Of Pepper, piglets and Pilot

Known as "The King of Spices" pepper was an important part of the spice trade between India and Europe as far back as Greek and Roman times. However, it remained largely unknown in Western Europe until the Middle Ages during which time the Genoese and Venetians monopolized sea trade routes and hence, also, the sale of pepper and other spices. It was only during the late 15th century that knowledge of pepper truly flowered in Europe, thanks to the period of exploration which began at that time.

Thanks to the continuation of that spirit of exploration, (embodied in Tony York's pioneering trip to Austria and Hungary) we have become very familiar with Pepper over the past year. We've come to appreciate depth and variety of character as well as warmth and entertainment that Pepper affords. Hot and spicey, particularly if rubbed the wrong way, we know that Pepper can also be 'gentle and cuddly'. Tomorrow he leaves us to join Wurzel in the great Sty in the Sky. We'll miss him but the memories, as they say, will linger.

And it looks like it will not be too much longer before Ginger delivers her next brood; she's looking decidedly pear shaped and Mangel is paying her all sorts of kind attention. We estimated that the little ones were due at the very end of April but we could be surprised once more. She's been making 'nesting' gestures in the arks and, with a choice of three now, it will be interesting whether she goes for her original small one again or not.

On the subject of offspring, meanwhile, the ducks continue to waddle all over the place looking for safe havens for their eggs. Garbo and one of the drakes finally decided to fly off to a quieter place. There are a few ponds around the local fields so I half suspect they may have moved out to one of those. But the others seem determined to stay within sight of the pountry palace and the home pond. It gets a bit hairy because Lancer, particularly, keeps a wary eye out and 'retrieves' any that stray too far away. Until now Pilot, on the other hand, has tended to look the other way whenever he sees them. So imagine our surprise yesterday afternoon when we saw him trotting past the window with a duck firmly between his jaws!

One should always be wary when an animal behaves uncharacteristically.

I rushed out and found him just putting the finishing touches to his 'hidden treasure'. All I could see was a - rather startled - little duck peering out from the dirt and leaves where he'd buried her under the Cotoneaster tree!!!! Reprimanding him sharply, I scraped away the blanket and gently picked up the poor little thing. She was gently chirping to herself (do ducks pray?) and was only a little bruised - probably from where Pilot had made her fit into the hastily dug hole. Water being the best therapy for ducks, I returned her to the pond and am pleased to say that she is only a little bit hobbly today. Perhaps she'll stay safely at home from now on................