A "Right Pig's Ear"

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I notice PIGS are in the news quite a bit at the moment.

Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain…… or was the ‘I’ for Ireland?

Just like this country, they are up to their neck’s in debt.

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Have you noticed over the last few months, how the press have been comparing politicians to pigs?

Not fair on the pigs I say.

I happen to like pigs, especially when cured, smoked, cooked and served up between two slices of bread!

I am told that the only part of a pig that is not eaten is its ‘squeek’! Or should that be its ‘oink’?

Foody will know; she is very good at describing sheep sounds.

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This little book from the 1950’s, certainly gives several recipes for every part from its tail to its ears. You can easily find ears and tails in pet shops as ‘Doggie Chews’ but not exactly common on the shelves in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.

I found one recipe for tails but a good half dozen for ears - how about Pig’s Ears Flamande or Pig’s Ears Sainte-Menehould?

This got me wondering about the expression as in

“Gordon made a right pigs ear of the campaign”.

The phrase "pig's ear" usually means a useless object. To make a (total) pig's ear of something means to (totally) mess it up.

I wonder how it originated?

‘Pigtails’ was easy to track down. It was all here on Wiki.

I also found a fascinating Pigtail poem by W. M. Thackeray, I didn’t copy it but you can read it here.

Now music and pigs, are a bit like chalk and cheese - not often found together.

The Beatles had a song called “Piggies” I believe, but it is not in my collection.

I do however have a taped version and the sheet music to “The Old Sow” (see above picture). A good old traditional Sussex folk song complete with animal noises!

It is sometimes known as “Suzana’s a funiful man”.

That is the way it is spelt in my copy.

Strange people in Sussex.

Do have a listen here.

Very funny, very silly and very difficult to sing.

I know - I have never succeeded in getting it right.

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A nice helping of "Shropshire Fidget Pie" tonight I think.

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Devonshire Dumpling has requested a recipe for Bacon Badger.

This may not be as good as our expert Kath's recipe is.

But it's a start.

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(Click to read)

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