Piglets or no we's busy

Every now and then the Pork Provisioner gets a little carried away with the need to convince the general populace that Curly Coat pork is "just what they most need" - particularly in these times of restraint and recreational phobia..... Thus it was that this past weekend we have been to three markets in two days. Saturday saw us at Caistor - a lovely little market town at the end of the old Roman Road known hereabouts as The Caister High Road. The farmers market is set around the picturesque market place which, on Saturday in the sunshine, conveyed an air of almost mediterranean cool-ness ---- coffee tables out in the square and traders bantering with their willing customers whilst musicians strummed away in the background. We were also a little further north at Barton-on-Humber - as the sign says "Last turn off before the Humber Bridge" (ie: if you're not careful you'll find yourself in Yorkshire) and another characterful market town. Interestingly perhaps the setting for one of the country's most popular annual gatherings of motobikerfolks.. luckily not this weekend!  The sun also shone - unlike when we were here a month ago --- when, by the by, it was Grand National Day. Our stall is located directly opposite the William Hill Betting Emporium and, last time -the Grand National being a 'National Treasure' - everyone seemed to dispose their income in the Bookies rather that at market...Add to that the fact that it was a miserable cold day and it's not difficult to understand why it was not one of our best ---by a long chalk....

So, how refreshing to return a month later - sun shining and a gently breeze blowing - to find the townsfolk willing to welcome us with open arms (and appetites).

On Sunday we were at Alford Manor - once a Genteel Town Home - now a Rural Museum - for the annual Food & Drink Fair. Again, the sun shone - not too strongly, and the wind did blow - sometimes too strongly and a good time was had by all - in a rather laconic, rural way. A harpist strummed gently in the background and our stall was sheltered by a magnificent copper beech tree thought to be c.400 years old: a sobering thought, RectoryReserve is c. 4 years old... still a long way to grow then.....
We're grateful to our customers who repaid the hard work,sleepless nights and early mornings and made it all worthwhile - not a relaxing weekend by any means but certainly an interesting one..... and, hopefully, we'll get to see Delila's piglets (3 red and 4 blonde, Linda says) tomorrow..... pictures and full story to follow..... busy or no........