣🤣
Just downloaded the audible. Thank you!!