28th January 2014

Farrier again changed to Tuesday. I thought I'd got it sussed, so Tony stayed with him, but then the NHS messed up my idea by keeping him at work until 4am, so he wasn't in a fit state to be at the yard first thing!

Anyway, got down when the first few cages were going through. Lots of pigs cages, a lot from the usual dealer with a reserve on. I don't think any of those sold. Lots of 'normal' looking buyers, most seemed to take something home with them.

There was an adorable bi colour rex boy in, semi adult. He kept coming to the front of the cage to say hi. Our manky friend (see previous blog post) put the first bid on him and seemed sure of taking him home. So I had to go to £4 to get him. He was too cute to let a dealer have him! There were also two PEW (Pink Eyed Whites) ladies, one crested, who are now at Avalon. I watched a lot go though, some making decent money, some only getting one or two bids.

The rescue is full to bursting so I was happy to leave those who looked to be going to private homes. But I did get 4 very young boys, and 6 older ones. And then I took them to Shaz and I *might* have brought two of the older boys back home with me!! Obviously the younger they are the more chance of rehoming, so I didn't think I was being too naughty. But they both sat with me whilst I had a coffee and I just had to have them  One is with my Dutch show boy, the other with a magpie baby. So both doing a job for me.  Another youngish sow went back to Avalon too, so lots of new inmates...if you can pass word around to your friends perhaps we can find new long term homes for a few.

I had a discussion with someone after the auction who was trying to buy a sow from me. He dropped into the conversation that he had a boar at home. He didn't seem pleased when I refused to sell him one. Even when I explained they would breed and re breed. He thought that was great. Even when I explained that if everything went well they would cost far more that the £1 they were going for in the auction. And things can easily go wrong.  I'm sure he'll get one. That is why we are at the market each week picking up the unwanted pigs. People like him. Hmmph!