This Club walk is the last of the year and because of its proximity to Christmas always has a celebratory atmosphere. The jolly mood was further enhanced by our lovely Hon Secretary distributing some delicious warm mince pies to those present. Furthermore, some members and hounds were sporting colourful festive garb.

As we converged on what was colloquially known 'The Dumps' car park there was no great expectation for a walk unaffected by rain. A thick mist hovered across the Wealden valley we were about to walk. The sky was also threatening and underfoot the tracks were very muddy.

However, as we began our work, these conditions did not dissuade the hounds from, almost recklessly, charging around, chasing each other. And it was a joy to witness - they were all so excited.

As the walk progressed, various hounds offered themselves to play victim, or prey, and be hounded by the barking pack. This was understood by them all to be just a playful game.

The further we went from the car park, the muddier the pathways became. Wisely, most walkers were wearing sturdy walking boots or wellies. Even so, hounds splashed through water, covering themselves and their amused audience with mud.

Normally, such high-jinks are limited to the start of walks, but on this day the excited mood remained throughout the entire trek. There would be some very tired hounds later. It was a great morning spent together, and all the better for the weather remaining dry.

At the end, a few of us went to The Roebuck and enjoyed some refreshments before the homeward bound journey. Well done, everyone who attended.