It's been a grotty day today - drizzly and dull. And my two girls spent most of the time in their shelter, just popping out to the 'Paca poo pile every now and then.
So around 3pm, as the drizzle seemed to have stopped, I decided to see if I could get them out for some exercise. I didn't think I had a hope in hell. But as I walked down the paddock in the direction of the little gate through to the neighbouring field, I called them. And they followed me. Into the field. So, as I was obviously on a roll...I decided to run shouting 'Come on girls'. And they ran too. Every time I ran out of their sight...they came running after me to find me. We did this for about an hour. Then the hens came to join us. This life is just ridiculous. I am so lucky. In other news...
And finally... Feeding time at the zoo
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Sheep dipping - now that was an experience (for the unsuspecting sheep...and farm dogs).
The look of sheer terror on their faces as they went up the ramp...to suddenly drop into a deep bath of freezing cold water. And then to have their heads dunked too. Thankfully they have all recovered. And hopefully the itching (reason for their bath) will stop and they can prepare for the next onslaught.... LEGEND and ARNIE. We're at that tupping time of year. Where the two new rams are let loose. And my goodness. These are fucking huge (very well-endowed) rams. In other news...
I woke this morning to a cold cup of tea and beautiful blue skies. It seems Stu couldn't wake me up before he left for work (plastering at a neighbour's house).
We've had so much rain lately it was great to get outside without my hair going frizzy. After a morning of gardening and tidying I took a break - sitting on the upturned canoe, with a view of the hills, while the 'pacas were grazing in front of me. At the same time a buzzard landed 20 feet away and two RAF jets flew past. Wales is ridiculous. There's just too much to take in sometimes. The hens have decided to lay their eggs in the Alpaca shelter. Because clearly it's actually a bloody huge hen coop. Of course, this new plan of theirs backfires (every effin' day) - they lay their eggs....then the 'pacas come into the shelter for a mid-morning snooze and roll. On the eggs. So we've not had an omelette for a while now. I'm still on 'paca 'stomach watch'. Minky (brown one) looks like she's getting bigger. And she's really hollowed behind the hips. So whilst I do think she's pregnant...we could have months to wait. It's probably best that she doesn't give birth until around April next year. If we do get the bad winter that the locals are predicting then we might end up with a Cria snuggled up in the utility room, with Mollie, to keep warm. And about keeping warm... I've Googled Alpaca coats. So that's coats for Alpacas rather than a coat made out of Alpaca wool. I feel they're going to need something extra to keep warm. Their fleece isn't growing fast enough (they were probably sheared too late in the year) so I don't think they will have enough fleece for wintry rain and snow. In order to buy the correct size 'paca coat I need to measure the girls...from the base of their neck to tip of their tail. This won't be easy as, whilst they are very relaxed while I sit nearby and chat to them, they still move away if I get too close. The plan is to buy a farm hurdle which we can use to close the shelter - keeping them in a confined space...just while we measure them (and have a sneaky feel of tums). We're also going to need the hurdle when it comes to training with the halter and leads, checking feet and dosing with the various meds they need. Hint of the day: Don't stand near a 'paca when she sneezes. Today's photos..
As I'm sure I mentioned...we're replacing the fence at the back of our property (along the boundary with next door).
There're a few reasons why we are doing this. But mainly: the existing fence is in a state and rotting, we want some privacy from the holiday visitors (who enter next door property to the rear) and mainly because I won't go out at the back at the moment if the next door owners are there. If you have been following our Wales updates you will know that we don't have the best relationship with them. Since we moved in we have had countless 'disagreements'. So, of course, when I emailed them a week ago (out of courtesy) to let them know that we will be erecting a fence I was bound to get a negative response. It arrived this afternoon. Worded very politely. But the basis of their reply is... 'No. We don't want you to build a fence. It will create a corridor effect to our back door (which is our main entrance). It will create security issues. We would like the fence to be the same height and style as it is now. We will check planning. We suggest meeting at the end of the month. And we hope you have found lovely names for your Alpacas'. I am yet to pen my response...but I guess it will go something like:
And, if you know me well, you'll know that I won't write any of the bottom half of that list. Mainly because we have no right to say any of that. What they do in their property (within reason) is none of our business. But I can think it. In other news:
Anyway...I must do that plan. Today's photo...the beginnings of the fence (which is below the maximum 2m height).
It's been a few days since my last post. And I can announce...
I've got no further with the alpacas. They still won't let me touch them. They flinch if I even look like I might be simply contemplating touching them. But they do run up the paddock when they see me bringing their tea. Sometimes they look pregnant...and other times they really don't. I've decided a watched pot never boils. So I am spending less time crouched down looking to see if their teats are getting bigger. In other news...
Today's photo is silly Tilly...doing a good impression of a dog who really isn't waiting for a little nibble of Stu's cheese sandwich. Today I put my right foot in my right welly only to discover that there seemed to be a rolled up sock in there, as my foot wouldn't go all the way in.
Only it wasn't a sock. It was a bloody huge frog. Not sure who had the biggest shock. My wellies are now staying indoors at night. The Alpacas Over the past couple of days I have convinced myself that Minky (the brown one) is pregnant. I've spent a lot of time staring at her stomach. From all angles. I'm sure I've seen movement. According to Google...you can often see movement six months into pregnancy. So who knows...maybe in 5-6 months we'll have a mini Minky. As I've been spending so much time with the girls I can now hand feed leaves to them. And we had a huge breakthrough yesterday when Minky ate dry food from the palm of my hand. This is massive. That's the closest to me that she has been. Every day when I go to pick paca poo they both look up (at the same time)...stare at me for a while...then stroll over to see what I'm up to. Then study me. With their big eyes. I'm really enjoying them. They're quietly comical. Placid. And the soft humming is calming. Dry-stone walling We made a start on the dry-stone wall at the back of the house. That's both of us. We both made a start. However, after a few hours of low-key bickering...I stood myself down from wall duties (to resume Alpaca belly observations) allowing Stu the space to do a good job on his own. I'm here if he needs me. Once the wall is complete we can start work on the back garden. There is a lot to do - at the moment it is split in three..the back yard area, a parking area, and the weeds (and oil tank) area. The aim is to clear the weeds and parking area gravel to create one long garden - yet to be designed. Though it will include a nice long washing line. A straight one...not the horrid round one I'm using at the moment. I've checked my phone to see what photos I've taken in the past couple of days. Sadly there are no frogs in wellies, or leaf eating Alpacas. But I did find this one of Mabel, helping Stu with some paperwork... As I have an appointment later this afternoon - I find myself at a loose end (by way of an explanation - when I have an appointment, which I can't be late for, I find it hard to focus on anything until it's time to leave the house for said appointment. I have three alarms set today - the first to remind me not to eat, the second to remind me to drink two pints of water and the third to remind me that it is nearly time to set off).
And it's raining. So I'm in my office with my thoughts. And as I have an appointment, for a CT scan, my thoughts today are on a giant polo mint. I've been told that it is way less scary than an MRI. So I am absolutely not at all nervous. Nope. Not even one little tiny nag of doubt in my mind (as she googles images of CT machines). Before my CT I also have to go get 20 odd blood tests repeated. Even though I still haven't had the results on the ones taken two weeks ago. And still have no diagnosis. The only solace I can take from all of this is that I am obviously not at death's door. In fact I had a pretty good week, last week. Up with the lark (pet name for the cup of tea that appears by my bedside each morning), gardening, alpaca poo picking, hen coop cleaning and other such delights. I think I am recovering from the mysterious illness. I think fresh air and the smell of chicken shit are the perfect medicine. Work life... My contract with the International Paralympic Committee came to an end. Quietly. Of course I should have flown to Bonn on the last day of the contract - but I had to cancel due to poorliness. So...my contract finished. And I have just submitted the final invoice. Which comes to around 50p as I've done so little for them this past month. Alpacas The girls went for a run out in the neighbouring fields the other day. They loved it. So much so they spent the next couple of days trying to work out how to get back in. Just for info: an Alpaca run is similar to a giraffe, IMO. I have yet to try the halters again. I need to build my confidence. But I really want to get them trained to walk with a halter and lead. Apparently it's easy (according to Google results) - it's not. The house We've stalled a little - as Stu has been fitting a kitchen for a customer. In the meantime...
My personal choice is the wall and fencing to the rear of the house. They'll provide privacy from the holiday cottage guests and the owners when they turn up. They'll also prevent the holiday guests from mistakenly entering our back garden to try and access next door. And of course...they'll draw a line under the 'rear right of way access thingy' that caused a year of grief from the next door owners. The 6 foot fence will also mean that next door won't have to look at the 'piles of rubble' that are building up out there (we don't intend ordering another skip until we've all but finished the interior of the house). So they should be happy...right? I have three hours until I have to stop eating. And five hours until I have to drink two pints of water. I should have set an alarm for the best time to have my shower and get out of my scruffs. And finally...this. (Not mine I hasten to add...) In the two weeks since the last post...
The Alpacas They are much more settled now. And come over when they hear the pot of food being rattled. Even if it's hen food. They'll even eat from my hand. Which can be slightly nerve-wracking as they are not good at sharing...and having a tendency to dry spit at each other, So now...when I head off into the paddock with a pot of feed I have three hens running after me, two alpacas running towards me and Gutsy the sheep (in the field opposite) shouting at me. Some kind of poorly After a week of weird symptoms (that I was putting down to the menopause) I decided I had better visit the doc. She took some bloods and told me to come back the following day for results. The next day I was told the results were abnormal and she then took some more. It seems my Liver Function Tests are deranged (I shit you not - that's a real term). And then the next day I was off to hospital for an ultrasound. Thankfully the scan of my liver, spleen, gall bladder etc was clear - no nasties showing. I was kept in overnight. Thank god for ear plugs. The next morning I was visited by two different consultants who are both embarking on the mission to work out what the heck is causing my deranged results. The favourite at the moment is acute hepatitis of some type...caused by either a dog bite, under-cooked food (I did tell them this is not likely), a poorly sheep or even that alpaca spit that caught me full in the face three weeks ago. So today I was back at the hospital for a further batch of blood tests and am waiting for a CT scan appointment. In the meantime I continue to be exhausted all the time and itch all over (for no obvious reason). The hens After months of us installing the expensive Eglu fencing the girls have finally discovered how to get under and over it. Dolly favours the fly at it technique. While Nanan and Gladys managed to find a weakness in the design. Stu has made a few minor alterations...time will tell if they keep the hens in the paddock and out of our garden again. The mother I wasn't feeling my best but we did manage to get ourselves down to the local village show this weekend. Ponies, sheep, flower-arranging and hog roast. And the trip produced one of my favourite conversations of the year so far... Local farmer: That's my house over there [points up hill] Me: Are those your Suffolks [points to sheep on hill] Local farmer looks at me in surprise... Local farmer: How do you know so much about sheep? How are you with lambing? Me: I helped neighbours this year and even pulled a couple of lambs Local farmer: I'll give you a job at lambing in February / March next year. Today's photo: fairies, tigger and pooh at the local show. We've been Alpaca owners for over a week. Already.
So what have we learned so far?
In the past week the girls have grown more confident. They've become more inquisitive and bravely investigated the outer reaches of their paddock. I've gradually been able to get nearer to them. And this morning they responded to my clicks, came up the paddock to see me and we all spent a few quiet minutes with our heads over the fence at the top of the paddock. Like you do. We've finally managed to build their shelter. They could have done with it over the past two days tbh. The weather has been dreadful. And Minky looked so cold. She was shivering. I've found a site that sells Alpaca coats (thats coats for Alpacas - not coats made of Alpaca wool). I'm tempted. Back to the shelter - we think it'll probably take another week before they pluck up the courage to go anywhere near it. I did try standing in it waving a handful of hay. To no avail. They just glanced up - gave me a 'look' then carried on eating grass. I don't think I have time for a job now. I am chief Alpaca poo and hay-waving person. It's a very demanding role. Today's pic...Minky up close We have two new paddock tenants.
Two Alpacas. They're not tame. They're very nervy. They have bad haircuts. They poo a lot. But they're so lovely. And gentle. And musical (they hum to themselves). So...how did this happen? After a year of joking about having Alpacas. We went to visit some at an Alpaca farm. We were told to get two boys. And if they fight...get them castrated. Several weeks later we discovered that a friend of a friend has some and they were willing to sell a couple. Long story short - they mainly have girls (though they did discover a couple of extra boys, hiding in plain sight, when they sheared them - and revealed their privates). We discussed boys vs girls. They said the girls seem to get on better. They have to separate their two older boys. They have no idea how old their 'pacas are. They have no idea of the type of wool (Suri or Huacaya). They have no idea if any are pregnant. They were just so laid back. We liked them. Anyway. We went back for a second visit last Friday. We rounded them up into a pen area. We stood and looked at them. Stu got pestered by cows. One of the girls with a Cria did a long spit (they can spit up to ten feet) and caught me pretty much square in the face. It was the serious spit (there are different types). Which means it stank to high heaven and consisted of bile and regurgitated grass. And it was on my face, in my hair and on my clothes. I managed to keep my stomach contents intact. And then, once recovered, I chose a couple of girls that I thought were pretty (a brown one as Stu prefers them and a white one that didn't have pink round its eyes...as Stu isn't keen). And before you know it...the young farmer offered (his Mum forced him) to drop them off at our house. In half an hour! So that was it. We have two girl Alpacas (who may or may not be pregnant - but with 11-12 month gestation we won't know for quite some time). Settling in... So as the girls aren't in the least bit tame I have a challenge on my hands. How to tame an Alpaca (without getting in the crossfire ever again)? Each day I go and sit on the paddock with them. Talking to them gently. Gradually they are coming to trust and relax around me. They no longer run away when I approach. I just get the sideways look...then they carry on eating.
It's going to take time. We have a more pressing issue to deal with though. One of them has rather long nails on her back feet. They need clipping. So I searched YouTube and obviously there are videos of how to trim Alpaca nails. However, the process involves at least three people and ropes - it we want to keep stress to a minimum (Alpaca stress that is). Anyway - until we find some willing volunteers I am not going to sit here and imagine everything that can possibly go wrong. So...what are we calling the girls? We've got that many girl pets that we're running out of names tbh. We already have:
We considered all the white / brown combos. But I find them a little obvious. So we decided to keep the tradition of normal names - from the family archives or just names we like - and have ended up with Freda and Minky. In other news...
Today's pics...meet the girls... Freda (white one) - the boss Minky (brown one) For anyone with over 50 eyesight...You can click on the images to see them better |
DebbieMe, my life, my family and my travels Archives
November 2022
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