Sunday, August 11, 2013

DESIRABLE DARK AND SHADY PLACES

This porker had the right idea, finding a dark place to snuffle around in and keep cool.  Outside, the humidity levels were very high and the temperatures settled around 32-34 degrees Celsius from about lunch time till very late in the day.   



A notice on the door of another pigsty gave very clear instructions to visitors in two languages.
These two young lovelies appeared to be well catered for.  They were not in the least bit interested in being attracted  away from the goodies at the base of their trotters.

Their nursery mates couldn't be bothered with anything much.  But, then, who could blame them, it was just too hot to make an effort of any kind.
That shiny blue ball looked like an over-sized decoration bauble. I wonder if it was safe to play with.  If so, when cooler, do you think the kindergarten played fore-footed piglet football?

N.B
In case you have not recognised it, one of the two languages on the instructional notice is Welsh.

12 comments:

Jennytc said...

I understood the Welsh! :)

Anonymous said...

I wish that I could just 'zonk out' like that when it's hot and humid. Flighty xx

David Oliver said...

I didn't look up the conversion from Centigrade to Fahrenheit but I know that is very hot. I don't understand anything about climate change but we are having a very cool and wet Summer. Maybe your time is coming.

I like pigs! When I was little my Grandfather gave me a runt and I raised it on a bottle. I never saw it actually play, it more into rooting. Still it would follow me around just like a dog.

ZACL said...

I was in Wales when I caught up with that weather, David. My guess is, if it had been in Scotland, temperatures would never have raised to that much. however, as Scotland had fine weather the day in question. pictures would have been taken in bright sunshine, just not so hot and humid.

The other little point is, that there would have been every likelihood that if I had been at home in Scotland, the advisory notice would have been written in Gaelic, (also a Celtic language) similar in some ways I suppose to Welsh, though not the same.

I'm fascinated to hear about the loyalty of your pet pig.

ZACL said...

Those pigs offered some very appropriate modelling for bipeds, I would say, Mr F xx :)

ZACL said...

Hi Jennyta,

I had a sneaking suspicion you would understand the 'foreign Celtic tongue', especially, since you passed your exam - well done - and got your certificate.

Within reach of, and in, the UK, there are three other Celtic tongues I can think of. Eire, Cornwall and Brittany. Scotland has a lot in common with them too.

David Oliver said...

Blogging has expanded my mind quite a bit. I've picked up that the rest of the world thinks we Americans (at least U.S. citizens) know very little about the rest of the world. And I think that's right! For example, I had no idea that there was more than one language spoken in, I'll try to cover the entire area here and say England/Ireland/Scotland since I'm not sure how everything is broken down.

There is not much to say about my pig other than she followed me around. I was really young myself at the time and it never occurred to me to try and teach her tricks or discipline (for lack of a better word). I mean such things as "NO" or "STAY." And that got to be a problem. She grew up to be huge and of course loved to root things including the vegetable garden. Having grown up free she refused to stay in the hog lot, even though it was big. Eventually I gave in and let my Dad sell her. :(

ZACL said...

Hi David,

You have great piggy memories.

The UK is made up of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Other places in between have their local identities too.

Eire is otherwise known as Southern Ireland, it is a country with its own State, laws, and until it formed part of the European Community, like all countries, had its own currency. Now, it uses the Euro.

As you will realise, there will be a history and a lot of complex politics dividing, (and conjoining) the two parts of Ireland. The island of the two Irelands has a water channel separating it from the mainland of the UK. Ferries ply their trade back and forth for all parts, as do planes.

Countries that form the UK, retain the Pound Sterling. Distinctive countries like Wales and Scotland are on the same land mass as Britain. Then, in addition, there are regions within, with with their own sense of identity.

I hope this mini explanation clarifies things a bit and has not caused more confusion.

Cheers


Anonymous said...

Those pigs have the right idea- they do say that pigs are very intelligent creatures and can make good pets - within bounds, I imagine. I can't think I would want one curling up on my lap.

Snowbird said...

What a lovely looking bunch of pigs and piglets. Animals do loll about when it's warm, it's like a ghost town at the rescue on hot days, all the critters creep of to find shade.

That bauble is most odd isn't it.....our pigs don't have toys. xxxx

ZACL said...

Hi Gillyk,

I had a giggle at the thought of Miss Piggy curling up at your feet. What might curl up on your lap, could be a pig tail.

x

ZACL said...

I really don't know what the bauble is Snowbird. I sincerely hope it was not a celebratory bauble, as it would be likely to be glass. Think of the shards and the associated problems it got pottered about with trotters!

This was a working farm, none of the pigs/piglets were pets, I therefore, think that the bauble may have had some purpose.

Noel Coward sang, 'mad dogs are Englishmen, they go out in the midday sun', when everything else in the animal kingdom does something sensible!!!!
xx