So.. What did YOU do for Christmas?

What a wonderful time has been had by all! Lots of days off, lots of very dry (mostly clear) weather and lots and lots of food and drink!

Even we humans have had a bit of a rest and a surfeit of food!

It all kicked off with our 'Christmas with the Piggies' Open Day on the 21st. An opportunity for friends and customers to collect their Christmas orders (virtually everything was sold out in advance), have a drink and a nibble and, most importantly, visit Ginger's new family. Who obliged by either playing or suckling in public throughout the afternoon. Stars to the end!

After that it was time to concentrate on the household - which was blessed with a weeks' visit from the Dowager Duchess (AkA the Big Boss's mother-in-law). The highlight of her stay was surely the visit to the piglets as a special Christmas day treat. Arriving at Ginger's quarters we found that some of them had gone off in search of their pressies................ which, clearly, Santa Swine had left on the other side of the fence! (A case of Deja Vu - almost the very same thing occurred with Ginger's first litter last Christmas - she's obviously too good at bed-time stories!). Just a few moments of panic (the Dowager D. not us!) before Ginger's insistent grunts had them scampering back through the gap they'd made..... Which we then blocked off.....

They've been investigating the fencing in great detail ever since...........

The Bestest Gundog in all the World and his two pals enjoyed their special treats - which mostly took the form of seasonal additions to their dinners (Goose, ham, pork and pheasant trimmings) although they had new balls to play with in case they got bored. (Gunner decided to hide his and Pilot's in his bedding - for a rainy day perhaps)

The biggest treat of all though was taking the B-G-i-a-t-W out for his first bit of work since the termination of the tail..... the day after Boxing Day just for the afternoon. He was delerious with joy. His feet hardly touched the ground and he was just a little bit wayward for the first hour - but then he settled to the job and by the end of the day was pleasantly exhausted. And not a spot of blood anywhere.................

We are both looking forward to a busy January.

And then we'll have to devise a plan to keep him switched on and learning until the next Season starts.....................