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.....