I don't know where to start. Having just read all the comments and good wishes on last nights blog Jayne's grin and bare it made me smile; and boy do we need a smile!
After a very late night, or more like early morning when we went to bed we were up extremely early this morning to continue the packing and move.
First job of the day was alpaca feeding and Kate needed her medicine before I let her out. She is looking slightly better again today, she is now down to twice daily drench. She is still sitting more than normal but she is eating and looking brighter in herself.
The rest of the day has been taken up moving out of the mouse house. Dave has been helping all day I'm not sure we would have managed without him. We were already an hour and a half late moving out.
We did a couple of runs to the original container, a trailer load to Carol and Dave's (which was supposed to be temporary) then it was off up to the hill. Paul and Dave went in the car with the big trailer and I was on the quad with the little trailer.
Less than half way there the wind started to blow a hooley and rain, and I mean really rain. Luckily Paul had given me his waterproof coat to wear or I would have been even wetter.
We all got absolutely soaked, with the trailer unloaded it was time to take the stuff and cats to our new home, the cosy caravan. At this point we noticed a major problem, it looked like there had been an explosion at the front of the caravan or a plane had crashed!
Oh no; we are now officially homeless, the caravan has rolled. Luckily Carol & Dave have come to the rescue. Not only do they now have a garage full of our possessions, we are also in situe along with Smudge, Tilly & Izzie. Lucky for them the chickens are still with the alpacas.
We are now working on what to do next, after crying that is!
Monday, 17 October 2011
Last night in a proper bed
An even busier day than normal today as it is the last in the mouse house and I still haven't finished the packing, we were back at Wallington with the alpacas and knitwear and Kate is needing medication three times a day.
We had another fantastic day at Wallington, our alpacas are such a draw to the crowd. It is lovely to hear all the complements they receive, so many people have never seen such friendly and approachable alpacas. The knitwear also went down very well, at this rate I will have no stock left for Christmas.
Kate is looking better, after giving her her medication this morning I decided that I would let her out to see if that made her feel a bit better. Emery, her daughter was waiting the other side of the hurdles for her and off they toddled. Kate went straight to pick at some fallen leaves.
Carol and Dave had kindly agreed to check on her for us and Alan was keeping an eye on her too. By this evening she was looking better, we even had trouble trying to catch her to give her her medication and shut her in for the night. She even attempted to spit at me, which for once was almost a pleasant occurrence!
Thankfully Carol had offered to feed us tonight so off we went with a car full of stuff to store at theirs for a little while and tea. Very nice it was too, we even got pudding; we now know of a good place to eat if things get bad in the caravan!!
Talking of the caravan, we move in there tomorrow so I am unsure if blogging will be possible for a while. I will continue to use twitter which feeds along the right hand side of my blog so you will be able to keep up with snippets that way if all else fails.
Back to my boxes now then hopefully I will get a couple of hours sleep.
We had another fantastic day at Wallington, our alpacas are such a draw to the crowd. It is lovely to hear all the complements they receive, so many people have never seen such friendly and approachable alpacas. The knitwear also went down very well, at this rate I will have no stock left for Christmas.
Kate is looking better, after giving her her medication this morning I decided that I would let her out to see if that made her feel a bit better. Emery, her daughter was waiting the other side of the hurdles for her and off they toddled. Kate went straight to pick at some fallen leaves.
Carol and Dave had kindly agreed to check on her for us and Alan was keeping an eye on her too. By this evening she was looking better, we even had trouble trying to catch her to give her her medication and shut her in for the night. She even attempted to spit at me, which for once was almost a pleasant occurrence!
Thankfully Carol had offered to feed us tonight so off we went with a car full of stuff to store at theirs for a little while and tea. Very nice it was too, we even got pudding; we now know of a good place to eat if things get bad in the caravan!!
Talking of the caravan, we move in there tomorrow so I am unsure if blogging will be possible for a while. I will continue to use twitter which feeds along the right hand side of my blog so you will be able to keep up with snippets that way if all else fails.
Back to my boxes now then hopefully I will get a couple of hours sleep.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Tucked up in her own bed
We have had another very busy day today, we are at Wallington Food and Craft fair all weekend. So what with that, moving and Monday and a poorly paca you can imagine what it's like.
Dark morning make loading the car with all our knitwear and 'stuff' very difficult but with that completed and mums job list given (She was planning on going home two days ago but stayed longer to help with everything), we headed off to pick up the boys and get to Wallington.
As is always the case the alpacas proved a very big attraction, I managed to snap this shot in one of the brief moments that I managed to get away from the stall.
Carol and Dave popped down for ten minutes and ended up staging for a few hours which was definately appreciated, thank you again!
The stanged question of the day was a new one; "do you mind if I take a photo of the heads in your car"! What on earth the chap wanted that for I don't know. but here he is.
I had a phone call from the vets this morning saying that Kate was still a poorly girl but looking slightly brighter, which was great news. She was picking at the hay but not not eating much, but was now rehydrated and able to stand.
As the day has progressed she has improved and was able to come home this evening, in the hope that that would cheer her up more and encourage her to eat. As soon as we'd finished at Wallington we headed over to pick her up. She looked so much better than she did last night.
She is now tucked up in her own bed and all being well if the weather is nice tomorrow I will let her out and see how we get on. She is still on medication three times a day but she seems to like the taste of the drench so that helps. Hopefully she is now on the mend.
When we got back home mum has been doing some cleaning and ironing which is a massive help, thank you mum.
Dark morning make loading the car with all our knitwear and 'stuff' very difficult but with that completed and mums job list given (She was planning on going home two days ago but stayed longer to help with everything), we headed off to pick up the boys and get to Wallington.
As is always the case the alpacas proved a very big attraction, I managed to snap this shot in one of the brief moments that I managed to get away from the stall.
The stanged question of the day was a new one; "do you mind if I take a photo of the heads in your car"! What on earth the chap wanted that for I don't know. but here he is.
As the day has progressed she has improved and was able to come home this evening, in the hope that that would cheer her up more and encourage her to eat. As soon as we'd finished at Wallington we headed over to pick her up. She looked so much better than she did last night.
She is now tucked up in her own bed and all being well if the weather is nice tomorrow I will let her out and see how we get on. She is still on medication three times a day but she seems to like the taste of the drench so that helps. Hopefully she is now on the mend.
When we got back home mum has been doing some cleaning and ironing which is a massive help, thank you mum.
Worry and too much work
Just a quick one tonight as things are absolutely manic here. Thank you for all the messages, texts, tweets and emails, it is nice to know that poor Kate has lots of people willing her on.
She has however took a turn for the worse today and to cut a long story short is now in the vet hospital on a drip and not a well girl. So far her blood tests have failed to give much away but my vet Sam Prescott is working very hard to do what he can for her so please keep everything crossed for us.
I went down to see her tonight just to see how she was and see if |I could get her to eat anything, I'm affraid I failed she wouldn't even touch some nice warm speedibeat.
Today I was supposed to be moving furniture etc up to the hill as we have to be out of the mouse house on Monday morning ans this weekend we are at the Wallington Food and Craft fair, but that obviously didn't happen as Kate obviously took priority.
I'm not quite sure how I am going to pack, move, look after the animals and attend Wallington this weekend - it's a good job I can survive on not much sleep isn't it!
She has however took a turn for the worse today and to cut a long story short is now in the vet hospital on a drip and not a well girl. So far her blood tests have failed to give much away but my vet Sam Prescott is working very hard to do what he can for her so please keep everything crossed for us.
I went down to see her tonight just to see how she was and see if |I could get her to eat anything, I'm affraid I failed she wouldn't even touch some nice warm speedibeat.
Today I was supposed to be moving furniture etc up to the hill as we have to be out of the mouse house on Monday morning ans this weekend we are at the Wallington Food and Craft fair, but that obviously didn't happen as Kate obviously took priority.
I'm not quite sure how I am going to pack, move, look after the animals and attend Wallington this weekend - it's a good job I can survive on not much sleep isn't it!
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Kicking Kate
You know what it's like going into the field the morning after a worrying night, I was worried this morning what I might find when I went to check on Kate. Thankfully she seemed a little better, had a temperature of 100 and she ate a few crumbs of feed but she was still far from right.
Thankfully after the emergency on call vet yesterday, Sam Prescott my usual vet was able to come out this morning. He is well aware of Kate's usual temperament so knew without even touching her that she was far from happy.
After a thorough going over from Sam, he has confirmed that she has a chest infection which is making her breathing harsh. She obviously felt poorly during yesterday afternoon as sat down, got very wet and cold and maybe stuck. He thinks that the temporary paralysis on the left side of her face was caused by her laying on the cold wet ground.
She has had another antibiotic injection and I need to keep trying to get her to eat. He has also suggested I wean her enormous cria Emery sooner rather than later even though she is still a way off 5 months she beginning to drain Kate and whilst she is ill that is not good.
I've just come back from checking on her, she has had a little hay but didn't want anything else but I will keep trying. I maight actually let her out tomorrow (as long as it's not raining), and see if that lifts her spirits any as she hated being shut in.
She did actually try and kick out at me earlier today when I went to put her coat back on after the vet had left so she must be feeling a little better. No sign of any spits yet though so we still have a long way to go.
Thankfully after the emergency on call vet yesterday, Sam Prescott my usual vet was able to come out this morning. He is well aware of Kate's usual temperament so knew without even touching her that she was far from happy.
After a thorough going over from Sam, he has confirmed that she has a chest infection which is making her breathing harsh. She obviously felt poorly during yesterday afternoon as sat down, got very wet and cold and maybe stuck. He thinks that the temporary paralysis on the left side of her face was caused by her laying on the cold wet ground.
She has had another antibiotic injection and I need to keep trying to get her to eat. He has also suggested I wean her enormous cria Emery sooner rather than later even though she is still a way off 5 months she beginning to drain Kate and whilst she is ill that is not good.
I've just come back from checking on her, she has had a little hay but didn't want anything else but I will keep trying. I maight actually let her out tomorrow (as long as it's not raining), and see if that lifts her spirits any as she hated being shut in.
She did actually try and kick out at me earlier today when I went to put her coat back on after the vet had left so she must be feeling a little better. No sign of any spits yet though so we still have a long way to go.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Poorly paca
Just a quick blog tonight as I have a poorly alpaca and am heading back out to check on her again. It's poor Kate our grey girl who is usually pretty wild.
She was down this evening and very flat, shivering and had a crackle on her left side. She was perfectly fine this morning and her usual self; Spit in one trough, move to the next eat that and then return to the original trough that no-one else would touch after she's spat it in.
The vet has been out and administered some drugs and she is now shut in with her daughter Emery on a nice deep bed of straw. I have manged to get her to have a tiny bit of warm sugar beet but she is still sat down and her breathing isn't right. So wish us luck.
On a much brighter note I have purchased some sheep. More on that another night as I'm back off to the field.
She was down this evening and very flat, shivering and had a crackle on her left side. She was perfectly fine this morning and her usual self; Spit in one trough, move to the next eat that and then return to the original trough that no-one else would touch after she's spat it in.
The vet has been out and administered some drugs and she is now shut in with her daughter Emery on a nice deep bed of straw. I have manged to get her to have a tiny bit of warm sugar beet but she is still sat down and her breathing isn't right. So wish us luck.
On a much brighter note I have purchased some sheep. More on that another night as I'm back off to the field.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Open gate or hay?
Alan kindly dropped off a new bale of hay this morning for the girls and babies. I left the gate open whilst I moved the straps and cover. It was quite funny Ursula and Imala noticed the gate was open and the new bale, both are usually in a rush to be the first through an open gate but they were torn; gate or hay, hay or gate. I soon shut the gate to make up their mind.
My parents have arrived today for a couple of days, mum has kindly offered to help pack a few boxes or do anything else I might need. She might live to regret it!
This afternoon we had a meeting up on the hill with the builder, architect and green energy man. Progress is being made on the house, unfortunately the same can't be said for the shed which is still just a few holes - not happy as this is supposed to be home for the caravan as soon as possible to give us a bit of protection!
Monday, 10 October 2011
Hexham Tup Sale
It really did look and feel like a typical Monday morning this morning, Paul & I didn't want to get up and even the cats were still toasty snug when the alarm went off - this could have been because Paul had forgotten to change it from the very early starts at the weekend!
The weather was really damp and horrible, it was that drizzle that gets you very wet without you really noticing. The alpacas were all looking rather dirty as they'd obviously been rolling in damp mole hills - great.
With the morning routine complete I headed over to Hexham Mart again to see how the Tup sale went. I was only looking as we don't have any ladies for a tup to service yet but I wanted to get the feel for things.
There were some very fine looking boys there, of the four legged variety obviously! The horns of some of them were fantastic, I've decided I think I have a bit of a thing for the big curly horns, I'm not sure if that did or didn't seem important to the bidders.
In fact I found it rather difficult to differentiate between and good and exceptional tup. There were some selling for a couple of thousand that looked nice to me then the champion went for 20,000 Guineas and I couldn't work out why he was worth ten times that of some of the previous ones - more home work required I think!!
The weather was really damp and horrible, it was that drizzle that gets you very wet without you really noticing. The alpacas were all looking rather dirty as they'd obviously been rolling in damp mole hills - great.
With the morning routine complete I headed over to Hexham Mart again to see how the Tup sale went. I was only looking as we don't have any ladies for a tup to service yet but I wanted to get the feel for things.
There were some very fine looking boys there, of the four legged variety obviously! The horns of some of them were fantastic, I've decided I think I have a bit of a thing for the big curly horns, I'm not sure if that did or didn't seem important to the bidders.
In fact I found it rather difficult to differentiate between and good and exceptional tup. There were some selling for a couple of thousand that looked nice to me then the champion went for 20,000 Guineas and I couldn't work out why he was worth ten times that of some of the previous ones - more home work required I think!!
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