News - yet No News!

It's a Bank Holiday and the phone rings very early in the morning ...visitors wish to come to see the Curly Coats.... May they? Of course they may. He writes 'pieces' for the local papers and journals; she is passionate about animals; both are passionate about pigs: being from Lincolnshire they are enamoured of the Curly Coat story. They come, they admire and they enthuse. The Curlies are more than happy to comply with the desire to be stroked, petted and patted. They almost fall over themselves. It's all great fun. Our visitors go away promising to write 'pieces' and musing over whether or not they can accomodate a curly coat of their own.....

Last week it was a prominent local artist who turned up 'on spec.' to see the curly coats. This particular gentleman has, all his life, harboured an ambition to paint the 'Lincolnsire Trio' (Red cattle, Longwool sheep and Curly Coat pig) but never thought he would be able to fulfil it..... He was totally ecstatic about the pigs. His 80 year old companion was more interested in getting hold of some serious fat bacon. We told him where to find it. He rang first thing the following morning to check there would still be some by the time he could get someone to drive him (having recently had a hip op.he was unable to ferry himself....) ...... and reserved his order. The butcher's never had that happen before.....

Meanwhile, still no news on Ginger: she was wallowing today, it being seriously warm.

Mangel continues to watch on.... he too is feeling the change in the weather, but it does not put him off his food.

News from the Poultry Palace is that we have six ducks seriously sitting on nests..... due to hatch in a fortnight or so... They've hidden themselves in various 'safe' places in and out of the Poultry Palace. Twice a day they rush off their nests amidst a furore of quacking and flapping of wings - dashing off to wash and eat and drink and within 10 minutes or so are back on their eggs again. During this time the drakes rush up and down in panic, doubtless worried that the females will stay away from the nests too long!

Meanwhile, Daffodil's chicks are becoming bolder and bigger every day.... Conchita has returned to Merlin and is much happier - she stubbornly refused to settle in the Poultry Palace and spent every night alone in her solitary boudouir. No contest then, I decided. Back she goes. He fussed and pranced around her all day. So -He's happy too. Also yesterday we heard the cuckoo for the first time this year..... very late; usually we reckon to hear him around the 21st April.... But April was too wet and cold....yet only today we read in the paper that the forecast is for the warmest summer for many a year --- the ducklings will certainly hatch; Ginger will definitely give birth - when she's ready.... The weather? Well, who knows...... Never a dull moment in the country!....