Thread: Pigs Down

Pscheow! Pscheow! Pscheow!!!? Three shots reverberated off the cliffs of Western Bay, where we were teaching. I stopped mowing, looked across the pumice road and saw my missus running along trying to reload my .308. I distinctly heard the words “…fucken pigs”.

To scald a pig, I used to light a fire under a cast iron bath, get the temperature to 72 degrees, lay a chain across said bath, heave the pig in and roll it round with filling my gumboots with scalding water. It worked. I now had three to do.

I ran across to where Shirley stood bawling her eyes out over the last of the trio. It was still thrashing so needed to be dispatched. The other two animals lay in the dust with dark patches etching outlines of a former life in the roadway. My three pet Captain Cookers were dead.

“Your fuck’n pigs got into my garden again! Look at it!” I did. There was nothing left; nothing except the cupped stalks of brassica chewed to ground level. Carrots were non existent, winter lettuce decimated, broccoli chewed out, caulis…Sheez, we’d put a huge effort into growing our veges. It was never easy trying to produce your own food in West Taupo when frosts and snow were regular callers in winter.

She handed me the rifle and stormed off still bawling her eyes out. Two of the pigs had been dealt to with accuracy whilst the third shot was a tad low. The work began. Have you ever experienced scalding and dressing three large wild pigs by tractor light on a cold winter evening as the sun sets and the frosts make you rub your hands and stomp gumbooted feet? I have.

With the three hanging in the shed to set, I tried to restore my relationship. First I showered. Next, I put on ‘Hold On To Your Dreams’ by ELO. My dinner hadn’t been dished up; it was cold and looked unappetising. The bedroom door was shut. Ah, stuff it, I cleaned the rifle and slept in the spare room.

What’s a man to do? We try but we ain’t perfect. And yet they love us still.

I hope she was a FAL!

what a woman....... your a lucky man she decided the pigs needed dealing to and not their owner.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

what a woman....... your a lucky man she decided the pigs needed dealing to and not their owner.

Farmers daughter. Years before, I thought I’d show her how to shoot. That was until she pinged pegs off the clothesline.

Sounds like a passionate and somewhat volatile woman. You're not going to have a boring life!

Originally Posted by MB

Sounds like a passionate and somewhat volatile woman. You're not going to have a boring life!

Only two incidents of volatility. The pig incident was one. The second was when she SERIOUSLY ripped into a courier driver using a disabled car park. Not bad for 47 years.

Were you teaching at Tihoi?

Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

Only two incidents of volatility. The pig incident was one. The second was when she SERIOUSLY ripped into a courier driver using a disabled car park. Not bad for 47 years.

me old mate used to drive a small truck in dunedin for nzts doing mats n towels etc...if he found a private car in a loading zone,he would park really close alongside and go for a walk to do his next shop.....lovely Rita couldnt miss a softly presented target like that

Originally Posted by erniec

Were you teaching at Tihoi?

Yes. At the Venture School from 1980-‘85. Very fond memories of that area.

This event took place in 1983.

Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

This event took place in 1983.

Of course, gathered that. Till the puckwips took over governing.

Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

This event took place in 1983.

so am I correct here this pig shooting took place in 1983 - it was one of the best storys I have read on the forum - damn funny but serious at the same time - so did she cook pork or pack a sad and did not want any more to do with the buggers

Originally Posted by Ingrid 51

Yes. At the Venture School from 1980-‘85. Very fond memories of that area.

Played rugby for Tihoi then.
Brian Neville used to teach us at Mangakino.


Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

so am I correct here this pig shooting took place in 1983 - it was one of the best storys I have read on the forum - damn funny but serious at the same time - so did she cook pork or pack a sad and did not want any more to do with the buggers

Yes, it’s true and happened back in the 80’s. She got over it in time but was very very pissed for a while. We ate the pork.