More pigs

 

More pigs

                                Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Hilary mentioned a pig in a poke. It was the custom to carry piglets to market in a poke or sack. Buyers did not inspect the contents of the sack, so were buying blind and in good faith, laying themselves open to sharp practice.

Sometimes a customer would pay for or trade for a pig in a poke only to discover, too late, that a cat had been substituted. When the buyer opened the sack to look at his purchase, the cat would leap out, leading to the expression, ‘letting the cat out of the bag.’

In 1555, the saying ran:

I wyll neuer bye the pyg in the poke               I will never buy the pig in the poke

Thers many a foule pyg in a feyre cloke      There’s many a foul pig in a fair cloak

Pig iron is nothing to do with pigs, unsurprisingly. The crude iron ingots are brittle and are not used directly and need to be refined. Pig iron is used in steel production, cast iron and wrought iron. Molten iron was poured into a channel, called the sow, which had smaller moulds branching from it. The resulting small ingots are said to resemble suckling pigs.

St Anthony’s pig, or Tantony, is the smallest pig in a litter, maybe a pet pig, sometimes called the runt. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of pigs and pig keepers. He was also entreated to heal skin diseases like ergotism which was endemic in mediaeval times. This ailment resulted from eating grain infected with a fungus that caused convulsions, gangrene and death. Those afflicted often suffered severe feelings of burning, which gave rise to the common name of St Anthonys Fire.

The Hospitallers of St Anthony nursed the sick and would often receive a Tantony. The little pig would be dressed with bells and allowed to wander the streets. Local people would feed the pig, which became a symbol of charity and caring.                             

There are three canddates for the name of Pig Island. The first was an unflattering name for New Zealand. Captain James Cook introduced pigs to New Zealand in the second half of the 18^th century He may have entertained charitable intentions, to allow pigs to breed and provide food for the indigenous people. The pigs thrived and did much damage to the ecosystem and biodiversity. They remain a persistent problem.

                                        Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The second Pig Island, or Pig Beach, is in the Bahamas. This is an island uninhabited by humans, but providing home for a colony of swimming pigs, some goats and a few cats. The pigs are a tourist attraction, and swim out to boats hoping for tasty treats.

The third place is in Thailand. Koh Madsum, or Pig Island, lies thirty minutes off the coast of Koh Samui. The pigs live on the beaches and greet tourists with joy. They enjoy treats like watermelon.

There are conflicting stories of their arrival on the island. One source claims that the pigs swam to Koh Madsum from an island nearby. Another story says that a local man rescued four underfed pigs from a market and took them to the island, where they settled in and became happy inhabitants, relaxing on the beautiful sands and swimming in the clear waters. Visitors can expect to be greeted by about ten friendly pigs.

 

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

 

Happy as a pig in muck

 

Happy as a pig in muck

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

This expression was first used in Britain around 1870. People had noticed that pigs seemed to enjoy wallowing in mud. Much later, they realised that pigs cannot sweat to cool their bodies and so wallowed to cool down. The mud was also useful for ridding the skin of parasites. A number of other animals enjoy a mud bath including the hippopotamus (remember the Flanders and Swann song, ‘Mud, mud, glorious mud?’) the rhinoceros, the elephant, and the warthog.

Pigs are intelligent, sentient beings, and can experience a range of emotions. They can become congenial pets but need companionship and careful handling and socialisation. If not properly socialised, pigs can become aggressive. 

In UK, a person seeking to keep a pig must register as a pig keeper, report and record the pig’s movements, and acquire a County Parish Holding (CPH) number detailing where the pig lives. If the owner wants to take his pig out for a walk, he needs to carry a special licence.

Pigs live between five and ten years, though some might live for twenty-five years. Even small pigs can weigh seventy kilos, and some breeds weigh four times as much

When a pig is happy, it may smile and wag its tail. It may also give soft grunts and come to its owner for a scratch or a stroke.

My sister loved pigs when she was little. She was fifteen years older than me so I never witnessed the porcine interaction!

Freemartin

 

Freemartin

A child I taught, and who is now a veterinary surgeon, lived on a smallholding and had a house cow. She was very excited one day to tell me that the cow had given birth to twins because that was very unusual.

If the twins are both female, the heifers will develop as normal females. If the calf twins are a male and a female, the female may develop as a freemartin.

A freemartin is an infertile heifer. It is often more aggressive than its female counterparts and displays masculine characteristics. The condition occurs because male and female twins share blood circulation through their placentas, and male hormones are transferred from male to female. In a dairy herd, this is not a happy outcome, as the heifer has underdeveloped ovaries, so will never calve and produce milk.

Twin births occur in 0.5% to 2% of all bovine pregnancies. Although not all mixed twin calves will result in freemartins, it does occur in 90% of all such pregnancies.

Freemartins occur in other species and have been recorded in sheep, pigs, and goats, where the incidence in each species is about 1%. They have been recorded and discussed since 27 BCE.

In Aldoux Huxley's grim dystopian novel, Brave New World, babies are created in artificial wombs and it is a matter of shame and scandal to conceive a child naturally within the World State. A freemartin is a female foetus exposed to male hormones to render her infertile. The practice is part of the government's plan to control the population and only 30% of the female population are not freemartins.

Three little pigs

 

The three little pigs

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

I saw a version of this on another site and it made me smile.

 

The three little pigs went out to dinner one night.

The waiter came to take their drink orders.

‘I’d like gin and tonic,’ said the first little piggy.

‘I’d like white wine,’ said the second little piggy.

‘I’d like water, lots and lots of water,’ said the third little piggy.

 

When the waiter asked them if they were ready to order their main course, the first little piggy said, ‘I’d like a big, juicy steak.’

The second little piggy said, ‘I’d like fish and chips.’

The third little piggy said, ‘‘I’d like water, lots and lots of water.’

 

Asked if they’d like dessert, the first little piggy said, ‘I’d like apple pie and custard.’  

The second little piggy said, ‘I’d like lemon sorbet.’

The third little piggy said, ‘‘I’d like water, lots and lots of water.’

 

The waiter was puzzled and said to the third little piggy, ‘Excuse me for asking, but why have you only ordered water for every course?’

The third little piggy said, ‘Well, one of us has to go wee, wee, wee all the way home.’

 

Easter 2010

The Easter Bunny visited our house yesterday, leaving large bunnies for the children and smaller ones for the adults. They were waiting on the dining room table when we sat down to a late lunch. Later, in danger from prowling dogs, some of the smaller ones that had survived human jaws migrated to one of the book shelves, seeking education, boning up on  History.

Bethan and Rob joined us and it was good to have half our children and grandchildren at home to share a meal. Gillian and Paul are staying for a few days. Gareth and Nina had made other plans and Susannah is on a shoot in Bogota. She gaily told me she had sorted out her kidnap and ransom insurance so was fully covered!The Easter tree was also in the dining room. On it there is a rabbit that looks more like a hare, lots of painted eggs and some pig pegs. I'm not sure what the connection is between pigs and Easter but we ate roast pork and chicken, so there was a connection there for us, yesterday at least.

We didn't have any Easter eggs but we did have chocolates. Thornton's chocolates are very more-ish.

Not many left . . . but there were nine of us sampling them and only one layer!

Elliot, Eve and Louis gave us some handmade chocolates.

They're too pretty to eat, aren't they? I love the little bee!

I recollected the Easter eggs my parents used to sell in our shop in Kent. There was the usual Easter selection that can still be seen today, the chocolate moulds being covered and filled in different liveries through the decades to reflect 'popular' culture. My parents also offered for sale elaborately decorated chocolate eggs, varying in size from golf to rugby ball, sometimes even larger. They bore delicate sugar and marzipan flowers and dainty ribbons in Spring colours of yellow and purple and green. My favourites, which I have never seen since I grew up and left home, were finely spun sugar eggs with a small window into the hollow interior in which would be set a pretty scene from Nature. They came in different sizes but each one fascinated me and I never tired of gazing through the tiny apertures at the magical, fairy-tale scenes before me. I wonder what memories my children and their children will retain from childhood? Easter egg hunts were tricky to organise with dogs always in the picture but we did manage one or two. If the only thing they remember is laughing with extended family over a meal then that will be a happy recollection and chocolate bunnies will be the hook on which to hang the memory and place it in their history.

SkyWatch Friday #58

Photographs this week were taken from the passenger seat of the car as Gillian and I drove from Berkshire to Dorset. We were caught in slow-moving traffic. Tom Tom informed us that there were delays just after we passed an alternative road - very helpful! We were told repeatedly that we were on the fastest route as we chugged along at 4 mph!



It was a pleasant sunny day and the sky was interesting. Despite the 'No U-turn' sign some drivers decided to risk it!
Beyond the fence there was a pig farm.
They had plenty of room to root around, adequate shelters and water and there were many crows keeping them company. Pigs need shade as they can suffer from sunburn.
It's good to know there are parking lay-bys ahead with public telephones. Cars overheat or break down and it's not always possible to get a signal on a mobile (cell) phone.

When we reached the turn off to Stonehenge we saw the cause of the traffic jam. There had been an accident on the opposite side of the road. Ambulance and police were in attendance and people on our side of the carriageway had been rubber-necking. Ghouls!

The traffic flowed freely thereafter.

If you would like to see other skies from around the globe please click here

Thank you to the hosts of this meme, Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise.

Blood tests and pigs

Barry had to have a routine blood test a few weeks ago. When he phoned the surgery for the results he was told they had been lost by the laboratory and could he give them some more blood? So the appointment was made and then later changed by the surgery.

Eventually he went to have a sample taken early one morning which was just as well because it was a 'fasting' blood test. He noticed that the nurse didn't take as much as she had done before but thought no more about it. Today the surgery phoned, full of apologies because not enough of his blood had been siphoned off for the various tests to be conducted. Would it be possible for him to attend tomorrow morning?

Barry then explained that he has not been feeling very well for a couple of days and would rather not go out unless absolutely necessary. The receptionist asked him to describe his symptoms and then advised him to contact the NHS help line. After a short conversation it was confirmed that he has swine flu. There is nothing further to be done. He will remain in bed where he has been for the last two days, and continue taking paracetamol and plenty of fluids.

Now, I know I really shouldn't say this and I don't mean a word of it but I simply cannot resist . . . I always said he was a pig and now he's got the flu to prove it!

Sweating like a pig?

Do pigs sweat? It seems that pigs or rather swine (because 'pig' is actually a young animal) do have sweat glands but they are so few that they are not efficient temperature controllers and so they cool down by wallowing in cool water or mud, which has the same effect as sweat evaporating on human skin.

Perhaps we should adjust our idioms.

When I was young(er) I was told 'Ladies glow, gentlemen perspire and horses sweat' at the same time as I learnt that Officers marry Ladies, NCOs have wives and other ranks consort with women.

Class-ridden Great Britain?? Never!

Easter trees

Today is Good Friday – always a quiet day for me and one on which I feel I should be spending some time in church, though I never do. Out walking with the dogs I found myself singing a hymn from my childhood – 'There is a green hill, far away . . . ' I never understood until I was grown up what 'without a city wall' meant. Why should a hill have a city wall? It was strange how quickly the words came back to me. I must have sung it a few times as a teacher though I cannot recall doing so, since most of my career was spent with younger children.

I had never heard of Easter trees until I saw them mentioned on a blog and then, when I did some cursory research I discovered that, like Christmas trees (thank you, Prince Albert) the custom comes from Germany. I thought it was such a pretty idea that I had to try it out, though it's rather too close to Easter – I should have started with a bare twig or two six weeks ago. I went shopping for decorations and though I really wanted fluffy chicks I ended up with painted eggs, pig (!) paper clips and a rabbit that more resembles a hare appropriately enough for the British Isles. Nonetheless they are all symbols of renewal - not quite sure about the pigs; I think they represent Easter Sunday lunch more than anything! Similarly, I'm not sure where a duck on eggs fits in; maybe it's another European custom, though I can see where the Easter poisson of France comes in as Ichthus is an early Christian symbol and is often to be seen in lapels, on car stickers, as brooches for believers.

The Easter tree has proved to be a source of fascination for the cats but I think I'll continue the custom next year.