So, having wordlessly convinced a horse owner that I can handle bitey horses, talked a poor young man into letting me trespass, I was now fearless.
I helped to corral a run-away pig.
To be fair, I have actually been around pigs, as I've known a few owners, and used to feed them on a farm sometimes. And luckily, being a show-pig it is used to being around random people and assuming they have food. But I was pleased when it came to me. I mean, I had food in my bag, so it was cupboard love. But I didn't squeal and whip my bag away, I just rubbed its ears patted it and said softly, "Soooeeee, pig-pig-pig" which is what we used to say to Joanne's pigs back in the day.
The story goes... There was a BBC crew filming a section with a pig. Owner/ handler standing by, but when they go for a second take, off trots the pig, tired off this filming lark. So handler shoos it back.
The crew decide they can work that in, they like it (it's for a children's programme - Blue Peter). So they set up again, with the presenter saying, "So the good thing is with pigs, they'll come to you if they like you" or something along those lines, and off-mike, off-camera, the handler rattles the food bowl and the pig runs off on cue. Hahaha.
Except piggy knew what was in food bowl this time. Boring old pig food. So she went for the sound-man's bag. Much more amusing for those of us watching, sadly can't be used for the show, as the pig is out of shot.
That's when it heads for my bag, which I put down to take photos and enjoy the scene.
I then become Assistant Pig Keeper.
Okay, not really. But in my own mind I saved the bacon by keeping the pig there until it could be properly taken back back again.
However I thought it best to leave before I started to get over-confident and ask for my name to be included in the show credits.
Better behaved pigs.[ATTACH]
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