boxing day in hampshire

i send chris to the office one day before the christmas holiday with instructions to find out exactly what boxing day means.  the two brits he asks both tell him it is a day for actually boxing -- sport boxing.   one of his co-workers actually grew up with father-arranged boxing matches with his brother, until he was injured one year.  chris is dubious.  the spaniard he asks says, "i believe it has something to do with charity and boxing your old things up to give to those less fortunate."  wikipedia confirms.

one british tradition on boxing day is the fox hunt.  we head out to the hampshire countryside to see our friends david and jessica and witness the start of the hunt.  we then take a walk around the property on which they live.  it's gorgeous. pastures and forest and a view of mid-sized town basingstoke in the distance.  they actually live in one of the property's two cottages.   the enormous manor house is under renovation by a london couple who intend to use it as a weekend retreat.  

their village lies nearby, and as we drive to the hunt we see small groups of residents meeting at the village duck pond.  another boxing day tradition is the village walk, which usually ends at the local pub.

fortunately we eschew pub food for jessica's cooking.  a former caterer, she makes the most sublime dishes.  tally helps her with a chocolate flourless torte, so our day ends especially sweetly.