Pigs Can Fly

This morning was again sunless, but this time rainless, as Jackie and I once more filled our Modus with soggy garden refuse which we unloaded at Efford Recycling Centre (otherwise known as the dump) and continued on a forest drive.

We turned left off Camden Lane into

another, which soon ran alongside private woodland. Clearly we were lucky to have progressed along this route, for a large tree had recently fallen across it.

Some pig farmers, responding to the early fall of acorns, had already loosed their animals in order, snuffling and snorting, to root them up.

Seven gleeful piglets dashed across the green, snouts to the ground.

The Gloucester Old Spot intent on dogging my heels must have been their mother.

I am not sure what she did to one youngster when their nose-rings clashed on one apparently tasty morsel, but the youngster leapt with a squeal in the air and swiftly trotted to a safe distance.

Its face made clear its shocked innocence.

Further on a Saddleback sow scavenged for mast.

Nearby it seemed clear that pigs could fly – up a tree at least.

The lane narrowed as we left the farm section and tracked the woodland. Suddenly I exclaimed “There is something red in there. I don’t know what it is but it might have legs”. We had by now passed it. My long-suffering Chauffeuse reversed with some difficulty until we reached the small gap in the hedge.

The “something red” had moved behind branches but it did have legs. Was it a young red deer? It unexpectedly displayed the curiosity of

these two usually inquisitive sheep.

This afternoon I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2022/09/15/a-knights-tale-116-1-cumbrian-interludes/

This evening we dined on well cooked roast lamb, roast potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli, followed by moist bread and butter pudding. Jackie drank more of the Sauvignon Blanc, I finished the Burgundy, and Dillon and Flo drank fruit cordial.

0 comments

  1. Great photos, Derrick, my mother loved pigs so much. My folks’ home had little piggy statues and trinkets all around. I wonder why they have nose rings though.

  2. Such wonderfully atmospheric photos… beautifully lit for the end of the summer.
    And your narrative makes the visuals into a real performance!!
    Well spotted re the deer – I’m glad your Chauffeur was so obliging (and so good at reversing!)

  3. Only are missing ,the cows! Continue to go to the Efford Recycling Centre. On the way you found unexpected diversified animals
    This is a poem in images, Derrick
    In friendship
    Michel

  4. What beautiful faces posed for you today! 🙂 Wonderful photos and beautifully descriptive narration! 🙂
    HA! on the piggy with the shocked innocence! 😀
    HA! on the piggy in the tree! 😛
    “Seven gleeful piglets dashed across the green, snouts to the ground…” sounds like THE perfect opening line for a wonderful children’s book on pigs! ???? Maybe a countdown book from 7 to 0!
    (((HUGS))) 🙂
    PS…”Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig enjoys it.” – George Bernard Shaw

  5. All in all, quite a delightful and busy day! ‘Im indoors and I had a mini-adventure too. Invited to a ‘Secret Garden’ behind a favourite restaurant, along with ten other people, we found a delightful, treed and shady spot (passing roaming peacocks, hens and their young…) where we lunched on various, tasty tapas: aioli on warm bread, mini cheese tarts, tortilla, salad, lentils, meat balls, & a selection of cold meats, while entertained by a talented guitarist. The sun shone & there was a gentle breeze. What more could we have wished for! (A few miles from Torrevieja, Spain) Here’s to more tasty lunches! Cheers.

  6. I’m a bit confused. The picture of what looks like branch broken off a tree is what look like pig flying? I may not have the proper glasses on to see it clearly. Thanks. Pat

  7. Thank you for the pig post, Derrick. I love those Gloucester Old Spots. As for mother pig clashing over a tasty morsel with a youngster, I have seen that happen here with deer. I watched a doe conk her offspring on the head with a hoof over a fallen apple.

  8. Wonderful photos, Derrick. Those button eyes are a bit creepy. ?
    And flying pigs–how wonderful.
    I love how your last two photos, the lovely little deer and the sheep, have the same expressions looking at you.

  9. A wonderful story and and great photos to go with it. The flying pig was very clever of you to spot. And yay to Jackie for backing up fast enough for you to catch the deer shot.

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