7 APRIL 2007, Page 63

Q. We are lucky enough to live on a large

estate well known for its excellent hunting. Although we do not hunt ourselves, we like to contribute by giving a lawn meet which always seems to prove popular, and this year was enhanced by a visiting pack from the South. Earlier in the season one of our fellow tenants, a very sociable fellow, planned on doing the same, but unfortunately the weather caused its cancellation. Consequently several trays of sausage rolls went into his deep-freeze and he generously offered to produce them at our meet. However, when the Master said a few words of thanks for the sumptuous feast, he thanked the sausage roll providers rather than us! As I had broken the record for the amount spent at our local supermarket to entertain the legions of mounted and foot followers, I feel somewhat aggrieved and wonder how you would suggest I should have made it clear who was giving the party?

E. M-B, North Yorkshire A.This unintentional discourtesy could be made good by a member of the visiting hunt posting a letter on both hunts’ websites giving a description of the day preceded by a fulsome appreciation of your own largesse. Collude with a third party to prompt one of the visiting members into penning such a letter. Indeed your third party can even offer a ghosted letter to which the visiting hunt member need only put his or her name. Having thanked yourself in the letter for providing the spectacular venue, you can go on to supply a slavering 200-word description of the foodstuffs and alcoholic refreshments on offer finishing off with a brief nod to your neighbour ‘and not forgetting the sausage rolls supplied by his neighbour Mr Bloggs’. In this way you can discreetly set the record straight.