Axle - flowing freely again!

Thank you for the emails regarding Axle!
An enema seemed the best bet but that is not as simple as it sounds, never having administered an enema to anything - animal or human.  First I felt I needed a tube - hose pipe looked only suitable for a baby elephant, as did water pipe.  Then I found an old stomach tube kit in the back of the cupboard so decided that might be okay with a feeding bottle attached to put the fluid in - but what fluid?  Soapy water seemed the best choice but did I use Wrights Coal Tar, Estee Lauder or Bronnley?  In the end I felt washing up liquid might be best.  So, I went back to check email advise and noted the use of a syringe or the administration of Castor Oil.  Not having any Castor Oil to hand I went over with my made up kit and a syringe in case.  As I approached Axle was continuing to strain and as I got nearer he passed a little brick.  He then race up the top of the field with me in close pursuit, stopped and bit an other lovely normal poo!  Crisis over - my administrations not required - he has pooed normally for the rest of the day!

The cats have decided box packing is the most fun they have ever had.  Cruela is sleeping in a box of my most precious china while Little Wee is stalking everything else I pack!

And if you are wondering why I have a blue sheet and bits of alpaca all over the floor, it is because I am trying to sort fleece at the same time!

Axle's bottom problem!

The wind is still strong today with intermittent showers  - a real change from a few days ago.  I have started to worry about Axle, Lina's baby.  Yesterday he was straining quite a bit and not producing anything.  This morning he was still straining and by 10am a compact poo was beginning to emerge.  Like a small tortoise it continued to creep out with Axle straining, eating and walking around.  By 12 it was beginning to look most odd and Axle was beginning to walk oddly so I donned the rubber gloves and gave him a hand.  He looks a little better but I fear there is still more to come and it is not heading out easily!  If anyone has any suggestions on what to give him to soften it all up I would be grateful!

The poor little soul also has runny, sticky eyes which I think is due to the wind - I remember Greeves also had it when he was little.  As you can see he is still little, that is Tilbo behind him, but he will not have any bottle top up and, despite being small, he is nice and rounded on his back.
I am blogging early as we have a busy evening which involves boxes of various descriptions!

Waiting!

The weather is starting to turn a little here - it is very windy this evening and I am wearing a jumper for what feels like the first time in months.  It feels like we are waiting for something and I think the animals feel it too!

I can't believe it is almost time to get the ram again for the sheep.  We are having the Shepherd's old boy back again I am pleased to say - he did us proud this year.  I am not sure about Grace though.  She has recovered a well but her skin is still tender at the back and a crack has opened up at the top of one leg, I think I will see how she goes on over the next few weeks.

And I don't know what has got into Sapphire today - she has even been pronking with the babies, must be the wind I think!  She is the brown straight ahead at the back, not pronking in the photo - I couldn't catch that!

P.S. I have had a bit of trouble with the GWR show results and website but they are all up now and the link is -
http://www.gwralpacafleeceandyarnshow.co.uk/fleece-a-yarn-show/show-results

Boxes

Well, no pictures today I am afraid as I just have run out of time.  I have been getting the GWR results onto the website which was a strange experience as the website disappeared for a while and then, very oddly, I kept being redirected to a different place - most intriguing!  Anyway I am nearly sorted although the pages currently appear to be in the wrong order but possibly not for much longer.
All this was interrupted by many wheeling dealing phone calls which I fear have come to naught but it was all very jolly, a trip out to view a couple of boxes (talking of boxes I now have a 'Box Buddy' which is something everyone who is moving should have!), packed the solitary cardboard box we possess.

Carl and Sam, are now removing a carburetter from an abandoned quad to put on Sam's moped which could mean he is soon fully mobile.  This will be a good thing as I am still taking him and collecting him which is a bi of a pain with baby feeding.  Not that I mind really as he is so keen to go to work (and is getting later and later getting home as he feeds the calves before he leaves and today was doing a bit of milking as well.  Ahh, I hear the revving of a moped!!

And thank you Judi for the plethora of comments!!

Heatwave? In October?

It is so hot again today I can't believe it is October.  I have a plague of flies in the bedroom who seem to have set up home in the curtains, the milk has gone off where I forgot to put it in the fridge and I am constantly filling waters as if it were high summer.  The alpacas are quite lively despite the weather.  Alf has now settled in his separate pen and, apart from occasional posturing between him and Dude, calm now reigns.  The dust bowl is very popular, with someone always either lying in it, rolling in it or just standing in it.  Here is one of the Dudettes with Striker behind and little Axle right at the back.

Now it is Striker's turn to lie down while Yossarian, as usual, picks a fight in the background!

Finally, a bit of  rolling while Striker does a bit of standing - and Yossarian chases everyone else out of shot!

I have had to come in now to put things in boxes and make numerous phone calls so it is all go here!

GWR Part 2

Just a bit more on the GWR yesterday!  It was good fun and I learnt a lot from Dominic Lane's commentary as he judged.  I think the board at the back with samples of fleece Dominic had handed round was a good touch as it gave a chance to really view the fleece.

Andy wielded his Nanette with vigour at the start of the show (a strange thing with a weird aroma which Andy replaced carefully in it's box after each flourish) and was thanked profusely for his efforts by the judge at the end.  Dominic Lane was his usual suave self and coped with the two minor hiccups which occurred with excellent humour.

 I heard good reports on the yarn side of the show and saw the samples which were superb - but, sadly, I missed the actual judging due to needing to drink and sit down because of my feet (Carl said my sandals were too disreputable so I suffered all day in socks and shoes).  The heat meant we were flagging by the boxes by the end of the day but despite this clearing up went swiftly.

We were very pleased with our wins - a first for Lily, the suri, a first and white colour champion for Alf and (really exciting) a third for Little Star (Bert's baby - the bottle fed) and a first for Dylan (the brown).  I was going to put Alf's sash on him  but he has had a bad day and has ended up in solitary confinement.  His fighting has been getting worse since he started matings.  He used to fight Harry and Dylan but they didn't fight back much - Harry is a pacifist and Dylan is a lover not a fighter - but today he turned on Greeves.  Greeves looks cute and cuddly and smaller than  the others but he does not back down if anyone picks on him.  Alf is bigger and stronger and it was getting nasty with Alf on top of Greeves and shrieking from both of them.  This was stirring Dude up who was trying to beat the fence down with his front legs so enough was enough and Alf is now sulking and pacing!

The GWR Show

I  am tired and my feet hurt - but it has been a good day!  Today was the Great Western Region Alpaca Fleece and Yarn Show.  We were very busy with boxes and only managed brief conversations with people but I think they enjoyed themselves.  I will write properly tomorrow and tell you about the Supreme Champions (and our 4 rosettes!) but for today here are just a few photos before I go and eat crumpets!

Carl demonstrating the length of Lily's staples to Carol who does not look impressed



Part of the wall of fleece



Ashton Lane's stall with Irene and my stand at the back



Carol looking  very excitable - whether due to holding the fabulous supreme champion trophy , because Carl was poking her with the Nanette or due to something Dominic Lane had just said (he was remarkable) I am unsure!

The audience paying close attention


More news tomorrow!!