The full Harvest Moon last night was stunning. I saw it twice in different parts of the sky. Both times, I was mesmerised by its absolute beauty. It’s power.

Today, we were treated to a spectacular start to the day. Perfect, really. A cloudless sky, beautiful sunshine, and only a whisper of a breeze and a smidgen of bite in the air.

The morning was ideal to go further afield to give Himself a change of scene. We only drove for less than five minutes to find a footpath sign I hadn’t seen before. We parked up and set off for a stroll into unknown territory.

The path was more of a private road between cottages. It led up hill, where it stopped at a five-bar gate and an opening  to the side. Ahead looked to be a country type of industrial estate. Sparse but for several huge buildings.

In the distance coming towards us was an enormous double-decker  transporter. We waited for it to pass us on the corner, and as it did so I immediately saw the grills on the side, which said to me livestock. My heart lurched, and then the sight of a mass of pigs with their noses to the light finished me off. And that old heart of mine just sank.

What had been a joyous and beautiful morning had vanished.

Pigs are so bright, the intelligence of a five year old child, they say. During loading, they would have sensed everything was all wrong. The journey to disturb them even further and then they would have smelt something to put the fear of death in them.