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New friends arrive









Last week was busy, as well as tidying up around the farm, moving cows again, taking down old electric fencing where pigs were we had a job of fencing an area for some new furries to live in. Divided into two to give a resting peroid for grass to grow in each run we moved down two redundant pig huts which farmer J has done a good job converting and reroofing one (he has a little time to repair the other one) putting up Gorgon wood proofing, yes he would try to get to any food source if he could (the furries food not the actual furies I hope).

Yesterday morning I went to collect 4 female (I hope) guinea pigs from a enterprising young lady who reminded me of my self when I use to keep guinea pigs, selling babies to the local pet shop and to new owners with a board outside the house. As I waiteed for her and her mum to catch them I chated to her farmer dad, it was a kind of ramshackle enterprise of ducks, pigs, rabbits with a few hunting dogs, horses and guinea pigs thrown in. He informed me(which I already knew) the guinea pigs could be eaten, I asked if he had tried them to be told the cheif, his daughter would not of allowed it (me thinks he may of tried one if given the chance). So I handed over my 40 Euros and left with 4 traumertised piggies who were popped and shut in their new house while we pooped oveer to La Conite to move cows and pick up 2 rabbits from an English couple who breed their rabbits for meat (they are on the large size) for 15 Euros I had to take part in the sexing bit so only hope I managed to bring home 2 females (or 2 males) otherwise we may being having rabbit on the menu too.

The rabbits were out straight away investigating their new enclosure the pigs stayed in the house. It wasn't until Tempete came into the field with a investigative look on his face as to say 'Oh easy pickings here no hunting required' did we think (or not think) of the consequences 2 1/2 cats, Fizz is only 1/2 as she is inside asleep most of the time with the furies being shut away when she is chucked out at night to 'do cat things'. This probably only leaves 30 minutes of her awake time during a 24 hour period to realise their is a pen of small creatures. A solution was needed quickly, poor farmer J's neat, tidy and presentable new fence now looks like a ramshakle chicken wired put together job with chicken wire hightening the fence, more put along the top of the wall to stop the cats jumping off it and a line put along the bottom  just in case the tiny piggies wiggle through the origional wire, not to mention the wood planks and stones needed to stop the rabbits climbing between the stone wall and  fence. Yes we did have an escape, thankfully quickly ushered back in.

Today not a cat has been near, the pigs have been physically placed outside, hiding under the ramp they have now enough courage to investigate looking like a mini line of procession caterpillars following each other, they are very cute. The rabbits have calmed down enough to now be 'chilling out' laying on the ramp. As they are close to the house we have a good view of their antics, of which I fear a lot of time may be wasted watching.

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