Of piglets, pork and poultry!

There's never a dull moment in the rural idyll that is Rectory Reserve! Last week witnessed a flurry of activity in preparation for the first public outing of the Pork Victualler on Sunday. The Village Church of St Andrew's was staging a Christmas Market to raise ever needed funds. Lots of stalls were present so a great opportunity for the PV to strut his stuff. Five different types of sausage, air dried ham, pork pies and pates, apple sauce and brawn were all on sale alongside hot dogs and plenty of sausages to sample while passing or waiting. The damp and cold did little to deter the happy shoppers and a good time was had by all - and the PV happily sold out of almost everything!

Ginger's brood meanwhile are 10 days old and now allowed out of the ark for brief spells when the sun - which explains the 'brief' - deigns to shine. They scamper and tumble about all over the place then collapse in a heap indoors and wait for the bar to open. What a life!

And where there is life there is also the after-life... to which we bade a sad farewell to Merlin on Monday..... After a proud and happy life strutting about with his hens for some 4 or 5 years he suddenly fell ill and popped his clogs. He was a character and will be long remembered.