[robert waddell]

this years rhs started at the take down last year       the 3 years that i have been involved in setting up, organising, sourcing pigs, talking to the public and trying to persuade the high heid yins that pig classes should be reintroduced at this prestigious event
this years stand equally financed by the RBST and the BPA (funded by money raised last year so self funding from Scotland) a more professional appearance thanks in part to the penning that modulamb have allowed the SPKA to use star of the show was hot lips and her piglets if i had 50p for every expression of delight at the piglets presence i could retire now i may be biased but the RHS is missing a trick her but pigs do attract old and young and many came back to look and look again esp the piglets mad half hour
it was a pleasure to meet Ruth Dalton again and Clair Bowery for the first time also one of the trustees also all of Clair's helpers and extra special thanks to Mary for broaching the subject of why is there no pig classes at the RHS to one of the two directors that state there will never be pig classes at there show(we met the other one the day before)
now rosemary was witness to this debate and yes i did see a smile on her face when i got tore into the director when he was giving the wrong ansewers this was not the only spat there were a crowd of girls (all clones from skins by there appearance) who made there objection vocal to a lady from Orkney when she commented that they would be good to eat
thanks also to happy hippy for attending on Thursday  6.30 to 9 O'Clock at night and still smiling    David chlad for all 4 days daughter carole and son in law David (did not fancy them sleeping in a tent at the show) and the other three childers for there presence
the petition was well received by the public and yes the RHS officials are aware of it and it will be presented to the chief   executive when i make the appointment will there be pig classes at the highland again  WELL YES THERE WILL BE i am not spending three years trying just to give up
the only real hurdle is space          there is a lot more i could say but i will not be like others and betray confidences just to busy doune and dunblane then the yorkshire cant remember the next one lambs to train pig to train handlers to train etc etc
every opportunity that was there the directors the press officer the radio crew(her friend has mangalitsas)the poor guy that came round asking if we were happy with the show i swear i saw him asking scotty to beam him up will Lillian and myself give up NO NO NO   
now if you want to spend 14 plus hours on a stand for 4 days plus the setting up and taking down step forward and be counted

[ukag0972]

Well done to all of you for promoting the piggies!!

I'll see you next year!!!

Lee x

[HappyHippy]

now rosemary was witness to this debate and yes i did see a smile on her face when i got tore into the director when he was giving the wrong ansewers this was not the only spat there were a crowd of girls (all clones from skins by there appearance) who made there objection vocal to a lady from Orkney when she commented that they would be good to eat

I might have gotten into trouble there too  I'm a big believer that in order to save these rare breeds we have to be eating them  I know it might not seem to make sense - but if there's no demand for the meat, there's no need to breed 

thanks also to happy hippy for attending on Thursday  6.30 to 9 O'Clock at night and still smiling 

Yeah, been a while since I've done a 5am start - but I'm sure it's going to become much more regular  and as for the smiling - it causes less wrinkles than frowning 
 

now if you want to spend 14 plus hours on a stand for 4 days plus the setting up and taking down step forward and be counted

Consider this a step forward from me  I'll do it all again happily (though hopefully we'll not get as soaked as we did at Lesmahagow)
Karen x

[princesspiggy]

its all great promoting the showing of pigs.
lets just hope no-one buys pigs especially to show, trains them for weeks, spends £150 on fuel to get to the show, another £150 on equipment, travels 6 hrs each way, then finds the class cancelled infront of their eyes, cos no-one can be bothered to run the class.
when the handlers were aged 2, 4, 8 and 12 and are dressed and waiting at the right time to go in the ring, get completely shafted and go home crying... its no wonder people can not be arsed to make the effort to show their pigs in scotland.
fine, it may have been a bit of rain but 2 mins in the ring would have made their day, and took showing forward into the next generation.
shoot urselves in the foot i think.

[HappyHippy]

Julia,
I understand your upset and while I don't know why the junior handler class didn't go ahead (think I was heading off to eat at that point) I'm sure Lillian will be able to answer that one for you as convenyor.
Please don't take this the wrong way, I really don't want to cause offence, but no-one forced you to buy pigs especially or to attend - although it was much appreciated that you did . I know you had a rotten time with the traffic and that's why you weren't on time for the first round of classes, the kids did miss out and I'm sorry for that  I didn't realise they'd been so upset though  Hopefully you'll want to attend some of the shows closer to home next year but I can understand if you don't. It was a massive undertaking to bring all the kids and your stock down to Lesmahagow show and I think everyone (SPKA and Lesmahagow Farmers Society) commends you for that (god knows, I'm not that committed - with my bunch, no chance  )
Hope all the piglets are continuing to do well, take care mrs 
Karen x

[robert waddell]

princesspiggy     i can also understand your dissapointment but your late arrival was a contributing factor the class for your pigs was delayed to allow your arrival              with pedigree pigs we all like to think we have bought the best  more satisfaction with your own herd prefix in the paper               we did appreciate your effort in attending this first pig show    which is a lot closer than yorkshire or westmoorland
the weather factor had a good deal to play in the junior handler class also there was supposed to be a senior handler class for the show officials and also a barbecue
congratulations on winning the native cattle class  and look forward to seeing you at next years pig show circuit  with at least 4 shows closer to you than the gow(that is all i can say just now they have to be approved by there respective committees)
what is wrong in travelling to the show site the evening before that way it is an expedition and you should be less stressed on the morning of the show
as to the two minutes in the ring you had 4 children and two pigs other junior handlers were also disappointed  to give a quick whiz round the ring would have done an injustice both to the handlers and the purpose of the day      will pm you on another subject

[princesspiggy]

we missed the 9am class by 90 mins as we got completely lost coming out of edinburgh, then got stuck repeated the wrong side of a closed road in lesmaghow, then had to wait for a tractor to tow us to the pig ring.
the child handlers was at 2pm. people began loading their pigs at 2pm to go home, which wasnt supposed to happen til 3pm. we werent even told the class wasnt on! it just seemed like everyone gave up and couldnt be bothered. we were soooo looking forward to showing the pigs, the kids were training them everynight for weeks, and had told everyone what they were doing with their pigs.
we could have returned home with loads of positive feedback, after all ur needing positive word of mouth with regard to showing pigs or so it seems. unfortunately we returned home acutely embarassed and completely put off.
i just think if u are offering a child handler class, some thought should be given to the kids feelings before cancelling their class on the day.

but no-one forced you to buy pigs especially or to attend

we adore showing all animals as it gives u a longterm goal with breeding and and an extra interest and motivation with what u are doing at home.
karen, could u really imagine breeding and training a horse/cow or what ever, for years. enter it for the royal highland, find ur class cancelled  on the day cos no-one could be bothered, then be told, "well u didnt have to come, no one asked u to enter?"
u certainly wouldnt go back. if u want to be treated professionally then u have to act professionally.

wev shown horses for the last 20 years, from big shows to tiny ones. and never experienced this before.

nothing else to say on the matter.

[robert waddell]

i would think happy hippys comment has been taken out of context       if you are starting a herd you have to buy in            greater satisfaction when it is your own breeding
as to the pigs being loaded at 2 pm these contestants had been there from 8 am  and were cold and wet  as i was  lobby your local shows and get them to have pig classes both Karen and ourselves will give you support and encouragement remember to have proper pig pens and a suitable tent and set it out transport to get the pig pens to you and back again arrange a suitable judge have your day and take the flack      i am looking forward to comming to Aberdeen area already

[HappyHippy]

Please don't take this the wrong way, I really don't want to cause offence, but no-one forced you to buy pigs especially or to attend - although it was much appreciated that you did .

That's what I said  You have taken me out of context Julia.
I am sorry you feel the way you do, maybe time will see you change your mind ?
Take care, Karen x