Here, there and everywhere

The nicest time of all to be a piglet is between the ages of 2 to 3 weeks - all the 'bits' work sufficiently well to get away from Mum for increasingly long spells - - and 7 weeks when it's time to be weaned.

During this period all the Big Adventures and Explorations take place. The piglets also get to

know the other members of the herd and the extent of their 'world' at RectoryReserve. The fearless little creatures can be seen rushing everywhere like The White Rabbit; now here, now there.

Down by the pond one moment and up in one of the stables the next: in the orchard and then

suddenly round the horse's feet.

Sometimes they rush (piglets rarely stroll, they just seem to want to get to the next place as quickly as possible) around a corner, come face to face with one of us, screech to a halt and then,

like a wave retreating from the shore, flip over and rush back the other way!

Sometimes we have a little panic if one of them gets into a 'difficult position' (in the photo above for instance you can just see one in the background in Mangal & Ginger's pen - he couldn't remember how he got in and got in a bit of a tizzy so we had to go in and rescue him --- not a good idea with The Big Boar in Residence).

Mostly though we never cease to be charmed and amazed by their antics. Just yesterday Precious was trying to sleep in the sun and her young horde decided to use her as a climbing frame; over her back and down her snout and round the other way. She never batted an eyelid!

Gunner, on the other hand, clearly thinks his out-of-shooting-season 'job' is to round them up

when they stray too far and then return them to Mum.

They appear endlessly fascinated by him, sniffing and nuzzling enquiringly: he has a wonderful "I think I'll just pretend I'm a statue" demeanour whenever they become enquisitive! And when they get bored and scamper off he's instantly up and after them again!

Suddenly though they all get tired, rush back quickly to their pen (Precious always sniffs them in one by one!), have a drink on mum and then collapse in a heap and go to sleep....... till it's time for the next Big Adventure.