November gales and driving rain

The first of November and right on cue, at midnight the predicated gales and heavy rain arrived. Throughout the night the rain lashed against the window and all I could think about were the pigs. Yet again the day before going to the abattoir it's wet and therefore muddy ! The animals need to arrive at the slaughterhouse clean and dry. We normally house them in the stable the night before they leave, giving them a chance to clean up and also allowing easier access to the trailer the following morning. However this year we are later than usual and the stable is occupied by the Christmas turkeys. So this morning we filled their ark full of fresh straw and will add more tonight hoping this will keep them warm and dry. We have also added much more straw than usual to the trailer, to aid in the cleaning of their feet on the journey.
Once the rain eases we shall go and tag them and set up the race in readiness for the morning.

The roads between home and the yard are carpeted in fallen leaves and the pavement outside the church is red with yew berries, the day definitely has a different feel about it...winter is on it's way.