Small boys, big helpers
23 11 2007
Doris and her litter of Berkshire piglets had been inside six days longer than planned, making it a serious welfare issue as far as I’m concerned. The problem was that my fractured collar bone meant I wasn’t supposed to be doing hard manual work, while our helpers haven’t been strong enough to move the arc on their own. At the same time, it’s been too wet to move old pig dung from the pen. But not any more. Doris and her 11 piglets are outside where they belong tonight.
Graham, our Berkshire boar, had moved the pig arc down the hill into boggy ground when he was in the pen and it had become mired in. It would have to be broken free of the mud and moved up the hill to firm, dry ground.
But before the arc could be moved, the old dung had to be removed. Normally, I’d rake and shovel the entire pen clean but with only the Wee ‘Un to help I decided to focus on the bedding area where the arc would sit.
The Wee ‘Un and I set to work, both achieving the same pace thanks to me doing it one-handed and him doing it at half-height. It took a while, but we got there. (Apologies for the photo quality, but many were taken using a timer.)
Next, the arc. I broke the arc free of the mud by standing inside, hunching over and bracing the internal beams across my back (avoiding my right shoulder), and then straightening my legs. After that, I’d lift and the Wee ‘Un would push the arc in the right direction, while I rolled with the push, moving two inches at a time. About 90 minutes later, the Big Lad arrived home from school and helped get the arc in just the right spot. And if I look awkward, I am! I still can’t properly bend my knee and ankle, which makes some movments a little more awkward.
Next, I dragged two bales of straw out to the field - actually a much more awkward and painful job than moving the arc - where the boys had a lot of fun making a pig bed.
The Big Lad then took field gate duty, the Wee ‘Un took byre gate duty and I proceeded to catch piglets, then carry them out to the field. Normally, it’s fairly straightforward and I do two piglets at once. Not today! Still, we got there in the end and when I’d caught the last piglet, it was time for the Wee ‘Un and I to move Doris out. I walked alongside her with the last piglet while the Wee ‘Un drove her from behind. I’d only do this with Doris or Delilah as they’re trustworthy pigs that have a good relationship with the boys and, despite my shoulder, I could still get him clear if there was a problem. And there wasn’t. Doris ambled out to the field, the Big Lad opened the gate to her pen and she trotted straight in to her piglets. The boys were very pleased with themselves, with good reason. Job done and then off to football training.
Boys,you are fantastic workers. Stoney, you be careful.
They’re following a tough act I guess, but I reckon those kiddies are enjoying a childhood in a million…bet they reckon their life is pretty wonderful…and I bet they’re right to…good on you mate..
Stoney, I ached with every word there. Having experienced moving one of those arcs along with Wild Garlic et al (and the subsequent massive backache) I cannot imagine trying to do it alone, with a broken shoulder.
Here’s your Stupid Question Of The Day : why can’t you tow an arc with the landy?
We do tow the biggest arc around the field with the Defender. However, the Land Rover doesn’t fit in the smaller pens and I didn’t have it anyway as the OH uses it to get to work.
I could drive in a couple of ground anchors, attach snatch blocks to them, rig a rope line from the arc to the Land Rover and use the blocks to change its direction to get the right directional pull, then drive the Defender away while pulling the arc into place. It would be fun to do, but it’s more straightforward to pick the arc up and carry it to the right spot. (Or as I did yesterday, lift and inch repeatedly.)
Also, thanks to Helen and the twins for coming up today, and especially for taking the Wee ‘Un out to Huntly Castle for a picnic. He still hasn’t stopped talking about dungeons and feeding his lunchtime sausage to dog!
Ouch! I fractured my collerbone in 6 places when i was kid. The pain is terrible just moving, so raking and moving a pig arc….. ouch! Take it easy.
I still get pain through it 23yrs later when it’s cold and damp. You don’t notice how much these things affect you until it happens again.
On a brighter note it looks like you been put in a sling which although slightly uncomfortable works best. My arms were pulled back and strapped with bandages so i looked like i was walking around with my hands in my back pockets all the time. For 10 days i slept in been bags so i didn’t roll over in my sleep! Funny looking back but painful at the time. :0 I visited a different hospital to have my checkup and they had to unwrap me and put me in a sling. They were completely baffled as to why i wrapped up in such a weird way! Wish i’d visited them 10 days earlier. LOL
So for all you kids out there, don’t toboggan down a big hill without the toboggan!
Great teamwork Stoney and lads. I “dips me lid” to you.
But think Stoney …… of the possibility of long term damage to your injured bits please which could result from such strenuous effort. Despite what you see has to be done around the croft —- take it easy.
so not just bossy women saying this then Stoney…take it easy
I will probably get a virtual slap for that next time I see him…hey ho!
It is truely amazing how fast small boys turn into young men.
I too, ‘tip my cap’ to the boys for helping and to you for providing an excellent example for these boys.
I am sure Doris and the little ones thank you too.