We went to pick up 3 weaners that were 2 months old (Gloucester old spot, large white and local black pig cross-breeds). They were hustled into a box in the boot of our car and put the car's aircon system to test all the way home - did you know pigs get car sick? Anyway....they happily went into their newly-made pig shelter within a half acre field which we had carefully fenced with 2 strands of electric fence at the recommended 20 and 50cms height off the ground. We kept them in their shelter for 24 hours again following the recommendations. The following day we decided it was safe to release them and did so - within minutes they had braved the electric fence and sprinted off across the countryside. Then followed our first (and hopefully last) livestock chase across open fields which was a cross between a Benny Hill and Whacky Races scene.
We rounded up reinforcements - our wonderful neighbours downed tools and came to help (or perhaps simply to witness the English nutters attempting to outrun and rugby-tackle 15kg piglets). 9 hours later having chased them up and down the valley, into and out of woods, across fields, round hay bales, through ditches and vicious brambles we recaptured 2 of the 3 and despite many attempts to locate and drive out the third, he is still either running with the local wild boar (having a great time we suppose) or is no longer. Lets call it a steep learning curve. We can laugh about that day now although we have flashbacks of having to stop running because of a stitch - although that could also have been due to trying to laugh and run simultaneously....
The piglets have now pretty much realised that we are their food supply and that it would be sensible to stick around. They have continued to try and escape and we have had to condemn them to a kind of piggy Alcatraz for the moment with various perimeter fences, electric wiring, extra stakes and re-enforced corrugated iron sheet for walls. If anyone tries to tell you a pig is stupid beg to differ as they are pretty damned conniving and persistent! At least they don't smell - something positive we have learned!
As we had lost one piglet, we decided to find another pig and we purchased a 5 month old (Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot cross) female around 2 weeks back that we have named Rosie while names for the others have yet to stick. The females (Rosy plus 1) are keepers for breeding so we are happy to name them but the sole male (without equipment) will be eaten next winter
Other than the pigs taking up vast swathes of our time, we have been a little frustrated with the wet April weather. Thankfully we sowed much of the veg plot before the wet weather but it seems only the spuds, peas and broad beans are really doing much yet but all in good time (we are told). We have yet to acquire the sacred virtue of patience.
We should have constructed our poly tunnel during the dryer March weather but we have at least finally got the thing up and the tomato, lettuces and various other plants we had attempted to get to germinate seem to be enjoying the balmy temperatures. Hoeing, planting and watering in a sauna is a shirt off job (for Al at least - although Scarlett seems to think she can also enjoy this liberation from clothing as soon as Daddy strips off!). We had our first storm today and it survived its first test - phew.
During the wet weather we did crack on with the downstairs bathroom and we are happy with the results so far considering the undulating walls and dodgy plumbing we discovered.. Another weeks work and the bathroom will be functional again but we are now prioritising the food production as we can see a few hungry gaps in the future if we don't. Who needs a bath anyway?
Spring time at the mill is quite magical as a myriad of plants and trees take their turn to blossom, leaf and bear fruit of one kind or another; a spectacle we missed last year as we arrived in June. The ducks have paired off and are sitting on eggs, the swallows are back from Africa and the trout in the lake are thriving on the mass of insects and tadpoles.
