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......