Job VERY well done

After our mild panic that our shearers might not be coming on Tuesday as we hadn't heard from them for some months it all went very smoothly - and quickly.

Sam and Shannon arrived and immediately got to work. We had the Alpacas all close by on a one way system. We started with 'Toad Hall Blue Ember' whose cria is due in a few weeks, she screamed all the time but was up and out very quickly. The others were much quieter. They were very considerate with 'Atlantic Hiccup' as she had been so poorly with her joint problem and she was able to get up and move away with no after effects. My bag system worked very well, and as Barbara pointed out I needed a MUCH bigger bag for Scriptwriter's fleece - there was lots of lovely, dense fleece. Job done and lunch taken all in under three hours.

I must say that we are very pleased with the way all the animals look, they are so much happier too. 'Scriptwriter' seems to be revitalised - he went bronking around and running up and down the fence, obviously ready to start work again.

This is 'Wellground Scriptwriter' looking across at the ladies this evening

with 'Toad Hall Storm' watching him.

'Atlantic Hope' and 'Toad Hall Ice Gem' quite relaxed and enjoying the grass.

' Toad Hall Ice Lolly' watching the topping in the paddock next to her.

'Toad Hall Ice Gem' and 'Toad Hall Ice Lolly' both have a meeting with 'Wellground Scriptwriter' this weekend.

Now to get the fleeces sorted for the GWR show.

Thank Goodness its Shearing Time

Tomorrow we will be shearing our herd - well when I say we I actually mean Mike Banks' team. A slight concern crept in this afternoon as we had not heard from Mike since the initial booking just after Christmas but thanks to Jeff & Sheila at Easter Wood who gave me his phone number we were able to confirm all systems go. The shearing coincides with an expected drop in the temperatures this week but I don't think the Alpacas will mind.

They are very heavily fleeced and the boys came up to me as if to say

'Get it Sorted!'

Scriptwriter has spent most of the time lying in the shade or drinking. His fleece is very dense. At least he has an interview with the ladies lined up at the weekend, it had to wait until his coat was removed for his own good.

The fleece bags lined up ready for tomorrow, let's hope I put the right quality in the right bag!!!

Lastly, not Alpaca related but one to make you smile -

Grand daughter Holly enjoying some of her Dad's birthday cake!

Did you guess that it was Chocolate Cake by any chance!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Web Site done AT LAST

At long last I have been able to photograph the knitted garments, get them modelled (one very dubious model!!! but none the less I am very grateful), photographed and uploaded to the web site. It does help when the sun shines - everything seems to be a little bit easier.

Today has been a lovely day but the Alpacas look very hot. I spent a lovely day at Wellground to watch their set up which was very streamlined and efficient and Colin Ottery did a fantastic job. We will be shearing in a couple of weeks but still have work to do on the shearing area.

This year we will do the shearing in the old hay barn because that has a roof on it and we have to cater for the typical British weather.

The concreting of the floor of the Alpaca barn has now been completed so hopefully we will be able to start building it in the near future - however we also have another field shelter to build before 'Blue Ember' gives birth next month. Plenty to do.

Hiccup is making steady progress and mixing more with the other females now so fingers crossed that the worst is over - really glad we had not re mated her. We made the decision to leave her empty this year as she fed two cria last year so needed some time to herself.

The grass is growing but so are the buttercups and thistles - more paddock maintenance to do.

A Busy Time

As the weather has been mainly dry we have continued with the floor of the Alpaca barn, concreting a bay at a time. Our local supplier mixes on site so you only get what you need and not too much to cope with at one time.

Another load done for today - back again on Saturday.
I thought I would share the view from our bedroom window with you - fancy having to wake up to this every day, what a sacrifice!!!!!!!!

Meanwhile, Hiccup has improved a great deal. She still lies with her legs out to the side but also has managed to 'cush' on occasions. Hopefully she is over the worst - glad we decided to give her a pregnancy free year as she has always been a superb mother to her cria and last year also took on another.

And so the work goes on ..and on..

The work on the alpaca barn has continued whilst we have had such good weather. Firstly we have decided to concrete the floor of the old hay barn. This has to be done fairly quickly as it is our shearing area so will be needed before long.

Friend Ben was summoned to use his exceptional digger skills to do the ground works.

Then it was the turn of the 'elf and safety expert to lend a hand checking the levels under the supervision of the boss !!!!!!!!

More stone brought in by the toad himself!!

Now it is the turn of 'whacker plate' to finish it off before the concrete arrives.

First load of concrete installed.

Our original intention was to put the roof on first but as the weather has been so good the decision to get the ground levelled and concreted has paid off. Lots more hard work to go but the benefits will be enormous.

The grass is growing slowly, we moved the boys onto fresh pasture and they certainly showed their approval. 'Hiccup' our matriarch has been under the weather. She developed a lameness we have not been able to find the cause of yet, it appears to be some sort of stiffness in her hocks. Hopefully we will get to the root of the problem soon and restore her to full health.

Toad goes up the Pole!

Well almost. As the weather has been so good we have been able to make a start on the Alpaca Barn. The puddles and mud prior to Easter have now gone and good progress made. As Sid is doing this himself it will take some time as it has to be fitted around 'the day job'.

The Alpaca Barn will go between Sid's workshop and the alpaca race.



It will be a super area to keep the Alpacas in when needed and some of the equipment.



To make sure he keeps his 'brownie points' he kindly finished the potting shed and greenhouse which are my anniversary presents. (Thought I had not better paint it Ruby Red though)


We have been assessing our herd and decided which animals we are going to sell and managed to get that onto Alpaca Seller with the help of the wise owl whom I had to call for advice (again)!!!

Time Out

We have just returned from our 'Escape to the Town' so to speak. We went to Derby to stay with son Matthew for a few days. The trip was a break to coincide with our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and I can remember that the weather in 1970 was very similar to what we are experiencing at the moment.
Matthew kindly took us on a tour of the area around Chatsworth and to the Derwent resevoir. This was where the famous 'Dambusters' practised for their World War II mission. The dams were magnificient but unfortunately the 'Dambusters' museum was closed. We will just have to go again when it is open!!!



We also took a trip the National Memorial Aboretum at Burton. Well worth a visit. There are many, many memorial areas,to victims of war, for our emergency services, and many others. The Police Memorial section was a particularly poingnat place of reflection.Police Credit Union Ltd had been invited to sponsor a centre piece for the garden and, in conjunction with Hertfordshire Police Federation, a blue police lamp has been sited in the middle of the garden.
The blue lamp had stood at the front of Hitchin Police Station in Hertfordshire, and it was dedicated to the memory of Mandy Rayner. Mandy was killed on October 13, 1982 when the police vehicle in which she was the observer was deliberately rammed by an offender. Mandy had joined the police service on June 21, 1982, aged 18 years and six months. She came into the service straight from the cadets, and had been out of training school for just five weeks at the time of her death.



We were particularly impressed with the The Children's Woodland area which is planted with 2,640 Native British trees, designed to combine arboriculture and wildlife with rememberance. Individual trees have been sponsored by families and schools and dedicated to babies and children who have passed away. Between the trees are large child-sized wooden figures of the characters from 'Wind in the Willows'.




Well worth a visit, a legacy for generations to come.

We returned home and our farm sitters reported no problems so we now return to paddock maintenance and animal husbandry.