Lazy hazy days....

And so another year, another decade, comes to an end..... time to reflect, to make resolutions, to consider the future, to plan, to go forward boldly.....

Into the uncertain fog of the future.

And, for the past five days that is how the world around us has been. Dull, damp and foggy. The air temperature has been warm so drawing the cold out of the ground and creating dense, dark foggy days. The pigs don't mind; they've been able to get their snouts into the ground for the first time in a month: the horses don't mind: they've been able to go out and gallop - albeit scarily slippily - around the fields for the first time in weeks; the ducks love it: they can get their beaks into the earth in search of those frozen worms, and even the chickens have been venturing outside and having a peck instead of looking at the white frozen wasteland that existed for the previous month and retreating indoors.....

So we should all be feeling very positive.
Resolutions should be tripping merrily off the tongue, left, right and centre. But - I've just reviewed those I made this time last year.... Uh Oh. So I'm not mentioning the ones I've made this evening. Instead I shall keep them to myself and report (positively) on their effects this time next year!

Instead a quick romp through the year that has just ended: the curly coat herd has grown from strength to strength. Linda reminded me yesterday that she first met us two and a half years ago when Ginger had her second litter: we've now had 15! - opportunities and problems in abundance! Last Christmas saw RectoryReserve attending its first ever market. Since then we've been at the whole gamut of events from markets to race days to food fairs to summer shows....... We're supplying some of the best Hotels in the land and our range of victuals has increased from basic to gourmet in several slick steps. The Big Boss's plans for 2011 will doubtless unfold in equally spectacular fashion. Watch this space!

RectoryReserve isn't all curly coats: Pilot's had his ups and downs, gained a few pounds and aches and pains and a new Best Friend. All balances out. Gunner, having endured a restful summer, has entered his third working season as a Real Teenager: knows it all better than Mum; listens as far as his confidence allows and manages to do the right thing in the end most of the time! Here's to his future....! Puddy Cat's maintained her demur control - of the household and The Boss - and grown in confidence accordingly. If I don't wake up on time in the morning, it's not uncommon for a little paw to pat me on the nose at the appropriate time. She's not even put out by the arrival of Pilot's New Best Friend.....

As for the horses: well, Rocco's busy year as a jumping and dressage pony ended with an extended break for the whole of the shooting season - something he was pretty pleased about a couple of months ago but is now banging his stable door and rebelling over..... he, for one, will be pleased when February comes..... Ritz and Max continue to enjoy their retirement although Max's arthritis is an increasing concern; he finds it difficult to get up after sleeping or rolling so the writing must soon be on the wall.... our problem, not his....

Finally, the ducks and chickens chunter on merrily; the old white duck is still with us despite my fears that she would freeze in the cold snap and one or two hens are still laying - not that that justifies the amount spent on corn and layer pellets....

So, I shall end with a pretty picture and a positive note: 2011 will be full of Good Things, Exciting Opportunites and Unmissable Events........... May all Resolutions be Resolute and all Chances be Lucky ones...............................

Merry Christmas everybody!

Well - here it is. The most Magical Day of The Year . The snow may be causing havoc but it certainly makes for an authentic White Christmas... So from all of us here at RectoryReserve to all of you out there -

"We wish you the merriest, happiest and most peaceful Christmas ever"! Enjoy

Almost Christmas

The cold spell continues to cause havoc: various parts of Britain remain in an icy gridlock which is already being called the worst winter for 100 years (and we thought that was last year!) creating all sorts of disruption to Christmas plans and preparations. Not least those of the The Pork Provisioner. The big Boss had planned for our attendance at a host of Christmas markets which, bar just three, were cancelled at short notice due to the bad weather and dangerous conditions underfoot. Plans and lists were made, unmade and remade causing increasingly furrowed brows.... and where we did attend, we froze for our art! Such Fun!

Yesterday we had the excitement of a total exclipse of the moon at daybreak - the first to coincide with the winter solstice in some 150 years. We awoke to the sight of the moon just beginning to darken and as I did the breakfast rounds the final sliver disappeared....... no dramatic red ball as was predicted..... just disappeared! Ah well: we've the excitement of Christmas to look forward to now! Still a bit of rushing around and preparation before we can crash out with our feet up in front of the fire and not have to find excuses for excess food and drink!

Today was out last shooting and beating day before the Holiday: This was the scene as yet more snow began to fall as I drove home at the end of the day. Unfortunately The Bestest Gundog in all the World hasn't been out with me this week. He was hopping lame on Sunday evening and even worse on Monday -necessitating a trip to the vet.

"Too swollen and painful for me to examine closely" that man said prescribing antibiotics and anti-inflammatories with instructions to return in 24 hours when hopefully "the swelling will have gone down enough to see what's going on".

Luckily the medication had the right effect and yesterday he was able to confirm no broken bones but the likelihood that the poor lad had severely bashed his toe on the hard ground causing the nail to push up into its sheath, resulting in a seriously painful bruise - "Rather like stubbing your toenail very, very hard" said the vet.

So it's a week of medication and house-arrest and then he should be fit and fine to go back to work next week! I have to admit that bush-beating without The Dog is not nearly so enjoyable as with him. For his part, he can't understand why he had to stay at home...... hurting his paw as bad enough but house-arrest on top of that? Surely he didn't deserve that. But a little Christmas holiday will do him good - he'll be able to attack the last month of the season with even more gusto!

Nature's Wonders

The snow has given rise to all kinds of problems and stories but for the past few days it's been thawing - with some interesting effects. The compacted snow on the village roads, which never receive the benefits of gritting, have turned to ice rinks. This is true of our drive also: unfortunately the result of tractors coming down in the heavy snow led to some truly very deep, and now very icey, ruts which means that it can only be navigated by 4-wheel drivers with steely nerves....... if you like dodgems, you'll love it! For the last couple of days it's even been all but impossible to walk up - so tiring and tiresome to keep slipping. And with yet more snow forecast for the end of the week it may get even more challenging in time for Christmas!

But it's not all bad news. Almost every evening has brought truly wonderful sunsets - even if the sun has been totally absent all day long the late afternoon sky provides an awesome backdrop to 'tea-time for animals'. When, for the umpteenth time, I exclaimed this evening: "Oh come and look at the sky!" the Big Boss could hardly stifle his 'What? Again?' sigh! It's as if the year is clearing out her cupboards, dusting off her party petticoats and hanging them out to billow in the crisp evening air. Photos really don't show the half of it.

Nature's also worked another little wonder since the onset of the 'cold spell'. About 3 weeks ago we heard a distinctive and plaintive "Miaow" from outside the kitchen window: a strange cat announcing her presence. We thought she'd just disappear again but the next morning I surprised her when I opened the Poultry Palace and, looking for eggs (in vain!), found her curled up on the straw in a corner. She quickly bolted for the door. "Oh well, gone for sure now" I thought.

But no. The next morning she was on the window sill again. "Miaow" - "Here I am" - "Miaow" - so we took some food out for her. Although nervous of me, her hunger was stronger and she slunk over and quickly bolted down the food. Then disappeared. Into a little outhouse we call The Pump Room. And that became the pattern for the next week or so.... "Miaow" on the window sill. Food delivered. Cat back to The Pump Room to sleep - in the box of straw which suddenly found its way there.........

Then one morning there was no "Miaow" on the window sill. And I was disappointed. But when I opened the scullery door to the porch - "Miaow". There she was. Clever cat had found her way in through the dog flap (something Puddy Cat would never deign to do!). And the next day the scullery door to the porch was left open and in came cat. And the next day we looked round and found she was asleep on the dogs' sofa in the kitchen; and so her gradual adoption of us has continued - today she was asleep on a chair in the sitting room....... Tomorrow? Probably upstairs on the bed.

We've named her Waifa: she's a waif and she was so thin. What's really amazing is that she quickly established herself as Pilots New Best Friend. Actually, his first ever Best Friend. He's never shown much interest in any of our other residents but seems most intrigued by Waifa. She winds herself around him and snuggles past him and he just stands, or lies, still and lets her, like in this photo of the pair of them in the study.

Then - "Look at the sofa." said The Boss when I came in from shopping this afternoon. Waifa and Pilot curled up asleep together.

If that's not one of Nature's Wonders nothing is!

A Winter Blunderland

The continuing cold spell will give rise to tales of devastation and derring-do for years to come: Mangal will recount the morning he saw Precious slide across the ice in the direction of her breakfast bowl: Ginger's piglets will believe forever that it was because they ventured out of their ark that The Great Boar made the world turn hard and white: Andromeda and her fellow Delinquents will dream of endlessly licking food-flavoured ice lollies off the ground whilst Samson will bore all his wives, not to mention the chaps next door, with homilies about how his was the only snout to discover what lay beneath the frozen wastes during The Pig Freeze.

The dog and I have tales too:

"Well you certainly won't be out bush beating today; snow may not stop the Guns but fog always does......".

Said the Big Boss on Friday morning as he supped his early morning cuppa in bed and gazed at the freeezing fog outside the window.

Just goes to prove that he too can be Wrong!

The Bestest Gundog in all the World and I trudged up to the village, again, to meet our colleagues at the appointed time, again: the relatively short journey setting the tone for the day; he fell in a snowdrift once and I floundered off my feet twice.

We started our beating day in the freezing fog and set off across a frozen landscape that few managed to negotiate without falling at least once. "We must be mad!" we all said when we finally reached the Cover crop.... "Totaly, utterly, barking mad!"

But then - that's a pre-requisite for bush beating.....

And it didn't get any better! Snow may make a winter wonderland --- and mask its numerous dips and undulations. But we found them! Boy did we find them! In fact we found them almost as well as The BGiatW and his colleagues found the birds (and hares) tucked up under its billowing duvet. To the unitiated - actually, to anyone ! - we looked like we'd all taken too many sips of certainly-not-tea! But we blundered on. And on. As a special treat - and for very good technical reasons too no doubt - our Kindly Keeper kept us at it without halt until the "day" finished in the early mid-afternoon! He's probably right - we couldn't have blundered along so easily with our tummies full of hot soup and revitalising goodies!

And it wasn't just the Dog's face which was covered in Frosticles: breath froze to beards and moustaches too and everyone with any length of hair had liberal quantities of icicle-tails hanging down..... all day long!

By close of play Humans and animals felt truly tested. Why do we continue? Well, there's the passion for the Sport and camaraderie of course but, Mad though we are, we get to see some utterly, eye-wateringly stunning scenery -panoramas that 'normal' people never witness -, we certainly get our share of fresh air and exercise and those of us who have them, gain a sobering appreciation of what the term "working dog" really means.

Mad? Yes: but blessed as well......

And still it snows.....

It continues to snow: this was the Church Field at breakfast time this morning..... just when we think "That's it!" it starts again..... everytime we go out, the footprints we made the previous time have been obliterated by further snow.

A farmer friend from the village delivered our newspaper on his tractor yesterday afternoon. "Bit Deep on your drive" he said and by evening his tracks had completely disappeared. But at least today it wasn't windy. Yesterday even when it wasn't snowing from above the wind blew the snow up and about and made it seem like it was falling........

Another friendly farmer from the village delivered some hay this afternoon as we were close to running out:

"Bit deep on your drive" he said "Won't be able to get your car out for a while, I shouldn't imagine" he said....

But now it's stopped snowing and this evening his tracks up the drive resemble the cresta run..... lethal frozen chasms between deep snow walls..... Not driving up there tomorrow....

With the exception of Puddy Cat ("What's all that cold stuff outside my door?") all the animals seem to rather enjoy it. The horses each had 5 minutes of rolling and romping in the snow yesterday, the pigs continue to rootle below the white stuff seemingly oblivious to the snow, the dogs leap through it like dolphins swimming in the sea (Gunner intent on finding yet another hare "somewhere under there") and Ginger's little ones venture out for vigorous spurts whenever they get the opportunity, though mostly it's a case of running around inside their ark whilst watching the snow tumbling past their doorway...... It's a beautiful winter wonderland.....

And then it all turned white

This was the view from my study window this afternoon. Very picturesque - from the inside.....

It continues to snow... we are told that we are locked into this weather pattern for the next fortnight; it seems the jet stream is helping to block high pressure in the north of the UK and steer raw northerly and easterly winds over the country. The pundits say it will take a "hefty jolt to the atmosphere's circulation to unblock the present pattern".

"What on earth was that?!?!" I asked the Boss this evening as we were toasting our toes by the fireside.....
"Forked lightening" he replied, matter-of-factly "and thunder" - with minus several degrees and snowing? Wierd.

Isn't that "hefty jolt" enough? Seemingly not: when I went out to do evening stables and walk the dogs it was still snowing persistently....... all the tracks we'd made this afternoon were completely obliterated already....

"Surely you'll not be going bush-beating for the Guns tomorrow?" said the Boss shortly before retiring for the night.

Must say, I wonder myself: doubtless the Keeper will ring at dawn to advise us that the day's sport is cancelled......

Meanwhile, our curly coated family are going about their business in disdainful disregard for the conditions: although they do struggle with walking over the lumpy frozen ground.

That said, Samson - knowing, no doubt that there's something better down South - has spent a fair part of the day digging his way down to warmer ground.... or maybe he's been observing Pilot's attempts at digging up rabbits...... Whichever, he was very pleased with himself and when I went out on the Water round later in the day he was happily sleeping in his new dug-out!

Ginger's still-nameless piglets, just two weeks old, have also been out and about playing in the snow under Mum's watchful eye..... they're light and bouncy so just skip over the surface.

Ginger, on the other hand, finds it a little more difficult to manoeuvre so moves slowly and gracefully around her patch, taking great care not to tread on the little ones...... who'll probably be making snowboars tomorrow if the white stuff continues to fall......

What's in a Nose?

Went out to take a few photos of Ginger and her family now the snow's come: no sooner had I got to her pen than a family of hikers came by:

"Gosh!" said the young lady "She's big--- and what a big nose!" . Luckily, Ginger wasn't affronted: any attention is good attention..... She was just nosing around to make sure it was safe for her little ones to have a bit of a run-around;

"They were through the fence a little while ago" Linda remarked, pushing the barrow with goodies around..... "Saw me and all but one managed to find his way back through to Mum.... probably won't be long till they're off down the bridleway.....!!!" Uh Oh, I thought: more complaints from The Neighbour (aka The Big Giant who lives Down the Road).

Ginger's so huge and they're so tiny and she spends a great deal of her time making sure they are comfortable, the nest is dry and warm and they get enough fresh air and attention: often

she's nose to nose with one or other of them, maybe explaining the Laws of Life according to The Great Hog.... who knows...... but, struck by great shafts of light, they absorb her every instruction.......

Meanwhile, on the subject of noses: The Bestest Gundog in All the World and I were invited to 'beat' on a shoot which was one of our favourites during our first season but, owing to politics and family disagreements, didn't take place last year. We went this morning: in the snow: with blizzards tumbling all around: interspersed with glorious sunshine and views: the farm across which we were shooting, as one of the Guns remarked: "Hadn't a flat field across the whole of it" so we were up hill and down dale all day - in the snow: Bracing, Brisk, Fresh and Challenging were just a few of the words that were bandied about by our colleagues.

The Dog loves snow and was delighted to be out and did his job enthusiastically and thoroughly until at the end of the last drive before lunch he came out of the kale sneezing and sneezing for all he was worth.

"Doesn't sound good" I remarked to one of my colleagues but put his fleece on and left him in the back of the car whilst we had lunch. Came back almost an hour later to find him still sneezing, and now wheezing as well. Well, who wouldn't after sneezing all that time....?

"Don't think he can do any more today" I said to the keeper and arranged to leave early to take Gunner to the vet - luckily our 'pig' vet was on call. Leaving the dog in the car I joined in the first drive after lunch but then took him off for our appointment.

He stopped sneezing en route so I thought it the vet would say it was just a case of overanxious owner.

However, Gunner sneezed again when we entered the vet's surgery so the man looked up the poor dog's nose, remarking that it was easier to look up a horse's nostril, it being so much bigger. "Best thing" he said "Is to put him under anaesthetic and drench the cavity". OK" I said, agreeing to leave him there.... "I'll just have another look though if you'll hold him" said the Man, switching off the lights and peering up the dog's snout with his lighted magnifier.....

"AHHaH, I think I see something..... hang on...." he said going off into the back room and coming back with a very long pair of tweezers....

"Just keep him still" he instructed, sticking the tweezers up the dog's nostril....... "Ahhh, yes" he said, "There it is... just a moment... got it!" pulling out a very long piece of kale stalk - see photo - which I would never have believed could have been lodged up a dog's nostril. No wonder the poor chap was sneezing and sneezing.....

And when it was out he jumped around and wagged his little tail and looked totally happy and relieved.... well, who wouldn't after having that removed from a nose......???? And I walked off saying to the vet; "That was the best thing that could've happened this weekend!" cos I'd been seriously worried that the incident would have had a far more serious and longlasting outcome..... The snow fairies were clearly on our side.....

Patience and piglets

"What do you think this is?" said one little piglet poking an ear...

"I don't know" said the other little piglet poking an eye "but look what I've found here"......

And through it all, Ginger just lies there patiently dozing. Sometimes they climb over her and sometimes they slide down her face: sometimes they just sit on her back and other times they take a running jump and bump into her: many times they bully her into giving them more milk and occasionally they toddle off outside to "do their business".

When she's had enough, she gruntles quietly but firmly and they quickly curl up on top of each other warmly protected on all sides: Mum's legs - front and back on each side - her capacious tummy to the front and the back of the ark behind them. Who'd be a piglet?

The weather's been very wet and it's just starting to turn cold. Each morning after breakfast I give Ginger a couple of wedges of clean straw which she takes purposefully into her house and packs around the edges to keep out the draughts. Her young family couldn't wish for a better mum.

"We've yet to give them a name" I remarked to the Big Boss just a little while ago..."No hurry" he said. I think that's what Ginger thinks too. No hurry. Piglets're only a week old. Plenty of time yet.......

Little stripies

She didn't disappoint....

It was all quiet when I went out the following morning...

Then, when half the herd had started squealing for their breakfast, out came Ginger..... so I took the opportunity to have a look and sure enough.... there they were.... 7 little stripey squiggly piglets......

Clever lady..... more anon....

Mum's the word

The underlying sound all last week was Delila calling back her little ones - who were gaily trotting all over the estate, hither and thither, to and fro.

Many the time The Big Boss chuckled to himself (and anyone listening) as he observed them 'streaming' - in various combinations of 1's, 2's, 4's and 5's - past the Study window en route to or from Church, or Rectory, Field - with or without help from The Bestest Pig Dog. It seemed to Delila, and us, that they hardly returned home except to say "hello" and "good night".

Foraging whilst wandering had made them grow strong and big. So Last Friday was Weaning day. We thought we'd be able to get them to 'stream' into the trailer but they were too smart - and quick - for that. In the end, we had to distract Delila with food whilst catching each of the 10 individually in their ark and manually transporting them to the trailer. From whence to the barn..... where they will now remain for the worst of the winter months. Nice and snug and dry and with the background sound of the horses snorting and chomping to lull them to sleep. Aaaaahhhhh

Poor old Delila, used to them being away so frequently and so long, didn't really suss that they had been weaned from her. Poor thing spent the next couple of days almost constantly calling for them to come back........ We gave her favourite treats and back rubs and much attention to console her and finally this morning she was back to normal - only appearing for breakfast when called and then snoozing for much of the day........ It'll not be long before she's reunited with Samson and that'll bring a smile to her little chops.......

Meanwhile, Ginger - The Matriarch of them all, spent the best part of today preparing her nest for her next - 7th - litter. Knowing her time was due I inspected her ark yesterday:

"She's piled all her bedding up into a large platform on which she lies like a queen" I said to The Big Boss "Whilst there're huge gaps around the base where the wind can get in" ....

"Probably air conditioning" he said.

"Yes, but what about the Little Ones?" I said

"Just leave it up to Ginger" he replied "She's an experienced mum and will sort it all out when the time's right".

Well, sure enough whenever I observed her today it was - straw this way, rubbish that way, sticks here, hay there, and no gaps round the edges anywhere and a heck of a lot of banging and grunting whilst she got her nursery in order.

There'll be piglets tomorrow................

Down the garden path

In the 'Olden Days' - let's say up until the early 1950's - it was common practice for cottagers to keep a pig or two down the garden. The pig often formed part of the wages for a farm labourer; it would be 'given' in spring, fattened throughout the year and killed before Christmas. It would take three days to "put the pig away" with the immediate and extended family benefitting from good food throughout the long winter months.

Lucky the man who had a sow which regularly gave birth to a litter: his income could be bolstered by selling a weaner "down the garden path" to his neighbours.

The pig was a treasured element in the rural economy. My trips to market with our Provisions are greatly enhanced by the numerous pig-tales and incidents which the 'older' generation love to relate: there cannot have been many rural families which did not have a much-loved pig. And not just country dwellers: my own mother is happy to regale us with the story of her younger brother riding the family pig before school every morning (much to the consternation of my grandmother) and that was in the outskirts of a city, and in Germany! Small wonder that so much porcine terminology is embedded in our language: pig-headed, hog-tied, happy as a pig in muck, telling porkies, lucky pig, silk purses from sows' ears.......

Unfortunately, the practice of selling the pig "down the garden path" has long been outlawed - not least through changing tastes and Government regulation.

However, the habit of going "down the garden path" is far from dead"!

Delila's Little B's, such a quiet stay-at-home bunch until just a week ago, have brought a totally modern interpretation to the old phrase!

Having finally found their way out of Delila's confined homestead they rapidly tired of the immediate surrounds: even the driveway and its verges soon lost their appeal.

On my way to pick apples in the orchard last Friday afternoon, I chanced across Linda who asked:

"How far are you happy for the piglets to roam?"

In saying which she looked down towards the field where the horses were grazing.

"Funny" I replied "I couldn't find them this morning when I took the dogs for a walk and assumed - after looking hi and lo - that they must, after all, have been piled up in the corner of their ark out of sight!"

But clearly they were not.... for there they were, plain as day, running around between and

among the horses, trotting up to see all their aunts and uncles and cousins, popping in to the chickens en route and then, with a sudden "whoops" of realising they were perhaps a little far from home, off they all scampered through the dense rusting leaves - back to Mum. Since when it has become a common sight: piglets mooching along the garden path in front of the house, down the path beside what used to be a rock garden and via the path past the summer house via the top of the orchard and down the track to the field........

And just yesterday, perhaps tiring of going down all our paths, they decided to go down via the bridleway path to say "hello" to the bantams in front of the garage and to Ginger and all the chaps at that end of the Reserve grounds.........

"Where next?" I ask...... I suppose there is always the path up to the Village........

Now, that would give the neighbours something to talk about......

It's a Good Job we've got Gunner to round them all up and see they get to their Proper Place at the end of the day (or any other time, come to that).....

Busy, Busy, Busy

The year may be winding down for winter but here it's all go, go, go!

The clock's gone back, the nights are drawing in, Halloween's been and gone (heralding

the annual 'pumpkin marmalade making' season) and it's almost Guy Fawkes' night........ Mark, our smiley butcher, has just won a Silver Medal for his Mangalitza sausages and his wife, Mandy, won Gold with pork pies made with Mangalitza meat.... what could be better?

Well, according to Andromeda and her sisters, not the weather! It's absolutely perfect - mild and damp - for rootling, a sentiment seemingly shared by all the pigs at the moment.

They really didn't like the dry hot bits of summer (not that there were too many of them) when their noses and trotters became bruised and sore on the inpenetrable ground. Pigs are just far happier in the soft and splodgy mud.......

Despite the unseasonably warm spell, the maiden aunts in the woods have grown the most wonderful curly coats, a consequence of which is that they are spending most nights sleeping under the trees and stars, the confines of their ark presumably proving far too warm.

Delila's latest brood, meanwhile - the Little B's (so named 'cos they were born on the eve of The Big Boss's Birthday!) - have just started venturing out, having been uncommonly stay-at-home for their first few weeks.

"There's piglets on your drive!"

Said a neighbour when he drove down this morning.

"Did they look healthy?" I replied.

"Very" said he.

"Good" said I.

Well, what else is there to say?

Driving back from town yesterday afternoon I myself was surprised by the sight of the 10 Little B's milling around under the trees scrumping chestnuts and whatever else their little snouts could dig up - busy, busy, busy: I had to smile: startled by the sound of the car, they looked up, squealed and scampered back to mum! It really is the most amusing thing......Truly free range pigs!

When we can tear ourselves away from all the fun of the farm, The Bestest Gundog in all the World and I have returned to our favourite winter occupation.

We're working on the same three shoots as last year and it's been heartwarming to get back

with the 'old gangs' and catch up on all the news of summer: who's fished what, who's won prizes at the flower/veg. shows; who's been where and built what: who's lost an old dog or got a new one.... so many tales to tell between the drives. And then on the drives - the anxious moments of wondering if The BGiatW will listen to the familiar commands (always), respond to the new ones learned in the summer (joyous - almost instant response to "Over" to flush the ducks on the pond), peg the not-yet-flying-pheasants (only one, but still despair) and will his nose be still as keen (better than ever when he retrieved the well lost duck). Such a joy to work with and he so eager and happy to be doing what he loves best. Who could not delight in a working springer spaniel doing his job so well........

And talking of jobs to do: there has been the on-going marketing of the Pork Provisions. Fortunately for us, the Smiley Lady known as Lucy kept up our presence in the Market place whilst we were away on holiday - for which brave effort she was dubiously rewarded at one event by torrential rain which poured all day and soaked her and all the wares and, worst of all, kept all but the hardiest customers away - but was she downhearted? Nope.

"All part of the Adventure!" she exclaimed................... still smiling......

But,this past weekend, she finally succumbed to a cold so it was my turn to go to the local town market on Saturday - not particularly good business done: not many people about.

"This market used to be so full of traders" remarked one lady as she wandered past with her son. She bought nothing. From anyone. Perhaps that's why market traders stop turning up?

Then off to another local town's Victorian Market on Sunday - great crowds, great atmosphere (complete with Morris Dancers), lots of dressing up and lots and lots of business done....... the lows and highs of markets all in one weekend.

And whilst some of us are having fun, frolicking in the fresh air, The Big Boss is busy co-ordinating people, pigs and products for the growing hotel trade, our new direct-delivery service and the forthcoming Christmas season..... there truly never is a dull moment

Then.... and Now

"It's been a wonderful spring and summer....if just a little stressful.... endlessly looking after all these roly poly chaps, keeping them in some sort of order and trying to see that they stayed in roughly the right area. Going for long walks every day was OK too, if not very challenging. Most days She Who Must be Obeyed made me go through one or two Lessons but it wasn't like the Real Thing.

It's even been quite relaxing just pootling about and keeping an eye on the poultry and playing with Pilot and Cat....

but I couldn't help thinking about The Real Job and whether we'd ever get back to it again. Then She Who must be Obeyed and The Big Boss went away for ages and it was all jolly confusing.

More Squealers arrived and needed keeping in order and we had Linda to look after while she was looking after all of us..... and then I got shut in the big barn for hours and that was all jolly worrying..... But then She and the Boss suddenly came back from their long hunt in the middle of the night and today, Joy of Joys, we were out with the old Pack doing what a dog loves best of all...... I could tell She was anxious -

probably thought I was going to run riot - which, to be honest,I could have done out of sheer excitement - but I was that pleased to be out hunting again that I thought I'd best behave. It wasn't the busiest day and She kept telling me to "Heel" but, what the hell, Now we're back hunting again who cares..... ??? I'm a happy chap and She seemed quite cheerful too....."

The Boar with the Biggest Smile

Mangal's been going around all week looking like the Cat that's got the cream.
Why?
Well, as of last Friday, he's got a new wife!
It must have come as quite a surprise to him 'cos all his life he's only known Ginger and they're as settled as Darby and Joan.
I was of the opinion that he was getting a bit long in the tooth for romance and wouldn't take too kindly to a new mate. Boy, was I wrong!

He's 4 years old and mustweigh 250 kilos but when Cherie was introduced to him the years and the weight just dropped away and - after she'd taken a few minutes to check out her surroundings and meet the new neighbours - they were all over each other.
In no time he was proving that he is a boar in the prime of life and far from the sleepy old chap we've grown used to!


We decided to leave them to it!

"Poor old Ginger" Linda exclaimed. But actually, although she did glance in Mangal's direction to see what he was up to, she was soon tucking into her tea without a care in the world. Her next litter is due in November so no doubt she's happy to be back in her own space without The Old Boar telling her what to do all the time.

As for Mangal....

within 24 hours it was clear that Cherie was the boss but he seemed quite happy with that..... in fact, he seemed quite happy with everything......

So ???

"OK you guys - what's going on?
I'm not entirely wet behind the ears you know? I thought we were beginning to see eye to eye yesterday. I've been sitting here keeping an eye on you, you know. I saw Ritz disappearing off into the other field earlier when he thought you were all going to descend on him again like yesterday and nibble his toes. And he's a very tolerant chap most of the time.

Now look around - there's that bunch of brothers over there in the middle of the New Chickens' pen, staring at the world as if they've nothing better to do.

Then there's that other bunch over the other side of the Chicken pen making like they're in some sort of digging contest..... It's not on, you know. You two stand here and look me in the eye and say it's all under control... but what's under control? Not you lot. Certainly not the chickens. Poor things. They're jumping around all over the place - they've never seen chaps like you before - no wonder they're not doing the laying thing. And you know what? I'm the one getting all the flak from Her who Must be Obeyed for jumping in there and running around when all I'm trying to do is keep you in order.
"Not suprised your mum looks the other way when you run off. If a well trained fellow like me can't keep you in order, what chance has a poor old sow got?
"What? Me? Insult your mother. Never.... but she doesn't stand a chance against you lot.
"Hang on though - maybe I've an idea. Perhaps I'll speak to H-w-m-b-O about giving you some whistle education....... That really would be something. Teach you lot to help me with my work and we could all go hunting together..... Wouldn't that just scare the feathers of those pheasants???

Here we go again.....

"So, I'm sitting here thinking to myself :

'Here we go again.... another lot of chaps who just want to wander all over the place.'
"Ever since I was knee-high to a piglet's eye I've been told how to behave and what I can and can't do. Her-who-must-be-obeyed is very strict on a chap minding his P's and Q's.
"Yet with these little guys Mum doesn't seem in the least concerned... just carries on eating as if there was nothing in the world to worry about.

"Come to think of it, she doesn't have to worry - it's not her who has to round them up from the bottom of the field or the top of the yard..... Don't think even Her-Who-must-be-Obeyed realises just how stressful it is keeping them all in order....There must be a better way....."

"So, let's see if I can have a little chat with them... nose to nose... (actually it's a bit too much 'in your face' with so many snouts at once) maybe we can agree a few ground rules.... after all, there's got to be some order around the place. I can't stay here all the time - more important things to do... Can't have this lot thinking they can do as they please, whenever they please ....
Let's see if I can't just get them to stand still and pay attention.....








"That's better."

"Right you guys: Pay attention: Here's how it goes. You don't have to stay with your Mum all the time; I know what it's like to be young - got to have a bit of freedom - stretch your wings...
"What?"
"You don't have wings? (funny - always thought that was how you managed to fly around all over the place so quickly)"
"Stretch your legs then.. (little stubby things need all the stretching they can get - wouldn't be any good at all in a thick patch of brambles)

"But every now and then when I appear you've got to form an orderly line and come back here to your pen - all together - not all going in different directions and trying to fool me. I've learned my lessons. I can count, you know...... and I know left from right and back from front and, if necessary, I can even fish you out of the pond....

"So can we have just a little co-operation..... please ... just so I can get a little peace and quiet and curl up and go to sleep in the sun from time to time....?"

"Just like that little guy over there....."

"Think about it, hey? We'll talk about it again tomorrow...."

The heart of the country..

The much awaited rain mentioned in my last blog might have thrilled the piggies but it did nothing but dampen the hearts of other groups of country folk.

"Fair suicidal!" commented our local gamekeeper when - having bumped into him whilst walking the dogs - I enquired how he was.

Seems the rain coincided with him putting out the young pheasants and had so far prevented him putting out the young partridges ... "...and only 5 weeks to go till the Season starts..." he added grimly before continuing on his way.

The farmers were equally grim. No sooner had they started the harvest than the heavens opened leaving machinery stranded whilst crops grew dank and grey. In some cases, the grain became so damp that it started to sprout green shoots..... On our visit to Gavin and Stacey we saw wheat standing in water - "Like rice in a paddy field" commented The Big Boss.

And then there was the Local MFH who, when I enquired about Hounds last week said he'd had them fit and ready to go three weeks earlier but the rain had scuppered his plans to start Autumn Hunting. "We've got to wait for the crops to be in" he said, adding that he'd be out as soon as he had the smallest bit of Country for them to hunt.

Well, it all came good again 10 days ago. High pressure came to stay; the winds blew and suddenly machinery was all over the fields like flies on dung....... from late morning till well into the night their drivers hardly drew breath. Wherever one went, the heart of the country was beating with the rhythm of an Elite Performer: pounding relentlessly until not a single shoot remained standing.

And today the rain has returned.: but most of the farmers are laughing.

Harvest is done: yields have proved exceptionally high: disasters across the globe mean prices are nicely up (for the farmers, that is) and there's just the remainder of the ploughing, drilling and hedging to be done before the tractors and trailers, harvesters and other paraphenalia can be put away till next year. Even the MFH got his way. The weekend after our chat I happened to drive past the Kennels in the early morning mist and saw the yard full of trailers and lorries - a sure sign that Autumn Hunting had begun..... and with it the slow slide into Autumn.............................. Season of mists...................... and long-awaited winter activities......