"HELLO" pigs, you're "O.K."

When it comes to 'getting down and dirty' the paparazzi know a thing or two.

But the phrase took on a very tactile and fragrant meaning this week when our Rectoryreserve herd were interviewed and photographed for a well known national agricultural magazine.

The paparazzo in question had met Wurzel and Pepper at Heckington and was eager to pursue their story in greater detail: particularly the 'hairy pigs return to Lincolnshire' aspect. Mind you, they were both well-behaved and, more importantly, clean on that occasion.

We had thought to present them in that same fashion on this occasion too. A considerable amount of time was spent on polishing and preening to remove the mud of the previous weeks. They were relatively sanguine about that, turning round to order so that we could attack the really caked areas and allowing their faces to be prettied up too. So, half an hour before the appointed 'interview' they were ready to grace the pages of the most celebrated of national magazines.

It is said that pigs have a sense of humour. Personally, I think it's an evil streak. We had no sooner turned our backs than they were straight back to their water drinker. We'd had the forethought to fill their wallows with hay. But they had other ideas. Within minutes the hay was made wet - and it takes quite a lot of effort to make water 'run' from an automatic drinker. Then mud was paddled in and then pigs rolled around ---- and became exceptionally dirty again. And, of course, wet! Cue the cool journalist! "No problem" he said; "The journal is one which prides itself in having its feet in the mud" (and, no doubt, having it's journalists' feet in the mire is an implicit part of the contract). And off he set about his work....... It was not long before thoughts of danger money were going through my mind, if not his.... Mangel and his mates were not into posing for the camera. Certainly they were interested in sticking their (dirty, very dirty) noses directly at the lens; they were equally intrigued by the photographers legs, feet, shirt, - well any part of his really. He began to take on a curious dappled appearance and muttered something about decreasing the value of his car, which he hoped to be selling shortly and which he was going to have to spend the best part of 3 hours travelling home in........ Something about clinging odours I suppose...

Attesting to his genuine fondness for pigs, however, he continued in good humour, giving up only when he felt certain he had at least one or two images which would be suitable for said esteemed magazine's readers. Let's hope he was right, after all we are trying to advance the case for Mangalitzas! Anyway, we look forward to reading the results of his labours in the near future.

P.S.

The following day, our lovable herd appeared clean and spruce for breakfast - and stayed like that for the remainder of the day. Sense of humour.... or what?