A novel use for a climbing frame! With the inards removed, the carcass is split in two.
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After burning and scrubbing, the pig is jet washed to reveal a pure white carcass.
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Francis burns off the outer layer of skin while Dan scrapes the carcass clean with a wire brush
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With the pig now completely dead, the first job is to drain and capture the blood for black pudding
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Dick is enjoying his bucket of food, while Francis prepares to kill him with a "captive bolt" killer
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Dick, still more interested in his food, is led to the climbing frame
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Dick gets his head in the bucket of food, while Francis attaches a rope to his back leg
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The "boys" are rather pleased with themselves
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On to his second carcass, Steve -and his apron - looks just like a professional
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Dan with the results of his first ever lamb butchering
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Geoff finished first
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Just like being at school, we were all set to learn first hand, how to butcher a lamb
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With the skinning complete, the lamb carcass was left to hang for a few days
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Steve starting to remove the skin and fleece off of the lamb
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Geoff "inflating" the sheep, to make the removal of the skin an easier process
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Dan & Geoff trying to catch the sheep
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Micha cuddling Sorbet - definitely more than a "Holiday Romance"
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Micha holding today's egg
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Dione and Tilly with today's harvest
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Dick, having made a bid for freedom, is easily tempted back into his pound with a bucket of food
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Tracey's 30 geranium cuttings on the window ledge outside the office
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The result of Tracey's labours - geraniums potted on and cuttings taken
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The most beautiful caterpillar we've ever seen
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With the sun lower in the sky, the vegetable patch is in partial shade in the afternoon
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A splash of colour ready for winter - Tracey planted primulas to brighten up our front steps
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Dan cutting the grass, for what we think will be the last time this year
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Baby chicken in the nursery (aka rabbit hutch!)
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Sorbet trying to catch a leaf - don't laugh, mouse catching training has to start somewhere!
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Dan cleaning out rabbits - with Indies help!?!?
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Adding the cure mix to the pork to make our own back bacon
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Rabbit pie - 4 years in the waiting, 4 minutes to eat it!!!
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11th October - a colourful & tasty harvest
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New neighbours move in next door!
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Dick & Dom forrage around in the autumn sunshine
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Indie at home in the garden
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Dick & Dom - "Does my bum look big in this, bruv?!"
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Fir trees provide much needed cones as kindling for winter log fires
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A close-up of Mother Nature in the garden
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The pond provides an oasis for the turkeys
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A "Liquid Amber" tree, just starting to change colour
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Some of our trees providing welcome colour to the garden
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A blaze of colour in the garden
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A typical Autumnal view from the kitchen window
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Tilly, worn out after the pumpkin harvest!
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Rainbox chard will provide a substantial amount of food for a long while to come
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Raspberries, surprisingly, continue to provide sufficient fruit for a crumble
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Dan raking over freshly rotivated soil
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Rasberries making a comeback
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"Hello" hiding amongst the raspberries
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Strawberries still providing the occasional dessert
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Brussel sprouts - everyone's favourite?!
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Dan rotavating the ground where the sweetcorn had grown
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Weeded leeks - as inspected by 'Hello'
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Peach leaf liqueur now maturing in bottles for 6 months
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4 more jars of mincemeat maturing in jars
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The last of the summer fruit?
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The chickens settling in to outdoor life
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Geoff takes a break!
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The men admire the birds!
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The chickens are put in their new home
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Steve & Geoff pick up some chicks!
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The new chickens arrive
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Swiss chard - a uniquely tasting vegetable that's packed with goodness
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OK, so they are still alive, but you just can't help but think about ham and bacon sandwhiches
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Dom using his sensitive nose to find more food
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Typical bloke! When you're thirsty, you drink!
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Brotherly love - Dick & Dom snuggle up for a snooze
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An autumnal view of our pond
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Tilly keeping a watchful eye on the turkeys
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Turkeys warming up in the morning sunshine
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A gentle swim on the pond
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Our "crime fighting duo" cooling their feet
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Batman & Robin on patrol
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We thought it might never happen - Sox with her 2 week old babies
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Bunty and her 5 babies
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Mimi's escaped baby now lives with the pigs!
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'Gis a kiss!!!
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What every pig deserves - fresh air, plenty of space and old apple scraps
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Dom is more interested in tasting Tracey's knee than having his picture taken
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Dan hand feeding the boys apple peel
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Piggy heaven
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Smile for the camera
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Nothing goes to waste - after peeling 27 kilos of apples, the pigs enjoyed the waste!
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Our boys absolutely lovin' the apple peel
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One of the injured turkeys recovering in "A&E"
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The last pickings of tomatoes and peppers from the polytunnel
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Just goes to show the benefits of teamwork - 116 new strawberry plants
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Mince pies in the very early stages of development!
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A mid September' harvest
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Indie & Tilly watching the turkeys being round up
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The white turkeys finding safety in numbers while pecking around
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Dick - obviously happy to be back walking on 4 legs again
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Scaredy Cat! - Sorbet is not too sure about the turkey
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Christmas dinner thoroughly enjoying her walk around the garden
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Dan herds everyone home after an afternoon of pecking around the garden
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Christmas dinner having a wander around the garden
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Batman & Robin have a rest on their way back to the pond
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Tilly enjoying the duck poo she rolled in earlier!
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Another cat nap for Sorbet in the shade of the herb pot
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The soft fruit still satisfying our sweet tooth - also a great stockpile for winter crumbles!
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Butternut squashes - one of our best surprises last year - growing well
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Dan picking raspberries on a sunny September afternoon
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Sorbet lazing in the warm Autumn sun
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Winter cabbage
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Healthy brussel sprout plants
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Brussel sprouts taking shape
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Rainbow chard - it's growing slower than expected, but tastes great!
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Pumpkins continue to swell
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Runner beans are still providing meals
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A variety of tomatoes about to be roasted for pasta sauces - this lot made enough for 6 family meals
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Your captions, please!
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A quick pick when we got home
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The one that DIDN'T get away!
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Victoria having caught a trout for tea
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Batman & Robin have a bit of an identity crisis - they think that they are pigs!
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'ere bruv! Why can't you stand up?
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Dan giving Dick a "well done" stroke for taking his medicine
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Administering the injection to Dick
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Dan gets ready to be a vet - there's got to be a costume involved somewhere!
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Rich pickings!
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