A visit from the Midwife . . and wife!

Bit of a strange 'will she? won't she?' day to today with Bert.  I kept thinking I might have to spring into action - about 4pm lots of rolling was going on and I did have a little chat with Bert and told her to either have it immediately or hang on for a couple of hours as we were awaiting the arrival of Reddingvale and I know Andy is something of a dab hand at delivering cria at the moment - has 'em out and running  before a vet has a chance to appear on the scene, whatever the presentation!

Well,  she held on and Viv and Andy arrived to perform a little mating - not personally of course!  I as usual was very jealous of their van - particularly the number plate.

I hope the picture is clear enough - I am now saving them a different way from the old Picasso way to make them easier and smaller to upload so this is a bit of a trial uploading.

Anyway, successful mating, biscuits eaten, coffee drunk - time to have a look at the babies.  No one behaved themselves very well - Flamenco, Lina and Emily were all trying to mate with each other.  Lina ran round screeching and trying to bite Emily's ear off.  Tilbo hobbled, String ran away  - general disorganised chaos really!  In my dreams I would be walking round elegantly in denim shorts, stilettos and wearing a diamante stetson whilst gesturing elegantly at peacefully grazing, immaculate cria and their mums with visitors  sighing,  "Ohh!  the crimp is outstanding!  Gosh, I can't believe the lustre!  That's a Supreme Champion if ever I saw one!  Just feel the density, Malcolm . . . "  Ah, well - probably twist my ankle and fall flat on my face!

 . . .  and as Viv and Andy drove off into the setting sun Bertie rolled . . . then rolled again . . . then farted loudly!

A Little Ballroom Dancing

It has been a while since the last blog and I shall blame it on a back log of things to do.  I think we are all now more up together although the list is still long!

The alpacas have all been in slightly odd moods today, despite the weather.

I blame it all on Emily who had a mating to Dude last night which she appeared to thoroughly enjoy - rear end tightness problem finally cracked!  Emily has now decided it is so much fun she must have a go at mounting everything in sight.

The weather today has been challenging - showers, downpours and even hail at one point.  Luckily, this evening has been lovely which was just what we wanted for the arrival of the Red Van!  Viv and Andy from Reddingvale Alpacas arrived with the gorgeous Canchones Referendum.  He strutted out the Alpaca Van (the number plate of which I am very jealous of - and that is not beginning to talk about how much I covet the van!) and wasted no time in getting to work.

Zara was very ready for him and sat down immediately - he has got the loudest orgle imaginable and stirred Dude,  across the paddock, into a frenzy - at some points Carl and Andy were having to shout at each other to make themselves heard!  Andy finished the proceedings with a quick fox trot which was immaculately excecuted but was somewhat spoilt by the wellies!  (I believe Carl is attempting an Irish Jig in the background!)

Job done and then it was time for Andy to get reaquinted with Dylan, who certainly rememberd him and came over for a snuggle.  I was keen for Viv to have a look at Cassie who is 331 days today and we think there is probably a week or so to go - so no babies yet!

Referendum then settle back into his Alpaca Transporter and away they sped.  I have not had one cria yet and here I am thinking about next year's!!

Hunting for Mitzy

It has been a busy couple of days - as usual.  Sam's interview went well and he has an apprenticeship place and a possible job which may work out.  Unfortunately, Sam and I are not speaking at the moment due to 'An Incident' involving a bank, a quad and several carefully nurtured saplings.

Last night we were out searching - Mitzy went missing and we still haven't found her.  I am sure she could not have got out of the cat flap so she must have slipped out of the back door when it was open.  There were several dead baby birds out there which Cruella and Smudge must have caught.  Carl is convinced Smudge lured Mitzy over the field and left her there.  We haven't given up hope yet as she did survive on her own for three or four days before we found her - more searching later.  Carl must have been dreaming about her last night because he kept nudging me and saying,  "Something's scratching, I can hear scratching!" in his sleep.

Weighing day for Greeves tomorrow and I am really hoping he has finally put on a bit more weight, we'll see.  Tonight, however, is manic cleaning of the house night.  I have just taken half an hour trying to get sock fluff of the bedroom carpet!  Everything MUST be tidy as Viv and Andy from Reddingvale arrive with the new three alpacas on Sunday.  Carl says just to clean up the downstairs and one of the toilets but I feel you can never be too careful.  Who is to say that Viv won't suddenly have a fit of the vapours and need to lie down or Andy a burning desire to change his trousers?  The sock fluff  must go!  We also have to get the vitamin D injections (all with the new - to us - injection method) and the Baycox done.  On top of this Carl is Beating tomorrow and it is his birthday today (his present has not arrived but is on the way!).

I haven't told Irene yet but the new Westhill/Ashdale mix wool is now back from the mill.  Lovely and soft and a beautiful fawn colour.  I think Irene is going to be pleased!  I have also had several conversations with a very nice lady from Wiltshire who has given me an interesting idea for my alpaca felt - must find the time to have a go at that next week.

A good afternoon!

No photos today I am afraid.  So has to be two from yesterday.  The first is a view over towards the Ridge from the fields.

 And here is Smudge on a rare visit to look at the snow, he is not keen on snow!

We had a morning of intermittent electricity while Carl rewired the dining/Sam room in preparation for it becoming the lounge.  The new woodburner arrives Tuesday as do the new French windows so it is going to be a busy (and cold) week ahead of us.  Rain also arrived last night bringing mini avalanches of snow from the roof.  Despite this, there was still snow on the ground this morning - but very icy and slippy.  The alpacas now have all got some grass visible and look very happy about this!

So, on to today's excitement.  We went over to Templecombe to visit Andy and Viv at Reddingvale.  Of course, smooth and sophisticated Andy immediately noticed my hair cut (Carl says it was only because he'd read the blog but I prefer to think otherwise!).  We had a tour of the paddocks and investigated a lot of fleece and the outcome is - but I am not revealing the next bit yet!  There was also a chance to have a good look at their new stud, Zorro, lovely black boy.  Carl kept trying to divert to tractor talk but Viv and I headed him off.  Tonight we are attempting communication with Templecombe via a series of flashing lights as Andy says he can possibly see our house from their place - this probably means the village will think UFOs are landing!!

Ashton Lane and Reddingvale - all in one day!

I spent most of the morning running round with hurdles.  Last night we got all prepared for a visit from Ashton Lane Alpacas with their suri stud, Legacy.  We had set up a nice secure mating pen by the field gate which looked perfect in the torrential rain and gloom last night but when I checked it out this morning it just looked too small so Sam and I set about making another one and found it difficult to agree where to put it.  Sam did a lot of bossing me about and I did a lot of getting cross with him but we got there in the end!

Peter and Carol arrived with a very ready Legacy, he was practically leaping out of the trailer.  Lily took very little encouragement and a very satisfactory mating took place.

Luckily the mating was completed before the rain started again and the mist began to engulf everything.  Legacy was quite keen to repeat his performance with Lily's mum, Sherbert, but that will have to wait for a while!

Quick bit of tea and then another visitor.  Andy from Reddingvale Alpacas came along to collect the show schedules for the Great Western Region Fleece Show which Carol from Ashton Lane had produced.  They look very good and will soon be winging their way to all the entrants - once Viv has put them all in envelopes!  We gave Andy a quick look at the alpacas but as the mist had really descended by then he couldn't really see much except the brake lights of the tractor!  Somehow Carl managed to entice him into his shed, despite the poor man being desperate to get back to cook tea, but I managed to rescue him before Carl dragged him to his greenhouse to show off his tomatoes which is his usual next step with visitors!

Greeves is doing well today and has put on some weight and is moving around quite a lot!