What a looker! our thoughts about pigs are so mistaken. Not the mucky snorty things we believe since childhood, but fast, intelligent animals, full of curiosity. They are responsive, especially if they think you have food, but affectionate and develop attachments.

This is one of the many side benefits of living in the country. One of the many discoveries I have made. No one could have described to me exactly what they are like. You just have to get up close and personal to see what I mean.

I am glad to have had this encounter in my life. Pigs are kind of important in our lives, if only as a nasty name to call people. The use of their name to make people feel bad about themselves is so wrong. Pigs are abused for their little tails, their snouts and their roundy shape. Yet they have been used by British soldiers as a name for German soldiers during the World Wars. Woodlice are called “Fatpigs” which is mean to pigs as they are so far above them on the food chain. In fact, I would say pigs snuffle them out of the ground when they are doing their food searching.

This snuffling is how truffles are found. Pigs are highly valued for this ability in France.  Truffles are a fungus that grow in forests, under trees and pigs have a knack of finding them.

So enjoy any chance you get to meet a pig. Its well worth it.

You lookin’ for me?