© 2014 Paul Forte

"There's a BIG HARE up there!"

Like a lot of Italian men, la caccia was a big thing in his life.  He always loved hunting and indeed it seems that he and Gerry often passed their time at the sport.  One day he and Gerry were out hunting and hadn't got much except for a small rabbit.  Being tired, they sat under the edge of a dune for a quiet breather.  After a few minutes, my father started to get up whereupon he noticed a very big hare sitting right on top of the dune's edge, only a couple of feet away from them - in fact right above them!  He quietly moved back to his original seated position and started to silently mouthe to a clearly puzzled Gerry, "There's a BIG HARE up there", pointing upwards.  Gerry got the message and they emerged as one from their cover and bagged the hare.   I don't know who fired the shot, Gerry or my dad, but clearly they had a great supper with it.  Looking at the size of the hare, it's as big as their dog.  The photo was taken by Gerry I believe.

Now what intrigues me is that when dad told the story, he used no expletives when telling Gerry what was sitting just a foot or two above them.  Were it me, I know what I would have said in my excitement!

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The photo is dated 1942 on the back. I think it was taken in Swanage or thereabouts, when my dad Peter Marsella spent some time with mum's cousin Gerry Forte, who lived in Swanage.  He loved telling the story and it was clear in the telling how much he enjoyed being with Gerry.

Gerry Forte
(1923 - 2006)

Pietro Marsella in Swanage 1942

Pietro Marsella
(1918 - 1983)