A RUNAWAY pig provided the perfect inspiration for a former Aberystwyth woman who now hopes to use the experience of seeing the animal running round her backyard to help local children.

It may sound like porky pies (sorry!) but Suzy Davies, who spent her early childhood living at Plas Antaron (now a hotel in Southgate), was so affected by the pig that she turned the event in to a book.

Luna The Moon Pig, The Pig Who Hid is the result of something that happened when Suzy was standing on the back porch in the backyard of her house in Florida.

“I was taking in the evening sunset when I saw a little black animal creep out from under the bushes!” she said.

“At first, I thought it was one of the cats who lived in the neighbourhood. But this animal did not move like a cat. It kept its nose to the ground, and rustled through leaves. It didn’t sound like a cat, either. It made a squeaking sound!”

Suzy slowly approached the small animal and, to her surprise, it was a pig!

Sure enough, this little piggy was very shy, and when she saw Suzy, off she trotted.

That same evening, Suzy put out lettuce and water for her. She tried to make sure the pig was fed and watered. The pig was sighted for several days and nights.

Suzy took notes as she observed her antics from the back window. Very quickly, the former Penparcau schoolgirl came to realise that this cute, shy piggy was a nocturnal animal. She liked to hide away from people, under the cover of the dark. Little did the piggy know how visible she was under the light of the Harvest Moon.

At last, the runaway pig was captured by a neighbour and returned to her owners for a real-life fairytale ending, but Suzy couldn’t forget about the little piggy.

“Ah, Luna…” Suzy thought, and the name fitted the lovable piggy very well.

She had the seed of an idea for a children’s book, and set to work.

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