Christmas In The Mountains

The Ole Hedge Creepers
​ Christmas In The Mountains

This story starts off on Christmas Eve of 2022, well actually it starts off many months earlier, I hit 2022 with my feet on the ground running, everything from my business life, personal life and my media life just exploded, it seemed I was more popular now than ever, my Pass It On Young sports nationally was flying, I had just taken on a New Scottish Director and he has made a brilliant job of getting the Scotland branch off the ground, my Masonic fishing Branch is just well sailing away we could not have had a better year if we had tried, I am very proud of all my teams and volunteers, mere words, photos or videos just do not do these Countryside Hero's the justice they deserve, Masonically WOW what a year for me too, promotions, joining new orders or side degrees and meeting and spending time with some of the finest Brothers a man could wish or be honoured to know.

I suppose I should start this story off on the 23rd of December 2023, my Dad, my Uncle Dave and I are all born in December, its been a family tradition that we celebrate together on the 23rd of every December as far back as I can remember, this year my brother Shaun joined us, its been a while since all four of us Collins Boys have been all together all at the same time, usually one or two of us are missing, we went to Dads house for some food, then we went around to the pub for our usual joviality, I did not stay too late as I had to get back for Goose my Cocker Spaniel.

The next day I loaded the truck and headed for Wales and my Railway carriage in the Welsh mountains in the national park, I had booked this many months before, you see if I don't go away when I want a break, I will just end up working, I got there in less than an hour from my front door to my Carriage that was just like a log cabin, I unloaded my gear set the cabin how I wanted it and went out for a walk with Goose to stretch our legs.​

Almost immediately I bumped into the farmer next door who was feeding his horses, we struck up a conversation about his mole problem, from this conversation he asked could I help deal with some vermin problems whilst I was there, mainly rabbits and grey squirrels, I would have to come back for the moles as I didn't have any mole gear with me, I did have a 22 rimfire, an fac Air Arms Air Rifle and a 20b Shotgun with me, I was supposed to meeting a couple of Welsh boys over there to go out with them, alas it was my Welsh chums wives who said no they cant come out to play, the farmers offer for me to shoot his farm worked out very well indeed, for the first three days I did nothing apart from take Goose for a Walk and just chill out in front of the fire, sleep, drink fine wines and port, eating and watching the odd DVD on my player and going to bed early, my Pappy always said Early to bed, Early to rise, makes a Young Man, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise, he was right, I was also exhausted and needed re charging after such a long hard year.

My first walk up my mountain, this was the one I was staying on so I called it m mountain, was like the discover of fire for the first time, I was blown away by its raw natural beauty and the views were so spectacular, mere words, photos or videos just do not do this Welsh Landscape the justice it deserves, I fell in love with Wales all over again with every breath of crisp fresh Welsh Mountain Air, even Goose was on fire he was right at home here amongst the bracken bolting rabbits and flushing woodcock etc, my heart literally sang as I felt my entire body and soul just breath easy and relax, that first mountain hike/hunt was just like walking on air, every step, ever breath cleansing my very soul, each with a new adventure for Gosse and I laying before us, my Pappy (Grandfather) always said its all in the story, the climb to the top of the mountain that gives you the greatest view, he was so right as I strode to the top and stood and looked, every step up, every breath taken told the story of Goose and I adventure on our way up there, I suppose its the same in life, all the struggles, all the heart ache, the love lost and found, the hardships of life its all part of my story, some never make it up to the top of their mountains, I have been so lucky in life, I have climbed to the very top of my mountain, lost everything rolled right to the bog at the bottom of my mountain, with hard work and dedication I am rebuilding my path to the top of my mountain, it took this Christmas break to re focus me as I was exhausted and losing faith, but that climb to the top of that mountain and a chat with God re energised me, for I see the path I need to take clearly in front of me, my Young Sports are the very core of why I do what I do, I wont let them down

Goose and I climbed down the mountain taking every step, breath and view in, etching every detail in my memory, I got to the bottom and bumped into the farmer, he was going up to his local mountain pub to meet all his farming friends for their Christmas drink, would I like to come he asked? Dogs are welcome too, Goose and I jumped into his old series Landrover and chugged up the mountain in it, he told me the history of the mountain and his family farm going back many generations, I was like a kid on Christmas morning listening him too him, it suddenly sprang to mind he reminded me of my Pappy (Grandfather) not so much in how he looked but his body language and the passionate way he told a story, I hung on his every word, actually over the next 11 days he told me so many stories, truly wonderful I telle, we got to the pub and I was made to feel so welcome, the hospitality was second to none, I always say no matter where you go in the world true Country People are Country People the world over, I know this from first hand experience I have so many stories that span my travels around the globe hunting, shooting, fishing, cooking, eating and indeed drinking, every where I went the entire time I was there in that part of Wales I was greeted with open arms with the most wonderful smiles, everyone greeting me with good morning, good afternoon, good evening etc, I really felt quite at home and might consider buying a cottage there and moving base, for my beloved North Somerset is turning ghastly, builders have moved in and turning the whole area into a concrete jungle, as I said in a recent magazine interview my life here has is like the Don Williams song Lord Have Mercy On A Country Boy, I will attach this song to this articles at the bottom, listen to the words that is exactly how my life is here now.

The next few days Goose and I Hiked up and down so many mountains, hills, valley bottoms, you name it we walked it, hunting all the way of course, Goose flushed and retrieved I always had my catapult with me, I met so many farmers it looks like I will be going back doing a lot of mole control over there.

I went into Abergavenny what a wonderful little town, a great indoor market with lots of local produce, right up my street, a Cantonese lady there making fresh street food, I was particularly taken with her dumplings and spring rolls, a lovely bakery in there I got old school fresh baked crusty cobs (rolls) in there just like my Nan used to get, they went beautifully with my cold meats and pickles that night, actually I made pickled eggs and onions ready for Christmas, I was so happy how they came out, these were my Mum’s, nan’s and Aunty Rita’s recipe, they never showed me this recipe I just worked off my memory of watching them make these, blow me over I got it right first time around, I was transported back to a boxing day from my boyhood with the very first bite of that first pickled onion, Abergavenny what a wonderful town, lovely side streets, interesting local family shops as well as a few big names there, a couple of cracking family butchers, Bakers, Cafes, everyone again so friendly, I really am thinking of up sticks and moving to Wales, I found the masonic Lodge too so all good there, ou know as I am writing this and remembering it all I am persuading myself even more to move there.

The first night I went out lamping there were so many rabbits on that mountain I had to open a gate to let some out so I could go in and hunt some, I have not seen that many rabbits in a long time, the farmer said could I get a few for his oldest friend, a real countryman who loves ferreting, he and his brother live on rabbit but the years are marching on for Wilf and his brother who struggle getting out so much now days, of course that was no problem, it got to a point where I had to stop shooting I just could not carry any more rabbits down the mountain on my own, Eley Ammunition and the awesome Night Pearl Seer and Scops Max III made the job just too easy, although the shooting was very testing in the high mountain winds, the challenge for me made it so much more interesting and I loved it.​

I hung the pile of rabbits up in the farmers barn saying tell Wilf to come get them, I saw the farmer later that day when I had gotten back from Trago Mills, in his lovely Welsh accent he said blimey how many rabbits did you shoot, Wilf’s freezer might not fit them all, I laughed and said not as many as I could of shot, I would not be able to carry them all, we both laugh and he said shoot some more were over run with them, I was also asked to deal with a squirrel problem, there were a lot of them too.

For a few days and nights it rained hard and blew a hooley, so I could not get out hunting much, Goose and I went off in the truck discovering new places, each time an adventure, at the top of our mountain there was a man made pond, actually it was more like a lake, they called it The Keepers Pond, blow me sideways it was cold and windy enough walking around it, there were some daft buggers swimming in it, even Goose didn't fancy swimming in it, the dog looked at me, I looked at the dog, we both shook our heads thinking daft buggers, we carried on our walk chasing rabbits that was much more our style.

The time on our Welsh Mountain passed so quickly, we had our friends there with us, the farm horses followed us up and down the mountain, my little mate the Robin Red Breast who loved a few crumbs as I sat there on my decking drinking port with Goose by my side, Christmas Dinner was a Welsh Cawl (Cowl Stew) cooked in the slow cooker with my famous herby dumplings, those that have my cook books with know this recipe, Goose and I Hunted, Ate and Drank like Welsh Mountain kings.

Every day Goose and I had a walk with the 20b up the mountain, we accounted for several squirrels with that little gun, we lamped old school with a new twist with the New Helios Artemis head lamp, that is a brilliant bit of kit I telle, take a look at my video at the bottom of this article.

The final day came when we had to pack up and leave as I had to get back and set up a sporting rifle range night, I can honestly say I was so sad to leave our hosts and that wonderful place, so much so I am looking at dates to when I can go back even if it’s just for a couple of days, I really can say I have left a piece of my heart in those Welsh Mountains.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my Christmas Adventures in those magnificent Welsh Mountains, the place, the people so amazing they have left an imprint on my heart forever, watch this space as I am sure there will be more humble scribbles to come for I Will Be Going Back.​

The Ole Hedge Creepers
Christmas In The Mountains

By The Ole Hedge Creepers
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk