Tally Ho!

 

Tally Ho!

Point-to-point (steeplechase) 1870s

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Many years ago, Barry and I went to a point-to-point on Salisbury Plain. It was a business meeting disguised as a ‘jolly’ – a pleasant day out with refreshments provided. There was a point-to-point, ostensibly to entertain the attendees, in particular the visiting dignitaries of the company. As the company was American, a number of the guests were American.

It was a sea of green and brown. Men in hearty tweeds, some even in plus fours, sipped whisky. Tweed is a robust woollen fabric, prized as suitable clothing for outdoor pursuits, like hunting and shooting, because it is hard-wearing and moisture-resistant, and proof against thorns and thistles. However, the company was indoors, sheltered from the elements, so the outdoor clothing seemed a little de trop.

Women with strong yellow teeth, were drinking gin. They were dressed a little less formulaically, though still in earth tones, with sturdy legs, and feet shod in well-worn leather.As with all gatherings of this nature, there was a great deal of noise. It might be described as braying and there was a lot of guffawing. Everyone was talking, no-one was listening.

Most of the Brits were entirely relaxed, strapping, healthy, well-built people in an ocean of lovat green, thoroughly enjoying their day out, happy to see and be seen and chortling merrily, displaying their very British teeth.

Into this scrum stepped a dainty, whip-thin woman, clearly well out of her comfort zone, but smiling nervously as she accompanied her husband into the noisy throng. She was extremely slender, tanned, stylishly dressed, and beautifully groomed. She was polished and honed and ironed to the ends of her immaculate nails, a delicate hot-house flower in a garden of vigorous vegetables. The most fascinating thing about her was her teeth. They were such a contrast to the dentition of all around her. They were unnaturally, glaringly white, sunbeams glancing off them and dazzling all around her. They were obviously well-maintained, expensive teeth and no doubt, in her natural environment, would have been unremarkable in a room of similarly blinding gnashers.

I was reminded of the episode of ‘Friends’ in which Ross, played by David Schwimmer, whitened his teeth. They shone in the dark!

I don’t suppose the lady ever attended another point-to-point, but she was to be commended for making the effort. No doubt, she and her husband were invited to a Buckingham Palace reception later and that would have been more acceptable to her, though the Royal teeth are similarly strong, yellow, and large.

The Bedale Hunt, early 2000s
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The point-to-point continued, but only those participating took any notice of proceedings. In the distance, the local hunt (Royal Artillery Hunt) streamed across the fields, resplendent in scarlet. Of course, they were not pursuing foxes, as that had been outlawed, but the spectacle was still colourful and eye-catching.

Eventually, the day drew to a close, all the networking finished, and it was time to return home.

Teeth

When the mind is idle, not engaged in anything in particular, it wanders where it will and so I was suddenly aware that I was thinking about teeth this morning. I don't know why – it's not as if I have toothache or an impending dental check. Bethan came home for the weekend and she has beautiful teeth – the kind of dentition I refer to as 'American'. In fact, all my offspring – and their offspring, too – have credit-worthy teeth, as do most of their peers.
Anyway, I fell to reflecting and soon recalled the episode of 'Friends' in which Ross (David Schwimmer) whitens his teeth. There's nothing wrong with attempting to improve one's image so long as one keeps a sense of balance – Ross clearly overdid the enhancement! The video clip I was going to include has been censored or 'disenabled' - who knows why?
A few years ago, Barry and I went to a point-to-point on Salisbury Plain (which incorporates the largest military training area in the United Kingdom). It was a business affair, a 'jolly' to entertain some of the visiting dignitaries of the company. Naturally, as it was an American company, some of the visitors were American. The local people and the army participants involved in the point-to-point were Britons. The majority of the men, though not Barry, were dressed in tweed suits, some in plus fours, and all in shades of green and brown. Tweed is a rough woollen fabric and is prized as suitable clothing for outdoor pursuits like shooting and hunting because it is hard-wearing and moisture-resistant. However, we were not outdoors but were there to socialise and watch the horses and riders so the robust clothing seemed a little de trop. The women were clothed less formulaically. As with all gatherings of this nature there was a great deal of noise – one might describe it, not totally inaccurately, as braying – and much guffawing. Most of the Brits were entirely relaxed, strapping, healthy, well-built people, standing in a lovat sea, chortling gleefully and showing their strong yellow teeth, quite resembling those of the animals they had come to watch. Into this scrum stepped a dainty, whip-thin woman. She was clearly well beyond her usual comfort zone but was bravely entering the noisy throng, accompanying her husband and smiling rather nervously. She was extremely slender and tanned, stylishly dressed and beautifully groomed in a manner familiar to devotees of the Oscar presentations. She was polished and honed and ironed to the ends of her immaculate nails, a delicate hot-house flower in a garden of vigorous vegetables, but what was truly fascinating about her were her teeth. They were unnaturally, glaringly white, sunbeams glancing off them and dazzling all around her. (Okay, that last bit is an exaggeration!) They were obviously well-maintained, expensive teeth and no doubt in her natural environment they would not have been noticeable since everyone would have had mouths full of similarly blinding gnashers but among the hearty Brits they were quite remarkable. I doubt if she ever attended another point-to-point but have to admire her for making the effort to attend. No doubt she and her husband attended a reception at Buckingham Palace and that would have suited her far better, although the Royal teeth are similarly strong and yellow – and large! It must be something in the genes.