Another One Of Those Days

Our last remaining kunekune pig died a few days ago, at the age of fifteen. Nellybert are no longer pigkeepers. We won’t be getting any more because, if we did, and they lived out their natural span, we’d both be over 80 by then.

Rusty had been on his own since October, when his sister and lifelong companion, Lily, died.

Back in 2010, I gave in to the fad for keeping a pet pig. Bert wasn’t as enthusiastic, but we had the space, the time, and the money, so he relented. I’d done my research and knew pigs like company, so we got two - a brother and sister we named Rusty and Lily.

They were the cutest piglets

Right from the start it was clear that eating was their prime enjoyment. 

This picture looks gory but fear not - Rusty and Lily are tucking into a big feed of boiled beetroot. That expains the red puddles.

And they got fat. 

Rusty was more prone to ill health than his sister. In his first year, he caught a virulent strain of pneumonia, and the vet doubted he would survive. She gave him antibiotics anyway, and, although he loathed injections, he pulled through.

Five years later, Rusty fell ill again, and we called a vet to the house. He was one of the old-fashioned, no-nonsense sort. After examining Rusty, he pronounced him “foundered.” I wondered aloud if it might help to give the pig a little of the poitín we happened to have in the house. The vet fixed me with a look and said,

“Drink that poitín yourself, and tie a blanket round that pig. Then get him under an infra-red lamp.

Rusty lay under his lamp, cosy in his little warm corner. We brought him grapes, as is the custom for the poorly, along with strawberries and other delicious fruits. We fed him warm liquids, and before long he was on the mend.

And so life with the pigs continued. They went to the fields, they ate sweet grass, they wallowed in mud, they got lots of fruit and vegetable treats. They had a nice life.

And after a good feed, no better way to spend the afternoon - beside the dunghill, soaking up the sun.

There was the occasional home invasion. It wasn't encouraged. 

As they grew older, they slowed down and showed the signs of age. Both had trouble with their teeth, a common issue for kunekunes. For Lily, it was a constant battle, kept at bay with antibiotics. Rusty remained unaffected until the final weeks of his life. When Lily died in October, we worried Rusty would find life lonely without his lifelong companion, even though she had always bullied him.

He coped, staying closer to home. We got to know him better, and he became great friends with Hannah. He knew the sound of her car and would come to the orchard gate to get the fruit she brought for him.

This is one of the last pictures taken of Rusty, in the overgrown orchard - a favourite spot in his final months. He and Lily had always loved the orchard when the apples began to fall. It’s sad that he missed the apples this year.

Rusty died on August 6, 2025.

Remembering Matty On Her Birthday

I used to think my mother would live to be over 90, but it was not to be. She did have what’s often described as a good innings, a cricketing term, I believe. She was almost 85 when she died, which was a decent stretch by any measure.

Today would have been her 99th birthday. We’d have been holding out for one more year and a telegram from the King, but it wasn’t to be.

Still, to mark Matty’s birthday, here’s a wee story about a jaunt we once took to Portglenone. One of the things I’ve missed most since she died are those runs out in the car. She was the best craic as a travelling companion and never, ever criticised my driving. 

This was posted in 2008. Three years before Matty died.

Matty and Hannah and I took a trip to Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey today. I wanted to get a Mass Card for a friend of ours whose father died earlier this week. I don't understand the etiquette of Mass cards, so I decided to take Matty who knows all the ins and outs.

Matty usually goes to Antrim with her favourite sister-in-law on Saturday mornings, so I phoned first.

You not out with Maud this morning?

No. I told her I just didn't trust my legs today.

Bert and I discussed this over our porridge.

Says she just doesn't trust her legs to go out shopping with Maud.

Why not?

Maybe she's afraid they'll go shoplifting or slope off to score some weed. Or maybe they'll slip into a betting shop and blow the pension on the Grand National.

Happily, she felt that her legs were trustworthy enough to go on a jaunt with Hannah and Nelly.

The Abbey is, like all repositories of rosary beads, Mass cards and religious paraphernalia, a weird and wonderful place. You go in. The first thing that you see is a miniature set of a priest's Mass vestments. You wonder why? Who'd want that? There are shelves and shelves of religious pictures and statues, there are rosary beads galore, there are stands and stands of pre-signed Mass cards. A monk is sitting in the corner to bless the holy stuff you buy for it's no use if it's not blessed. There is Status Quo playing 'Whatever You Want' on the sound system. Whether this was the monk's choice or the delightful young shop assistant's choice, I do not know. Probably the monk, as he was 50+.

I quickly chose my Mass card; a bargain at two quid. Meanwhile, Matty gets heavily involved in a conversation with the shop assistant on the possibilities of buying a book on the life of Saint Anne but said saint being slightly obscure, none was to be found. Matty reports that Anne is the patron saint of grandmothers. With Jesus as her grandchild, she would be, wouldn't she?


I experienced Matty's untrustworthy leg in one of Portglenone's charity shops. She does this genuflection thing with it. She says the strength just leaves her leg for a moment. I tried distraction as a cure and pointed her in the direction of a shelf of brand-new shoes. No shoes were purchased - she just bought another beige skirt.

Mum with her last dog, Jess. They are sitting on a bridge at the top of the Drumkeeran Road. It's not there now as the road was widened when the 'line' became a dual carriageway. I believe Matty might be wearing a beige skirt. If it's not beige, it's dusty pink, which is practically the same thing.

 I really miss her. We all do.

A Lot Going On Back Then

Twenty years ago, there was a lot going on.

I was working, and Bert had a job too. We were in the middle of fixing up this house while also trying to sell our old one. On top of that, we somehow managed to maintain a lively social life. And far more people were commenting on my blog back then - blogging was quite the thing in 2005. Everyone had one. Now it’s just me and Ganching, keeping it going.

At the time, Bert was growing and selling climbing plants, mostly clematis, which were especially popular with the local garden centres. There were so many independent centres back then, not like today, where the big chains dominate.

Some of the customers we sold to back then were real characters - like this fellow,

So this garden centre man phones up and says,

"Have yez any of that clematis Garibaldi'?.
"We have indeed."
"Keep me a whole big pile of them. I'll be up with the trailer tonight.

Well, I knew he meant 'Sieboldii' but as you know, the customer is always right.

I was telling Bert about it, and he said,

"Oh I know that wee boy. He was up with his trailer one night loading up with clematis and he says to me, 'Can you sell them oul clematis?' and I says to him that I could sell them to a band playing and he says to me as he loads them on thick, 'Thats funny for I cannae sell them atall.'"

Clematis Florida 'Sieboldii'

Plans Afoot

 For years, a pair of spotted flycatchers raised brood after brood in a nest above our front door. The nest was perfect, overlooking an expanse of grass which provided plenty of insect life, and sheltered by two tangled climbing roses.

Spotted Flycatcher 2020

This year, they returned to the old nest as usual and spent a day or two making repairs. But it wasn’t as well protected as before, for one of the roses, left unpruned last season, had fallen forward, leaving the nest exposed. The flycatchers changed their minds and found a new site.

We still don’t know exactly where their new nest is. Maybe in a tangle of holly near the big shed, for they are still on the land, catching insects, raising their brood. I’m glad they are still with us.

Now that the nest has been abandoned, we have removed the falling rose. The front door looks very bare but I will replace it with another rose, and this time I will put more thought into it. So, it’s off to the garden centre tomorrow afternoon,  just Vee and me.

The very bare front door

A Change Of Plan

An opium poppy sport that self-seeded. I love these surprises.

Last night, I had decided that I would take the train to Belfast. Knowing it was going to be a hot day, I gave some thought to what I should wear, especially when it came to choosing the right footwear. Warm weather calls for sandals but tramping pavements calls for something tougher. So I dubbined my Blundstones. So what if there's a heatwave.

This morning, I decided not to go. It was already too warm at eight o'clock. Instead, I went to Tesco and the Oxfam shop in Ballymena and was home before midday. The remainder of the day I spent outside, watering, weeding, deadheading, planting, potting on and more watering. And I wore sandals.

Much of the day was also spent keeping an eye on Rusty. He’s not well. The antibiotics gave him a lift for about a week, but he’s in decline again - sleeping more, eating and drinking less. The heat is hard on him. He had to be checked often, moved to the shade, and encouraged to sip water. He’s an old boy now. Kune kune pigs usually live 12 to 15 years, and Rusty turned 15 back in April.

 

There will be no journeys abroad tomorrow apart from picking up milk and the Saturday Guardian early morning. For it is Orangeman's Day and this year one of the parades will be in Cullybackey. We'll be home all day listening to the sound of distant (Lambeg) drums.

Here We Go Again

My plan to use this blog as an aide-mémoire hasn’t progressed as well as I’d hoped. It’s been twelve days since my last post, and although nothing particularly exciting has happened - no riots, no house fires - it’s still been a longer gap than I intended.

So what did happen?

Still snail-watching.

Went to Portrush on a day out with Bert, Hannah and the big girls. They did not use all their Currie's tokens. Either I bought too many or they are tired of scary rides. Come to think of it, there's a definite air of ennui about them lately.

Watching a lot of teevee. Dept Q was a big favourite.

Became aware of a band called Bob Vylan.

Wondered why an old man dying of old age is such a big deal for the BBC.

Today was good, except for one thing.

I met an old work friend for coffee. That was good.

In the afternoon, Bert and I worked together in the garden. That was nice. We achieved a lot, dug up half of the papaver orientale and created a new area for planting. Displaced a lot of snails. Bert is very keen to replant but I want to wait a while. Snails are territorial, and when they return to their feeding grounds, which they will, they'll demolish anything new and tender. The big rough poppies could stand that, but my seed-grown agastaches might not. We'll wait a while until the snails move on. Fingers crossed that they do.

The not-so-good thing that happened?

I was just leaving the small polytunnel after watering the tomatoes when my foot caught in a clump of ox-eye daisies and down I went. My first thought being, 

Here we bloody well go again!

Hand out to save myself. Didn't work. It wasn't too bad. The ground around that polytunnel is soft and spongy, even more so since I left a hose running there for about 16 hours on Sunday evening. As I lay there, a bit winded, a brown butterfly flew past. I identified it as a Meadow Brown. And I knew that I was OK.

My left hand is a bit achey but it didn't prevent me from picking several pounds of strawberries and raspberries.

Tomorrow - more gardening, drive Hannah to the airport and on Friday I might go to Belfast.

Slither Again

 This is a summer activity.

Most evenings - especially damp ones with a light mizzle of rain - I step outside to see what the molluscs are up to. I must look like a crazy woman: torch in hand, stepping so carefully, peering into every corner.

It’s strange to realise that I’ve gone from being a person revolted by slugs and snails to someone who’s maybe just a little bit obsessed with them.

The obsession began a few summers ago and has only grown since.

Last year, I started marking some garden snails with dots of correction fluid. Then I felt bad about it - was I interfering, harming them somehow? But this year, I’ve found quite a few of my marked snails still going strong, and still inhabiting the same corners of the garden as before.

This one has decided tansy is not to its taste.

In the dark, I have to be so careful where I tread - there’s nothing more awful than accidentally crushing the shell of a garden snail. If that happens - and it rarely does, because I watch my step -the snail faces a prolonged and painful death. It’s kinder, then, to end things quickly and stamp out its life. Maybe I’m a little bit (a lot?) mad, because doing that to a snail makes me really sad. Even though they devoured all my cosmos seedlings and have done great harm to my Vancouver lupins*.

Young garden snail. At this stage, its shell is very delicate. My 'dangerous' size sixes are only for comparison. 

*I’ve had the Vancouver lupins (Lupinus polyphyllus ) ever since I visited Eamon in his home city in 2013. I collected the original seeds in the grounds of the University of British Columbia.

This is what my Vancouver lupins were like six years ago.

And this is what they are like now.

More Fire

Aftermath of last Sunday's fire

Last Sunday evening, I was getting ready for bed when I heard loud cracking and banging noises. My first thought was:

What on earth is Bert doing in the kitchen? Slamming doors and crashing about again?

But the noise wasn’t coming from inside the house. Could it be fireworks over at Galgorm Manor again? It sounded much closer than that.

When I stepped outside, I realised just how close it really was.

The house next door was ablaze. Flames shot twenty feet into the air, windows cracked, and roof tiles exploded. Thankfully, it was a calm night, so there was little danger of embers drifting over to our place.

I called the fire brigade, and they arrived within twenty minutes. It was close to 2 a.m. before the fire was finally under control.

It’s not the first fire on that site. Nineteen years ago the garage went on fire. I believe that one was accidental – someone careless with something flammable, though I cannot be certain. The garage contained a quantity of paint tins and a gas tank so there was plenty of fuel for that fire. Like last week, the fire brigade got here within twenty minutes and spent two hours dousing the flames.

The aftermath of the 2006 fire

In Bert’s lifetime, there have been three incidents of fire at that site. The first was the most tragic. It would have been sometime in the 1960s. Clint was at primary school, and he remembers it clearly - no surprise, as it was his grandmother who died in that fire.

It was a shocking thing. All that remained of her were her lower legs and feet, still in her carpet slippers. She must have fallen into or near an open fire. There was no damage to the structure of the building, just a greasy, sooty deposit all over the walls and windows.

When I told that story to my friend Vee after this latest fire, she went a bit pale. Said she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She’s not usually one for superstition, but that unnerved her. Both Vee and Bert said that the site must be cursed.

According to the Fire Service, last Sunday’s fire was set deliberately. The police are looking for an arsonist but it is highly unlikely they’ll ever find anyone.

Ballymena Riots 2025

So, Ballymena is at it again. And this time, far too close to where my family live.

Once more, we’re in ‘whatever you say, say nothing’ territory. A passing comment to a neighbour about the hate and madness of it all, and you might catch a look that tells you they’re not quite on the same page - some sympathy for the protestors, plenty of hostility toward the ‘foreigners’.

It’s racism, plain and simple. It’s hate and it’s stupidity squared.

I once believed, naively perhaps, that my Irish grandchildren would grow up in a time of peace and civility. Instead, just around the corner from where they live, masked thugs have spent the past two nights rampaging through the streets, attacking police, wrecking property and burning families out of their homes.

They claim it’s a response to a horrific assault on a young woman. But how does terrorising innocent families deliver justice?

My heart goes out to her. She deserves justice, compassion, and the full support of the community - not this chaos done in her name.

They are racists, plain and simple, with their hatred and ignorance on full display.

Twenty Years Later

 Today is the twentieth anniversary our father's death. This photograph, featuring Daddy and his granddaughter Katy is a particular favourite of mine. It was taken by my sister Tricia, one of a series of black and white pictures she took of him as he went about the farm. The pictures are from the mid-eighties. He would have been in his sixties then, probably around the same age that Bert is now. 

I only noticed today that he is wearing a tie so it must have been taken on a  Sunday. His cardigan is half-decent looking too but those are definitely 'working' trousers. He wouldn't have risked his Chapel Sunday trousers out fothering cattle. 

Daddy and Bert at our old place.

Portrait of  Seamus by his granddaughter Naoise. 

Portrait of Seamus by his granddaughter Zoe. 

All the Sixes

 

Bert's birthday today. All the sixes!

After the family left I said to Bert,

The girls don't get nearly as excited about birthday cake and candles as they used to.

And it's true. They are teenagers now and are way too cool for candles and cake. But we still have the memories,

...and the photographs!

Happy birthday, Bert!

In Which I Ask ChatGPT Some Questions

 Who writes the blog Nelly's Garden?

ChatGPT said:

The blog Nelly's Garden is authored by a woman named Nelly, who has been sharing her life experiences and reflections since 2004. As of August 2024, she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her blog, noting that she might be "the oldest blogger in Cully" and perhaps even the only one, given the decline in personal blogging over the years. nellysgarden.blogspot.com

Nelly's writings encompass a wide range of topics, including gardening, family life, ageing, and personal anecdotes. She often shares stories about her daily activities, such as jury service, and her observations of nature, like the appearance of a blue butterfly in her garden. Her posts are characterized by a candid and humorous tone, providing readers with an intimate glimpse into her life and thoughts.

While specific details about Nelly's full name or background are not publicly disclosed, her blog serves as a personal journal that resonates with readers who appreciate authentic and heartfelt storytelling.

Who writes the blog Ganching?

ChatGPT said:

The blog Ganching, hosted at ganching.typepad.com, is authored by a writer who uses the pseudonym "Ganching." While the author's real name isn't publicly disclosed, insights from fellow bloggers suggest that she is an Irishwoman, likely from Northern Ireland, who now resides in London. secondat.blogspot.com

The blog features a blend of personal reflections, cultural commentary, and observations on daily life, often delivered with wit and a keen eye for detail. Topics range from travel experiences and book reviews to humorous anecdotes and musings on language. The author also shares her photography, adding a visual dimension to her narratives.

The term "ganching" itself is defined on the blog as:

1. To talk in a halting, agitated way

2. Talk stupidly

3. Of a dog snapping of the teeth

4. Of a horse biting

This playful definition sets the tone for the blog's content—conversational, candid, and occasionally self-deprecating.

While Ganching isn't updated as frequently as it once was, the archive remains a rich tapestry of stories and insights, offering readers a window into the author's experiences and perspectives.

 Do Nelly and Ganching know each other?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, Nelly (of Nelly’s Garden) and Ganching (of ganching.typepad.com) are not only acquainted but appear to share a close friendship. Their connection is evident through multiple references in Nelly’s blog.

For instance, in a post from October 2024 titled Family Time, Nelly writes:nellysgarden.blogspot.com

“These past few days, I have had the pleasure of Ganching and Kerry Sister's company. They took a house close to where we are, and we were together for part of every day.” nellysgarden.blogspot.com

Additionally, a 2019 entry mentions a visit to The Braid museum with Ganching and another friend:nellysgarden.blogspot.com

“The photo and words are by Leitrim Sister who visited the Braid a few weeks ago with myself and Ganching.” nellysgarden.blogspot.com

These instances suggest that Nelly and Ganching not only know each other but have shared experiences and mutual acquaintances, indicating a longstanding and meaningful friendship.

Who are Nellybert?

ChatGPT said:

"Nellybert" is the affectionate moniker that Nelly, the author of the blog Nelly's Garden, uses to refer to herself and her partner, Bert. This portmanteau combines their names, symbolizing their partnership both in life and in the narratives shared on her blog.

Throughout Nelly's Garden, Nelly frequently mentions Bert, offering glimpses into their daily lives and shared experiences. For instance, in a post from April 2025, she recounts Bert's observation regarding her jury service:

"So why didn’t I? Bert says it’s fear of missing out. Maybe he’s right." nellysgarden.blogspot.com

Additionally, a 2006 blog entry titled "Overheard At Nellybert's" provides a humorous anecdote from their household, further illustrating their close-knit relationship:nellysgarden.blogspot.com

"Ben Banjo! Please tell me that's not your sister's knickers you're wearing!" nellysgarden.blogspot.com

These references showcase the warmth and camaraderie that define Nelly and Bert's relationship, making "Nellybert" a fitting representation of their shared life.

Which is Nelly's favourite dog?

ChatGPT said:

Nelly, the author of Nelly's Garden, has shared deep affection for several dogs over the years, but two stand out as particularly cherished: Danny and Rosie.

🐾 Danny – "Best. Dog. Ever."

Danny was Nellybert's first beloved pooch, described unequivocally as the "Best. Dog. Ever." He was with them for nearly seventeen years before tragically passing away in 2004 under the wheels of Bert's van. His memory is honored with narcissi planted on his grave, reflecting the deep bond they shared. nellysgarden.blogspot.com

🐾 Rosie – The "Wee Special Bitcher"

Rosie, another cherished companion, was affectionately nicknamed "Scritchy" and "The Wee Special Bitcher." She was a favorite among family members, including Pearlie, Matty, and Bert's aunts. Her sudden passing in 2008 deeply affected the family, with Nelly noting that Bert was visibly emotional—a rare occurrence. nellysgarden.blogspot.com+1nellysgarden.blogspot.com+1

While Nelly has loved many dogs, Danny and Rosie hold special places in her heart, their memories vividly preserved in her writings.

An Unexpected Task

We have Canadian visitors, and the weather has been lovely for them. But sunny, dry weather means much more watering and this afternoon, as I went out to give my baby plants their second drenching of the day, I heard Rusty grunting for attention, and sounding a wee bit anxious. Something was up with him.

I found him lying in the shade, which was sensible of him, as pigs can get sunstroke too. There he was, lying on his side in a wallow in what is left of our dunghill. His problem was that he couldn't get up. I had to do something. Persuasion didn't work. I tempted him with half an apple, but he couldn't get purchase. The wallow was too slippery, and he is a very elderly pig, almost fifteen years old.

Usually, Bert takes care of Rusty's senior moments, but he wasn't around. There was nothing for it - I had to act. First thing - wellies, then a shovel. I scraped all the mud and dung away from him, which freed his hind legs. Then I squeezed behind him; luckily, there was a wall for me to lean against, and I started pushing him forward with my feet. I wasn't sure that it would help and I worried that the stress of it all might kill him. But it worked. He managed to get on his feet, and I fed him the rest of his apple, hosed his head and mouth and got him to drink. 

Of course, I'd considered photographing him in his predicament but decided not to, as he might have died, and it would have been horrid for our last record of him to have been such an undignified spectacle.

While he was drinking, Hannah got back from work. He must have heard the car for before long, he was waiting at the orchard gate, which is where she gives him his special treats.