[Visual essay] Mr Owen’s double-barrelled shotgun/ [图说] 老欧文的双管猎枪

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今年冬天中国特别冷，本以为来三亚也能逃过寒流来袭，但三亚前几天也突然有了冬天的感觉。
为了steemit的每日更新，我开始重新整理自己的作品辑，突然发现2013年冬天的一组照片。

2013年的冬天，我还在高二，学校处于英格兰与威尔士交界处的一个小村落边。
当时因学校宿舍人满为患，全新的高年级宿舍也还在装修收尾当中。 学校便租下了离校园不远的一处B&B，暂时安顿高年级的男生。

The winter of China this year is quite cold, I thought to come​ to Sanya(an island​ located in southern China​) will be as warm as summer(it usually​ does​), however, ​the drop of temperature​ proved me wrong.

For the daily​ update on steemit, I revisited my photo library​​ and stumbled upon a series of pictures I took back in the winter of 2013.

In that winter, I just started​ my A-level in high school. The school is located next to a town between wales and southern England​.

Due to the fact that the school​ has already overcrowded​ with students, and the new dormitory is still under construction. The school rented a​ B&B for some senior student to live just outside of school in the countryside​.

Concord college 我的高中

可以说那年住在学校外是我整个高中最惬意的时光。 虽然离学校只有10分钟的步行时间，但是每天放学可以远离学校一点距离，住在英国传统乡舍中，被田野和湖泊包围着。现在想想居然有种奢侈的感觉。

I could definitely say that period​ of time was the most enjoyable time during the entire high school experience.
even it was only 10mins of ​walk to the ​main campus from​ where I stayed.

But living in a vintage country house,​ surrounded by open fields, lakes. It all seems a bit luxurious for me now.

每天行走的小路 前面两位同学也很久没联系了啊。
Narrow path I walked daily.

乡野 湖 英国冬天的大雾
Fields, the lake, foggy winter of UK.

现在回想起那个冬天，刚刚下起新年的第一场新雪。我窝在宿舍里享受暖气，望着门外缓缓落雪。
室友Tom突然冲进来说： “老欧文要去打猎，你要一起来么？”
当时因为室外温度太寒冷，还万般不愿意，随手抓了相机便磨蹭走入小雪中。

坐着老欧文的路虎，一起前往了一个人工湖。

Think back on that winter of 2013, The snow just started falling from the sky. I was in my room enjoying the love from the heater. watching the snow fall.

My roommate​ Tom rushed in and told me: "Mr Owen​ is going for a hunt, you coming?"
I wasn't really sure because of the freezing​ cold, yet I grabbed​ my camera and joined​ them eventually.

Jumped on to Mr Owen's Landrover, we came to a reservoir.

老欧文是学校周围的农夫，虽说是农夫，但叫地主可能比较合适。
校园周边巨大的田野几乎都是他在种植。在他旷阔农田中有一个为作物供水的人工湖，湖上饲养了许多大鹅。

每天冬天，欧文家的例行狩猎都在这个人工湖周围展开。
一位成员在湖面的东面吹响号角，大鹅会受到惊吓往西面飞行。其他的猎人就站在湖西侧的低处，双管猎枪上膛，瞄准，射击。

Mr Owen is a farmer from this area, landlord to be more accurate. He owns and ​farms most of the lands around my college. In his vast land, there is a reservoir built for water supply. lots of geese live in that peaceful water space.

Every winter, the yearly hunt of Mr Owen's family undergoes around this reservoir of his. Here is how they usually do it.
One family member goes​ to the east side​ of the reservoir, blows a horn as loud as possible, then geese will fly to the west side of the water frightened by the noise. The rest of the crew will be waiting on the west side, hidden, loaded and aimed.

除了他们一家人高超的射击技巧，更让我惊奇的是他们家饲养的猎犬。
每当有大鹅被射中，这些猎犬便飞奔至鹅坠落处，拎着脖子回到主人身边，继续等待下一个不幸的猎物。
高效，精准，默契

Apart from their high level of aiming skills, I am most astonished by their hunting dogs!
Whenever there is a goose being shot from the sky and falling, the dog will run to the landing point swiftly, hold the goose in their teeth. Run back within a blink, waiting for the next unfortunate goose.

Effective, precise, well-coordinated.

当时间过去这么久，4年后的今天，我重新翻看这些照片时。
除了对高中时期的些许怀念，更多的是对老欧文一家保持的传统感到敬佩。
要知道，老欧文的猎枪是从爷爷辈就传承下来的老物，老欧文的儿子们穿着的猎装，也是家族中不断传承下来的物品。

每年的新年，在寒冷中，穿越时空的双管猎枪响起，自酿葡萄酒碰杯，英国血液的传承不断延续。

现在没过几天就要春节了，生活在城市里的中国人少了鞭炮，少了窗花，少了舞狮舞龙、挂灯笼。
红包还在，也仅仅是微信上手指轻轻一点。 福字少不了，打开支付宝扫一扫凑五福。

传统靠传承，传承才有传统。

希望在这个不断变化的时代，特别是在属于自己的节日里，回味自己的文化，并且思考一下，未来自己孩子的春节将会是什么样呢？

Time goes by, 4 years later today, when I revisited these pictures of Mr Owen. Except ​being nostalgic about the high school time and friends, I am also admired by the heritages they kept as a family.
As I heard from Mr Owen, his double-barrelled shotgun is inherited from his grandfather. The outfits and gears they were wearing and using during the hunt were passed on by generations.

Every beginning of the year, in the freezing​ cold, the sound of a double-barrelled shotgun echoes through time and space. Home brewed wine poured into the glassware, the heritage of a family runs through their blood.

It's only days when the Chinese new year will arrive, Chinese people living in the city no longer light up fireworks, the paper cut-out decorations can no longer be seen, Dragon dance also disappears on the streets or villages. Of course, we still have the red pocket, just open wechat (Chinese WhatsApp), after some taps of fingers you will receive some. The red pocket of 0s and 1s........

Heritages will only exist when people inherit them.

I wish in the ever-changing​ time and society, particularly during this holiday of our own. Reflect on our own culture, and think. What will be the spring festive like for the next generation of Chinese people?

写在最后，希望和蔼的老帅哥Mr owen一切都好，也祝大家春节快乐。

In the end, I hope the kind Mr Owen the very best, and happy Chinese Spring​ Festival to everyone!

PS. English isn't my native language​ if you could correct my grammar and spelling down in​ the comment section that would be amazing​!

Find me on Instagram​ @jeffreysxy https://www.instagram.com/jeffreysxy/