..And then it all happened....

Gunner and I got home from beating just in time on Friday afternoon: the last movement was in train' as we drove down the drive..... Nigella was on her way from the woods to her farrowing quarters up by the bridleway (until earlier that day, occupied by Precious and her gang).... She seemed content to move, treading carefully but purposefully in the wake of the apples which Linda was waving in front of her snout.....

And that was at 5.00 pm: prior to that, the 10 weanlings had been moved to the stalls --- that was easy peasy after all our deliberations: Precious was given some food in one of the pens and became singularly preoccupied with that whilst her little ones were distracted into the other pen and from thence into the trailer without (I was told) a hitch but with the help of several good men and true (two of whom had come to collect JD who has gone off to pastures new and will shortly be joined by Lotos and Bonnie---- Lucky pig!)! Apparently they didn't want to leave the trailer and at least one of them had to be manhandled out! But they are now safely esconced in the stalls and show no sign of missing Mum.

Who meanwhile was moved up to Samson, who, prior to her joining him had been moved from the woods to his new pen at the top of the Church Field. Which necessitated an unplanned move. Samson's new pen is next to where Clyde and Alfred (and - before he left - JD ) were. On Samson's arrival, Clyde became very boar-ish and started facing up to Samson (who is several times his size) through the fence. Samson started retaliating - and salivating and they both started pushing at each other through the fence.

"Uh Oh" said the Big Boss "We'd better put a bit of distance between them". So, Tweedledum and Tweedledee (who were of to the Great Butcher in the Sky today anyway) had to be moved ahead of schedule to the Temporary Holding Pen..... leaving a pen clear between Samson and Precious...

And then Ginger was moved away from Mangal and up to her farrowing quarters so - in her absence - Mangal spent a pleasant few hours chatting to Clyde and Alfred who are now in the pen alongside him. Doubtless he is passing on to them all the great Wisdoms from Way Back when Pigs Ruled the World.......

In the midst of all these movements, Delila's little piglets - now coming up to 4 weeks old - continue to behave extraordinarily: not in the least inquisitive about all that is going on around them, two of the 6 steadfastly remain inside the ark with the other 4 popping out occasionally to play or join Mum for dinner. They have the full complement of limbs so maybe they are deaf or blind and therefore don't want to go outdoors.. we shall have to explore a little further.....