An early start for Paul

Last night I noticed that Loki had a bit of grass in his eye which despite trying I failed to get out on my own. Holding Loki, stopping Hughie from helping and removing said bit of grass all with one pair of hands just didn't work.

So this morning Paul had to get up early to give me a hand before he went off to the day job. Anyone who knows Paul will know he hates mornings so this is not something he likes to do. However this morning there was no complaining and up he got and off to the field we went, only to find Loki has removed it himself!

Still no complaints from Paul, he went back to get ready for work. When I got back to the house having filled the various hay nets and mangers the nice man had even made me a cup of tea.

This evening I have started started some more knitting, the 'Best Friends' blend of Gabby & Imala yarn is proving popular and no sooner do I finish something and put it in the shop it sells - not that I am complaining! I have also taken an order for a hat in their yarn so I can't see stocks of it hanging round for long.

Visitors to Barnacre

I had visitors here this morning who are thinking of using our herdsires so there was lots of going through fleeces and checking over boys. Everyone (with the exception of Hughie, who we weren't checking over) behaved very well. Golden Guinea is such a poser he loves it!

After that, I had a couple arrived who had seen us on Countryfile at the weekend and wanted to meet the alpacas. Hughie, who this time behaved, was a firm favourite as usual.

Duchess gave me the fright of my life this afternoon. She was sunbathing, which Duchess always does at every opportunity, but this was different. It doesn't usually interrupt feed time. I went in with the sugarbeet (she's usually got to the gate before me) and I walked all the way to the trough and she didn't move, despite me shouting her. I ended up walking over to her, crouching down and touching her neck before she woke up; I thought she was dead, really dead! Needless to say once she realised I had the beet bucket she was on her feet and over to the troughs in seconds.

I even managed to fit in paddock cleaning and helping my neighbour with a duck who has a poorly leg - all this and still have Paul's dinner on the table when he got home from work!!

Happy Birthday Ursula

First job of the morning was to sing Happy Birthday to Ursula who is two today. She is a real character and so lovable, I can't believe she is two already.


At two years old Ursula has grown into a fantastic young lady, and she was actually mated to our own Golden Guinea at the back end of the summer, but as the BTV movement restrictions meant we couldn't get Guinea up until late she only got one try. She did spit off after the event but I don't think she is actually pregnant.


Being a maiden I don't think Ursula knew how to react, plus she is Mary's daughter who is very difficult to predict at mating time. I've not carried out any spit off's yet this year but think Ursula will be one of the first to try before getting the vet out to scan her!


I have also decided that the time is right today to put Aodhfin and Barnaby up for sale. These are two of last years babies who were weaned at the end of last year. They both have fantastically soft, fine, dense fleeces which I know will make great yarn.


They are the best of friends and actually half brothers who I will not separate. Aodhfin is the talkative friendly chap whilst Barnaby, despite being the older of the two, follows him around.

These boys will make great pets and fleece producers for the very lucky new owners.

BBC Countryfile Fame

Today was the big day, and I've got to be honest I think I was as nervous this morning as I was when they were filming on Tuesday!

I was so worried how I would come over, if it would look 'right' and if I said the right things. You never know what is going to be edited out either, after all they were filming all day.

My claim to fame from now on is going to be that John Craven said my name. I've watched him since being a little girl and his Newsround days. I was hiding behind a cushion to start with though, hearing yourself on the television is very odd. I was pleased with it; Rehannah and Peter from the BBC did a great job.

My phone was going like crazy afterwards with people saying how natural I was and how well it came over, so thank you. I made sure the animals all got praised as soon as it had finished. I can't believe they showed me chasing Eubank (the lamb) out of the kitchen!

Hopefully it will encourage other people thinking of pursuing a dream to look into it seriously especially those thinking about alpacas.

Gaussian's big gain

Saturday morning means weigh day for Gaussian, and seeing as his milk intake has increased slightly this week I was hoping for a decent gain. What a good boy he is, 17.5kg (38.5lbs), not only is he gaining weight he is much more playful, I'm not sure if that is because the weather has improved or he is generally feeling better.

Talking of good weather just check these out, from the top we have Gabby, Aria, Little Miss Irraquoy and Ursula catching a few rays.

The girls have been sunning themselves again this afternoon, Molly has been particularly keen to stretch out. Her shape has completely changed today and she is now at 331 days gestation so I don't think it will be long before her cria arrives.

To be honest I'm amazed that we haven't sold her, she is a fantastic girl with a very dense fleece. She has been mated to the outstanding Accoyo Remarque whose progeny did so well at the recent Futurity. Molly, (soon to be two) is for sale either on her own at £4,550 (+VAT) or as part of a package at discounted rates.

Barnacre does Comic Relief

Well Mia does, the alpacas didn't want to wear red noses!!

The girls have been enjoying this mornings sun and I managed to snap a few photo's, I've not down loaded them yet so I will share them with you tomorrow.

I have updated the shop with lots of new stock, so have a browse and don't forget to treat those extra special mum's out there on Mothers Day.

A bit of fun

I thought tonight I'd have a bit of fun and do a bit of predicting. I like to do it every year, have a guess at who is going to produce what, so here goes for the first few girls.

First due is Molly, my guess here is a white girl. She is a fabulous white girl who has been mated to the very impressive Accoyo Remarque who is also white. My reasoning for a girl is gut feeling, plus generally my maidens have given me more girls than boys.

Next up is Aria, who is one of the girls we have for sale. I'm thinking here a mid fawn girl, she has been mated to Killawasi who needs no introduction. Aria has had three boys so far so is well overdue a little girl.

Due a couple of days later is Willow, the face of our website. I'm going for another girl, well they say things come in threes and I think she will be light brown. Hopefully she will be as impressive as Chiquita, Willow's first daughter.

A week after Willow is Kate, I would love for Kate to have a grey girl, but I think she will have a black boy. She was mated to Hornblower who has produced all black cria and mainly boys so far.

Anyone else wanting a guess feel free to leave me your comments!!

I got rather excited this morning when I checked out recent visitors to our website, we'd had a new visitor from Peru and another from Saudi Arabia - oh I do get excited.

Back down to earth

Normal service resumes at Barnacre today following on from the excitement of yesterdays BBC filming. Thanks to everyone who has emailed and called, I'm just hoping that the coverage is good now seeing as half the world knows about it!

Our two white studs Legend of Spartacus and Gianmarco's Masterpiece were rather camera shy yesterday, today they were back to normal running to meet me to see if I had anything nice for them.