A bride has revealed how her groom abandoned her for three hours on their wedding day - to be with his 31-stone pet pig.
Senior lab technician Joanna Durkin, 37, from Southport, Merseyside, was also forced to sacrifice her honeymoon, so her businessman beau, Lee, also 37, could be at home to look after Parsnip, a Kunekune/Vietnamese Pot Bellied cross.
But while Parsnip, who has his own 25 square metre patch of garden at the couple's suburban bungalow, adores Lee - who tickles his tummy with a toothbrush as he lies watching Netflix in the living room every evening, he is less fond of Joanna.
However Joanna says she has learned to live with playing second fiddle to Lee's beloved six-year-old swine, and four years after meeting her now-husband, hopes that Parsnip will grow to love her too.
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Joanna Durkin, 37, from Southport, Merseyside, was forced to sacrifice her honeymoon, so her businessman beau, Lee, also 37, could be at home to look after Parsnip and her new husband (seen above) left the wedding early to spend time with the pet pig
After tying the knot on March 10 this year at Southport's Holy Trinity Church, where Lee wore a bright pink suit and had photos of pigs on each table at the reception, he left early to fulfill his fatherly duties.
Speaking about his early exit, Lee said: 'I left at 5.15pm to go and feed Parsnip and spend a few hours with him, to keep him company.
'Joanna understands Parsnip comes first, so she didn't blink an eye.
'She knows if someone came into the house brandishing a knife, I would jump in front of Parsnip first.'
Speaking about their unusual set-up, Lee, who sees himself as a 'doting dad' to Parsnip, admitted: 'Parsnip doesn't really like Joanna.
Parisnip (seen in the kitchen) loves Lee- who tickles his tummy with a toothbrush as he lies watching Netflix in the living room every evening, but is less fond of Joanna who has to keep her distance until he is asleep
Joanna and Lee, who abandoned her for three hours on their wedding day to be with their toy pigs- Joanna says she has learned to live with playing second fiddle to Lee's beloved six-year-old swine
'To me, he is the cutest thing in the world, but he is a bit of a terror to everyone else.
'He has to be sedated by the vet because he can get a bit violent. He bites a bit so getting Joanna near him is an issue, as he nips her.
'He's okay with me because I have been with him since he was tiny, but for Joanna to get even slightly close to him we have to wait until he is asleep or eating his apple.'
Lee saved Parsnip five years ago, when he split from the girlfriend who bought him the pig as a birthday gift in September 2012, insisting that he had custody of the animal.
The couple tied the knot on March 10 this year at Southport's Holy Trinity Church, where Lee wore a bright pink suit and had photos of pigs on each table at the reception
Lee saved Parsnip five years ago, when he split from the girlfriend who bought him the pig as a birthday gift in September 2012
'Parsnip was always going to be mine,' Lee said. 'He was a gift bought for me and I was always going to get custody of him.
'A single dad to Parsnip, it was just the two of us, so looking after him became a little awkward, though.
'I'd come home in the early evening to feed him and we'd spend time together. Then I'd go back to work around 8pm until 3am, once he was in bed, to make up for the hours I'd missed.'
When Joanna met Lee in 2014, after they commented on the same Facebook post about a local running group, she even thought he was a butcher, because of the number of photos he posted of pigs on social media
Lee told Joanna about Parsnip and when he introduced her after their second date, he made it clear it was a case of, 'love me, love my pig.'
Joanna brushing Parsnip whilst he is asleep-the only time she can get close to the 31-stone pig who Lee admits can be a 'terror'
When Joanna met Lee in 2014, after they commented on the same Facebook post about a local running group, she even thought he was a butcher, because of the number of photos he posted of pigs on social media.
He told her about Parsnip and when he introduced her after their second date, he made it clear it was a case of, 'love me, love my pig.'
But their romance blossomed, despite Lee's devotion to him, which sees him getting up at 7am to give Parsnip his breakfast of pig pellets, followed by a run in the garden, before leaving him in his patch of garden with a giant shed while he goes to work.
Lee gets up at 7am to give Parsnip his breakfast of pig pellets, followed by a run in the garden, before leaving him in his patch of garden with a giant shed while he goes to work
Lee has agreed with Joanna that they will never eat pork, out of love and respect for Parsnip
Returning home at 5.30pm, he bonds with his pet, then eating with Joanna at 6pm sharp , before plumping floor cushions beside his favourite chair for the pig and luring him into the house with a Hansel and Gretel-style trail of carrots or apples.
Then it is time for a toothbrush tummy tickle, while he and his four trottered friend snuggle up watching box sets on his iPad.
And Lee, who has agreed with Joanna that they will never eat pork, out of love and respect for Parsnip, made no exception on their wedding day.
Still, Joanna, who agreed for them to spend their wedding night at home, so Parsnip - named by Lee's ex - was not alone and could be fed the following morning, insists that Lee is her perfect man.
Parsnip the pig in a blanket- Joanna agreed for them to spend their wedding night at home, so Parsnip - named by Lee's ex - was not alone and could be fed the following morning
While Joanna's tolerance of the porker is admirable, having a rival for Lee's affection sits less happily with Parsnip -seen relaxing at home
Reflecting on the early days of their romance, she said: 'I'd never known of anyone with a pet pig before!
'But I saw then how much Lee adored Parsnip, which made my heart melt.
'I could see how caring and loving Lee was, and how important Parsnip was to him.'
Playing second fiddle to the pig is not a problem to Joanna, who even forgave her groom for abandoning her on her wedding day.
She laughed: 'Everything we do is for Parsnip, I knew this would be the case when I got together with Lee and it's not a problem.
Parsnip, who has his own 25 sq metre patch of garden at the couple's suburban bungalow, adores Lee, he is less fond to Joanna
Returning home at 5.30pm every day, Lee bonds with his pet, then eating with Joanna at 6pm sharp
Playing second fiddle to the pig is not a problem to Joanna, who even forgave her groom for abandoning her on her wedding day
'Our wedding night was like any other night to Parsnip, and he needed the food and the company.
'He'd spent all day on his own, so there was never any question that Lee would leave for a while.
'We don't feel like we are sacrificing anything for Parsnip. We are happy if Parsnip is happy, and we love our life as a family.'
But while Joanna's tolerance of the pig is admirable, having a rival for Lee's affection sits less happily with Parsnip.
Lee plumps the floor cushions beside his favourite chair for the pig before luring him into the house with a Hansel and Gretel-style trail of carrots or apples
Lee tickling Parsnip's belly with a toothbrush- one of their favourite nightly past times together
Then it is time for a toothbrush tummy tickle, while Lee and his four trottered friend snuggle up watching box sets on his iPad in their nightly bedtime routine
And while her husband enjoys his nightly love-ins with his pig, she perches on a stool, knitting, at a safe distance, until he falls asleep.
'I'm not glued to the stool, but I like to stay there until Parsnip is asleep, then I will get on cushions with the two of them and we will all snuggle up,' she said.
'I know deep down that Parsnip loves me really, and I love him, but he is totally different with me when Lee is around and can be very naughty.
'I'd like to get closer to him, if he'd let me, but I do think he knows I'm his mum.
Parsnip in the paddling pool enjoying his life of luxury while Lee is at work
Baby Parsnip having a snack when he was first bought for Lee by his ex girlfriend in 2012
While her husband enjoys his nightly love-ins with his pig, Joanna perches on a stool, knitting, at a safe distance, until he falls asleep
Four years after first meeting Lee, she continued: 'I don't think he likes to see me in the house, though. It was his house first, he lives here with Lee and I was the one who moved in, so he needs time to get used to me.
'But Parsnip is Lee's world and I knew what I was getting myself into when I married him.'
Lee's loyalty to Parsnip, who is expected to live until he is 10, even means the couple have never been able to take holidays - not even a honeymoon - together.
He said: 'We can't go on holiday because no one could look after him.
'There aren't any pig kennels you can drop him off at, and travelling with him anywhere is illegal unless we have a have a licence, as he counts as livestock.
'But holidays are just a week here and there, while Parsnip gives me joy all year round and I'm sure Joanna understands - she must do, as she still married me.'
The couple have also supported pig sanctuary Pigs Inn Heaven, based in Littleborough, Rochdale, which rescues so-called 'micro-pigs' and terrapin turtles.
Parsnip and Lee- who takes his duties as a pig father very seriously and is sure to put him first
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/27/merseyside-brides-groom-leaves-her-on-wedding-night-for-his-pet-pig/
Main photo article A bride has revealed how her groom abandoned her for three hours on their wedding day – to be with his 31-stone pet pig.
Senior lab technician Joanna Durkin, 37, from Southport, Merseyside, was also forced to sacrifice her honeymoon, so her businessman beau, Lee, also 37, could be at home...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Femail HienaLouca
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