Well we had an unexpected hot day on Friday with it hitting 30 degrees here so we ignored the Rail Strike warnings and had a BBQ instead!

well the Heatwave continued as planned did it not? We felt sorry for those stuck in Cities as it hit 40 degrees but we had a mere 36 here..

the Alpaca cria safe in the barns ..

I have probably posted before about this Cinema but we had the opportunity to see Top Gun recently – what a great film it was originally but how much more I enjoyed this one. And it was not having my feet up either!

With 15 years of Alpaca breeding under my belt, those who know me and have had training courses know that there will always be the need to be on site for Alpaca breeding. It is not because they mate all year round and you need to keep them separate, it is not because they need toenail trimming, innoculations, veterinary care and everything else you can think of, it is not because they do not go into the shelters despite having them.. it is because they need attention all the time.

If you do not know your alpaca you will never know when something is not right and by the time you notice it is usually going to be too late.

Going out to work and coming back to find dead females dying during birthing and dead cria due to the inclement weather is something I have read so often on the usual Social Media sites that it makes my stomach churn for those poor animals. Shame on you breeders who sold to people not living on site and/or without the appropriate livestock experience.

This year we had late dysmature cria, on time cria and stuck cria – you name it.

One of them was a bit of a bloodbath and required a lot of attention 24/7 for two weeks to get to the stage where I was happy all was going to be okay.

I have handled most of the unusual births in my time – leg or legs back, breach, knees forward, you name it but this time it was two legs to the side of the head and now way was she coming out without my assistance.

Despite being ten days late she still had floppy ears and dysmature feet and she definitely needed cleaning thoroughly as did Mum but I managed to assist without any tears which is always a relief.

Amazing creatures alpacas – but you need to be there for your livestock!

you would not believe such a shaky start to this little girl if you saw her now for sure!

regular readers know I always extol the virtues of “free food” about now when I look at the orchard and the bushes on the farm, sloes will come and blackberries, hazelnuts, you name it.

Meantime I spotted a Cherry Farm en route to a destination in Dorset recently and yum, yum, how good were they I can tell you!

Well I have been here before but I took a friend recently and we marvelled at the ice cream and the huge jigsaw.. you can also buy it in South Cerney village of course.. the ice cream not the jig saw!

          near the Cirencester Sorting Office. Love Lane.

Well those that truly farm know that fencing does not last forever, especially not in clay ground. it moves, wire shifts, posts break – you name it. Time to get some down and paddocks cleared for new fencing to happen shortly.. thanks to the men in my life for a good job taking it all down in this heat..

It is so funny when folk ask me if I am still breeding and/or going to retire – I just say read my blog do I look like I am going to? I have been breeding Alpaca now since 2007 and the cria just get better year on year and we are one of the few “originals” – but my heart is always in my mouth when birthing is upon us because despite a vet background and decades experience, there is always so much that can go wrong. But not this one – another storm baby!

besties from the start – cracking girl too

I have to tell you that as a rider myself I am really shocked at how surprised some riders are when they have an accident. I was behind these two keeping my distance as they gossiped away, barely visible as you can see. They clearly did not like me not overtaking and waved me passed on a blind bend several times – obviously I did not overtake – but failed to make any effort to move over. Come on folks – give the cars a chance!

wow what fantastic sunsets in this heat and what a gorgeous grand daughter is she! Welcome July!