Meet the pigs...

In November we got our pigs - three British Saddlebacks.  We had wanted pigs for over a year, it was just a matter of being organised first!  Mr B had gone on  a pig keeping course at Pigs Paradise in Wiltshire and came back full of enthusiasm.  For months, our thoughts went into deciding upon where the pigs would live, how they would be fenced in, how many we wanted, what breed to get and where would get them from.  Meanwhile, Little Miss B announced that she really, really wanted a pig for her 7th birthday present. This was after seing a magazine article about Emma's Pigs (Emma received a pig for her 14th birthday present). She especially wanted a pig for this birthday because she didn't get one on her 6th birthday and if things carried on this way, she would be an old lady before her wish was granted!  So the plan was put into action...Fence posts were banged in, stock fencing was erected, barbed wire was dug in below the stock fencing to prevent escapism, a gate installed and the outbuilding where the pigs were to sleep was cleared of all the wood and roof tiles which had been stored in it. Next step was the pigs themselves... After much searching for weaners, we eventually found some available in the next village and went to visit.  A few weeks later on a snowy day, three little piggies were delivered to us.  The birthday present pig is called Cheryl (and I think Cheryl Cole should be delighted that such a fine looking animal is named after her!)  Cheryl will be for breeding when she is old enough (well you can't slaughter your child's birthday present, can you?!)  The other two will be off to the abattoir in around 8 weeks time.