Samples, Silver and Gold

In the expectation of piglets (Precious this time) we had planned another Open Day for the 26th: despite the lady's lack of co-operation, we went ahead anyway and used the opportunity to enable our guests to sample other wares from the Pork Victualler! New on the menu this time were 'Curlies' - slightly hot and spicey sausages made to an old Hungarian recipe - and hand-made Pork Pies. They must have been good 'cos we sold out. The home-made liver pate was well received and we managed to sell the majority of that too. Following the heavy early morning rain, the sun came out; people enjoyed the food; enjoyed looking at the pigs; pigs enjoyed looking at the people. In all, a good time was had. Next Open Day 20th December: will there be piglets by then? We shall have to wait and see --- as ever...!


Meanwhile, we awoke yesterday morning to news that London had witnessed its first October snowfall since 1934: The country as a whole hasn't witnessed October snows since the 1950's. "Snow before Halloween?" unheard of. Local reports were of snow to our North, snow to the West of us, snow to the South ... snow everywhere but here. Instead we had an unseasonably sharp frost which transformed the landscape into a winter wonderland.... all crisp and silver in the shade; glorious and golden in the sun.




That golden theme has been more than echoed in the orchard this autumn.


We bemoaned the lack of damsons and plums earlier in the season, but nature has more than compensated with a bumper harvest of apples. All containers have been brought into service to contain the crop: all the animals - 2 and 4 legged - are reaping the benefit; all friends and visitors are being pressed to "help yourself to apples - please"!

Forget "5 pieces of fruit and veg. a day" - if you can't eat at least half a dozen fresh apples, plus stewed apples for breakfast and an apple pudding for dinner - well, you're just not doing your bit!

Now, if you're a pig or a horse, eating copious quantities of apple is not a problem, but the rest of us are beginning to groan just a little bit.


However, Gunner and I discovered last week that some of our fellow beaters are keen apple eaters - there's another outlet........ and - with all this frost and cold - they'll be even hungrier this week.....

A Husband for Delila

It has now been declared official - ie. by The Boss - "Young Precious is not 'in pig' either".
So no pitter patter of tiny trotters will be heard at Rectory Reserve for a few months yet. Shame.
No matter.
The Boss has other ways of making things happen. Turning disappointment into opportunity he has been in the 'Mangalitza Marriage Market' to secure a husband for Delila (not that she has any inkling of, or necessity for, such things yet). Not only does this make good sense (to find a husband well in advance) but also makes good use of the unexpected space now available.
After much research and discussion (not just any young man would do) 12 other trotters arrived here from the North East of the county on Wednesday. Samson (Delila's Intended) and his brothers 'Three' and 'Five' were born 4 months ago. After their initial bewilderment, they've settled in well and are as pleasant a bunch of Blonde Curly Coats as you could wish for.
Mind you, one of them fair blotted his copybook when he arrived: unloading from their trailer into the Old Stalls, two young chaps duly wandered into the correct area whilst the third decided to go 'The Other Way' and found himself trotting around the premises - doubtless looking for his home.
What he found was Mangal! So he stopped for a chat. And got himself cornered. Thankfully for his pursuers!
Young Tracey Jane, his breeder, deftly grabbed hold of a leg and before he knew where he was (though he did let loose a prodigious amount of squealing) his front legs were both in Tracey's safe hands and The Boss had grabbed the back pair. In that - very undignified - manner he was carried off to intended Stalls. Put down on the ground, he was most indignant and stood stock still for several minutes - glowering menacingly (well, slightly).
He is now easy to identify, being the tallest of the three.
He will make nice sausages!
Meanwhile, we are seeking an alternative husband for Precious... of which more news in due course.
On a different theme - the Bestest Gundog in all the World has now had 5 days 'in the field' during which he has gone from strength to strength. More news on that in due course also.......

A New Baby

Although Lily is still giving Mangal the run-around, which must be raising his fitness level, she at least now deigns to - occasionally - lay down alongside him! So perhaps when the right time comes she will allow him to do the necessary and we can look forward to offspring in around 4 months time. Meanwhile, Precious is looking extremely doubtful. She's at most two weeks away from the last possible due date and doesn't look in the least bit pregnant! Mind you that's what we said about Ginger first time round and she managed to surprise us. So, what do we know???

Precious did manage to surprise us in a different way yesterday; talking to someone on the drive, they suddenly remarked:

"Oh, look at that! I've never seen one of those before!"

Naturally, we looked round to see what he was referring to, and saw Precious nonchalently sauntering up the drive!

She was as surprised to be there as we were to see her there.... and very obligingly turned round and allowed herself to be led back to her pen in the woods - where we discovered she'd managed to open the gate. Presumably she'd heard voices and decided to investigate!!!

Although the long expected births have not yet materialised, an almost equally long expected event has occurred: our new website was 'born' and first saw the light of day at the beginning of this week. www.rectoryreserve.co.uk will keep the world at large up-do-date with our Curly Coats. It is also one of our chief vehicles for advertising pigs and products in the market-place. We think it's beautiful - but we would, wouldn't we!?

All Change

The Summer Season having ended, we travelled up to Elsham last week to see how Adolph and Andy had fared at their Stately Home over the summer. We learned that they had continued the tradition of breaking out of their pen to explore the wider Estate! A sturdier fence was duly erected! They also exploited their JCB characteristics and unearthed everything under the grass in their paddock....

"We had no idea all that stuff was under there!" exclaimed the young lady who's been looking after them. "I cleared it all away whilst they were in the stables when the new fence was being put up, but it just came back again...."

They also proved to be true Curly Coats in the matter of thriving on the attentions of, and treats from, all their visitors - so much so that when the 'Season' ended, they went into decline and quite went off their food! Unheard of in pigs..... They will now go on to the great Woodlands in the Sky but their spirits remain at Elsham in the shape of some delightful Wire Curly Coats, commissioned in their honour, who last week took over the old pig-pen in the Walled Garden.

Meanwhile, back at Rectory Reserve it's been all change too. Young Lily, who's been jumping up on her back legs these past months really has been saying "Look, no piglets!". The Boss consulted the diary and, sure enough, she's well past her 'deliver-by' date.

So, nothing for it but to send her across the Reserve to that debonair young boar, Mangal! Well, she's led a pretty sheltered life so far, in the woods and all that. So meeting Mangal was an absolute delight! We thought to introduce them slowly so put them in separate pens. Within a couple of hours she'd leapt the first fence and clearly continued to treat the others with equal contempt; by morning they were happily grunting along together! If she gets fed up with him I've no doubt she'll simply leg it over the fence and away!

As for Ginger, she's moved over to the woods to take Lily's place alongside Precious and seems to be enjoying the peace and quiet - not to mention the extra treats of apples! Hopefully, we now have two pregnant ladies in the woods. But Precious doesn't look all that convincing ........ so fingers crossed.

Last Thursday also saw the arrival of a rather splendid new Bantam cockerel - who's been christened Louis (after the Sun King of France) for his glorious golden plumage. He arrived late in the afternoon. We were just finishing supper - around roosting time - when our eyes were caught by the sight of our splendid new bird landing on the garage roof! Since the surroundings were all strange to him, he was bound to be fox fodder by morning if we didn't get him back in the pen.

Summoning my Trusty Poultry Hound (Lancer) I went off in pursuit. The TPH managed to quietly round Louis up to a little bush near the pen, where he landed on a low enough branch for me to reach him - Lancer guarding the ground! Much to my relief (and his by now) Louis was back in his pen in no time at all. And this afternoon for the first time I saw him having a dust bath with some of his hens...... so he must be feeling at home.

"And what news of the Bestest Gundog in all the World?" I hear you cry. Well, he had his second day out last Friday. He continues to grow in confidence and 'was allowed' to do some real work. Definitely the BGiatW!

The dog has his day!

Is he, or is he not, the bestest gundog in all the World?

The day of reckoning dawned cold and damp last Friday.

But we were there. Me and my dog. He leapt out of the car when we arrived at the meeting point ... then promptly jumped straight back in again when he saw a burly young golden labrador bounding up to him!

And he was a bit like that for much of the day really. Enthusiastic but overwhelmed by the sheer amount of "New Experiences" that kept throwing themselves at him! But slowly he came out of his shell and, as the day wore on, acquired a steady stream of admirers - some for his looks, others for his manners - along with his growing confidence. Most importantly, he never put a foot wrong or failed to hear a command.

"Keeps nicely close to you" said The Keeper halfway through the afternoon... High Praise indeed. Keepers have been known to shoot dogs who run riot.......

By the end of the day - and 9 'til 5 is a long day for a young chap - he was worn out but happy and fell asleep in the beater-bus back to the farmyard.

Doubtless dreaming of the scents he'd found and the birds he'd flushed.

So the answer for now is "Yes! Definitely the bestest gundog in all the world" ...

and now he's had a taste of it, let's hope he doesn't go AWOL next week.......

As if!

No Piglets - but plenty of sausages!

It was a week of frantic activity following Butch's last journey. Just as well really that Lily and Precious decided that September was not a good month for delivering piglets! In fact, it looks like Lily won't be delivering for many a month. But that's another story.....

Back to Butch. There were numerous trips to be made by the Boss - to and from the butcher, the smoker and the label maker. Products to be collected, bottled, wrapped and labeled.

And then there was the Open Day on Sunday to prepare for.

More products to be cooked, prepared and presented.

It was all a bit hectic.

We shared our Open Day date with every other Curly Coat owner in Lincolnshire and just about every Visitor Attraction too so we were delighted to welcome the 30 or so adults and children who turned up at Rectory Reserve.

And they seemed equally delighted to sample the delicacies laid out for them ---- "New" cold- and hot-smoked sausages, brawn and other tasty treats. A good time was had by all - not least the pigs who, as usual, lapped up the attention. Most importantly, pre-sold sausages were collected and and orders placed for the new lines.

Next Open Day, 26 October, when we hope to show off Precious's first litter (as well as have more 'new' lines available for the discerning gourmets locally!)