Musical Pigs?

The whole of last week Rectory Reserve was submerged under a gloomy grey drizzly fog; which occasionally cleared to allow for some real rain, before the dismal fog returned. Friday morning was no different. Waking up to the sound of pouring rain we heaved a sigh!

Must we really move pigs today?

Yes, we must.

It's all because of those who turned out not to be pregnant! Can't breed Precious back to her father, so a 'new man' has been secured for her. Which meant transporting her to his place at that nice Mr Barclay's who took her sister, Polly. She is to be mated to Tang, the Blonde boar who has hopefully put Polly in an 'interesting' condition - as well as a Gloucester Old Spot! And probably a few others along the way.

As we all know, Precious does not think too much of limousines: she was the one who refused to go to the show earlier this year. In fact, she never goes anywhere she doesn't want to. And when it's raining, she's even more stubborn.

So there we were at the crack of daybreak on Friday, in the pouring rain, trying to cajole the sweet little thing into the limo; Linda-who-loves-pigs patiently teased her with tasty apples and the odd morsel of 'real' food and gently got her as far as the ramp; several times. Each time, dear little Precious swivelled round on her heels, barged through Con-the-handyman and made off back towards her pen. After half an hour of that we decided "no more Mr Nice Guy" and followed her forcefully - where L-w-l-ps led - with a hurdle up her backside. So, in she went and off she went to her temporary home.

By which time the rain had eased! And everyone was soaked. It could only get better.

Which it did. Gunner and I left for our 'day in the field'. (During which, incidentally, he 'picked up' at 6 or 7 big cock pheasants, including one which had fallen into a stream. Clever boy!)

We returned at dusk to find our colleagues looking even muddier and more tired than we did!

In our absence they had moved Delila and Scratchy from the field to Precious's pen in the woods. Ginger was transported from her woodland haven to her old home up near Mangal.

Samson, Three and Five were transported from the quarantine stalls to the paddock vacated by D and S.

And Mangal and Lily were moved to Mangal's original quarters alongside the Paddock.

In the intervals between movements, all the Arks had to be swept clean and new bedding put down, all the water containers scrubbed and refilled and - in view of the mud underfoot - clean hay put down in the pens...... Luckily the rain had stopped and the sun shone from mid-morning.

Which helped everyone's mood enormously. Lily's included. Being the inquisitive Miss Pig that she is, she decided to leg it over the fence to meet the three boars snout-to-snout. So, for a while there were 4 blonde pigs in the paddock. But, having satisfied her curiosity, and doubtless realised that the young chaps were still far too young she legged it back over the fence to Mangal. And Con-the-handyman reinforced the height of the fence. So, no more of those antics young lady!

By the next morning, all were happily tucked up in their new quarters. So much so, in the case of Delila and Scratchy, that they were 'tucked up indoors' almost the whole day.

No doubt enjoying the luxury of their 'new' large ark.

What a life, hey!