Carl is enjoying his Scottish Pre65 adventure. Today he cleared the first section of the PipeLine (I think it went a little pear shaped after that) which was the bit he was particularly worried about. He said it was "Awesome!" He has no injuries so far, apart from a cut finger sustained when he tried to turn the seat on the camper van they are staying it. The SFS has also got a ride and did very well.
I have had lots of people looking over the gate at the alpacas today. One lot said it was better than going to a Tourist Attraction. Another group arrived while we were feeding and were interested in talking about the fibre - luckily I had been knitting in the Mule so was able to show them some of our own wool. The Grey Haired Neighbour and The Parfit Gentyl Knight turned up offering help if I was still carless (which I am but it doesn't matter as I couldn't leave the girls anyway) and we had a good chat.
The lambs are still very quiet but drinking a bit better. I let them out of the bin shed for an hour this afternoon which they enjoyed but then it started to spot with rain and get a bit chilly so they went back in. (Putting them in the bin shed is not as bad as it sounds as we have removed the bins and put down straw and bales of hay for them to jump on!). When I go in their shed they come over and stand in line. I go and sit on a hay bale and one at a time they jump on my knee and suck a bit of the bottle - the others waiting patiently for their turn! It is quite surreal and I keep being reminded of The Stepford Wives (a film - I think that was what it was called).
The Great Western Region Alpaca Show is going well, entries are mounting up and this is great but I have not got our entries in yet and we are still debating who it will be. Carl says not to send the entry off until he gets back and it would be awful if the classes were full! I am not in charge of entries but I have heard we have entries from some of the top breeders and from people who have never shown their fleece before - BRILLIANT! I particularly covet the 5th place rosette - it is going to be a beauty! Competition for that one if you are entering! And if you have not entered yet - go on, get in quick, support the show by putting a link on your website or your blog. That is a particular irritant for me at he moment. I have always been a great supporter of the British Alpaca Society but I am very, very sad that they will not advertise the show or send an email to let people know. Particularly saddening as they appear to have the resources to promote alpacas by sending a representative to an alpaca do in foreign climes. Even some of the regional groups are not willing to send out an advertising email. This does not make me happy. Anyway, it will be a great show but I fear the bar may need to order extra gin for some of the contingent! I am looking forward to meeting lots of other breeders. Cooperation between breeders is very powerful, through my old blog I met up with Irene and Si from Ashdale Alpacas and that has led to massive strides forward in the fleece side of the business. We hope we will make new contacts at the show. I am also looking forward to hearing the judges comments as he looks at the fleece -that will be an educational opportunity not to be missed, plus he looks good too - sadly, I don't think he will be able to wear his sunglasses whilst judging - I do like a good pair of sunglasses on a man!
This has turned into a bit of a marathon blog! I got a bit carried away! To end with, here are some of the girls this afternoon -a very pregnant Carolyn, Islay in the middle and my favourite, Bert, with her head towards us.The question is - Is Islay pregnant?! She would be due at the beginning of June.
Good blogs these past two days. Carl needs to go away more often, he obviously interrupts too much. We've got 7 forms to send off tomorrow for the fleece show. It is really going to be a day to look forward to.
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