Christmas has been a bit of a none event for us for one reason and another, none of which I really want to go into on here, but after blood, sweat and tears things are starting to take shape on the hill.
I thought I'd share a quick blog with you as we've called in to Carol and Dave's this evening to have a bath; just when she thought she'd got rid of us! We still have no hot water on the hill and you can only cope with so many cold wash downs.
Life on the hill has certainly been blowy the last few days, the alpacas have had a wash and blow dry and on occasions have actually looked quite clean. I've not bought the camera with me so can't share the proof.
The littlies (alpaca weanlings) have christened the barn. I took pity on them on Christmas night as it was wet and windy and they were looking rather wet so in they came. They seemed to like it especially Nadia who is a real people paca. Each time she saw movement in the caravan we heard her shout us.
The boys are all getting on well (she says with fingers crossed), even Golden Guinea seems happy enough sharing a field with everyone else.
As for the girls, they are stuffing their necks as quick as their little mouths will let them. Poor Willow has had an abscess on her face which has needed some attention but it is now drying up nicely.
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Alive alive-o (Paul)
Hello all - just a very quick blog as we pass through a wi-fi hotspot! The great alpaca migration was completed with support from Trigger and Dave. All 51 of the Barnare Alpaca herd are now on the hill (doing their best to eat all the grass as quickly as possible of course!) to keep the 138 black face sheep company - just the chickens to go (thanks Colin for feeding them this week)...
As for the house...don't go there or we might just explode!
Happy Christmas all
As for the house...don't go there or we might just explode!
Happy Christmas all
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Movement complete
We have had a major movement operation on today. All the alpacas are now on the hill and we are in caravan mark 2; for hopefully only a few days before the house is habitable.
The weanlings were very well behaved and were so much better than I was expecting. They aren't haltered trained but because we are in the process of fencing they needed to be lead up to their new paddock.
They were all fantastic and despite the snow and ice walked well, the star of the class had to be Emery, our grey girl who we expected to be a nightmare. You may recall we once failed to halter train a cria, that was Midnight Star, who is Emery's sister.
We can never begin to thank Carol and Dave for everything they have done for us, particularly in the last two months. Dave has been helping us all weekend again with Carol keeping us supplied with food, drink and still knitting!
It just leaves me to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as until BT get their act together we are without a phone or broadband connection so hill updates will be by twitter only (see the left hand panel on the blog).
The weanlings were very well behaved and were so much better than I was expecting. They aren't haltered trained but because we are in the process of fencing they needed to be lead up to their new paddock.
They were all fantastic and despite the snow and ice walked well, the star of the class had to be Emery, our grey girl who we expected to be a nightmare. You may recall we once failed to halter train a cria, that was Midnight Star, who is Emery's sister.
We can never begin to thank Carol and Dave for everything they have done for us, particularly in the last two months. Dave has been helping us all weekend again with Carol keeping us supplied with food, drink and still knitting!
It just leaves me to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as until BT get their act together we are without a phone or broadband connection so hill updates will be by twitter only (see the left hand panel on the blog).
Friday, 16 December 2011
Snowmen, where's the carrots?
What a day we have had today. We woke to a sprinkling of snow at Scots Gap, over at Angerton there was just frost, then up on the hill there was a covering of snow.
We were busy fencing again ready for the arrival of the alpacas on the hill. As the morning progressed so did the snowfall, it got heavier and heavier. By lunchtime fencing was proving rather difficult, the builders had left and we were resembling snowmen.
Then we had a visit from Animal Health, they were a really nice couple of chaps who actually came to look at the sheep but were very interested in what we do with our alpacas and were fascinated by our shed and the way we follow the whole process through with our alpaca business.
We were busy fencing again ready for the arrival of the alpacas on the hill. As the morning progressed so did the snowfall, it got heavier and heavier. By lunchtime fencing was proving rather difficult, the builders had left and we were resembling snowmen.
Then we had a visit from Animal Health, they were a really nice couple of chaps who actually came to look at the sheep but were very interested in what we do with our alpacas and were fascinated by our shed and the way we follow the whole process through with our alpaca business.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Aga sneak preview (Paul)
It has been a rather challenging day at the hill today.
Progress on the paddock fencing was steady but not great as Trigger and I did a great days quarrying (digging out stones) and not a huge amount of fencing. As he said to me, if it wasn't for the stones, bumps and trees fencing would be easy - wise words indeed!
There are tradesmen all over the house (but not the shed which still remains unfinished) and some working through the night - can't fault the commitment of some of them.
The blue submarine (our new water tank) was 'sunk' late yesterday and to everyone's amazement actually filled up overnight - 10,000 litres filled up overnight - blimey! No wonder the land is wet as this comes from just one of the 3 springs (that we know about) on our land. I'm sure there must be an opportunity for a commercial spring water facility (Peckham Spring?!) - I'll have to Google that one and have a word with the farm diversification people...
Right picture time and something vaguely to do with the title. Remember the Aga arrival picture from a few days ago?
Progress on the paddock fencing was steady but not great as Trigger and I did a great days quarrying (digging out stones) and not a huge amount of fencing. As he said to me, if it wasn't for the stones, bumps and trees fencing would be easy - wise words indeed!
There are tradesmen all over the house (but not the shed which still remains unfinished) and some working through the night - can't fault the commitment of some of them.
The blue submarine (our new water tank) was 'sunk' late yesterday and to everyone's amazement actually filled up overnight - 10,000 litres filled up overnight - blimey! No wonder the land is wet as this comes from just one of the 3 springs (that we know about) on our land. I'm sure there must be an opportunity for a commercial spring water facility (Peckham Spring?!) - I'll have to Google that one and have a word with the farm diversification people...
Right picture time and something vaguely to do with the title. Remember the Aga arrival picture from a few days ago?
Well just for you, here's a sneak preview of what it looked like less than a day after it arrived and the super Aga people at Walter Dix waved their magic wand:
What do you mean you want to see more? Stay tuned for the grand unveiling!
Paul
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Green nudgy smoke (Paul)
Hi all. Yes, Debbie is still about, I'm blogging for a couple of days whilst she writes Christmas cards and is currently having a sneaky little snooze - I just nudged her so she is awake again...she is complaining that she is tired because she has been moving fence posts and rails around all day and I have been "in my cosy tractor" - well my tractor doesn't have heated handle bars does it!
Any way, it was great to see and read all the comments yesterday about the solar pv - I did wonder if the blog posting would prompt any interest and clearly it did! Di (at Llama Karma) I wouldn't mind details of the bluetooth thingy if you don't mind? There are so many green energy options to choose from and as ever the devil is in the detail. If anyone out there is considering ground source heat pump or solar pv just drop us an email or give us a call and we will happily share our experiences.
(just nudged her again)
We spent all day at the hill (again) today fencing with Trigger and (carding) Dave. We now have one paddock totally fenced and gated, with number two not far behind - I'm sure that will be tomorrows reported success! On the flip side the poorly maintained land drainage systems are showing their age and sections of the land are really wet and muddy - Trigger tells me that is a summer job, but to remember where the winter water was - not sure my memory is that good!
(nudge)
Yesterday I mentioned a few of our planned heating components, like our stove (multi fuel fire) and today we were met by Steve, our lead builder who wanted to show us what the stonemasons had done with some of the stone Debbie and I had collected of our land. We were absolutely delighted with the fireplace so far - what do you think?
Any way, it was great to see and read all the comments yesterday about the solar pv - I did wonder if the blog posting would prompt any interest and clearly it did! Di (at Llama Karma) I wouldn't mind details of the bluetooth thingy if you don't mind? There are so many green energy options to choose from and as ever the devil is in the detail. If anyone out there is considering ground source heat pump or solar pv just drop us an email or give us a call and we will happily share our experiences.
(just nudged her again)
We spent all day at the hill (again) today fencing with Trigger and (carding) Dave. We now have one paddock totally fenced and gated, with number two not far behind - I'm sure that will be tomorrows reported success! On the flip side the poorly maintained land drainage systems are showing their age and sections of the land are really wet and muddy - Trigger tells me that is a summer job, but to remember where the winter water was - not sure my memory is that good!
(nudge)
Yesterday I mentioned a few of our planned heating components, like our stove (multi fuel fire) and today we were met by Steve, our lead builder who wanted to show us what the stonemasons had done with some of the stone Debbie and I had collected of our land. We were absolutely delighted with the fireplace so far - what do you think?
(nudge)
Paul
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
1.7 ton picture (Paul)
After the 'very' easy clues yesterday, I'm sure eveyone (except Jayne) knows what Barnacre Alpacas latest venture is? To be fair, Jayne is more used to wind, rain and snow - so guessing that we now have a solar photovoltaic (solar pv) system was probably a little tough!
Debbie and I had many 'debates' about this, although it was something I really wanted us to do. We are not green nuts or anything, it should give us energy security, avoid crazy oil and heating bills and (unsurprisingly) should be a great investment. All was going well until the Government kindly made changes to the Feed in Tariff part way through our project - requiring me to spend the last month pushing and organising about 6 different companies to do their bit (including installing new power lines!) as it happens we got everything done with a couple of days to spare - good job as the new Feed in Tariffs are some 60% lower and they last for 25 years!
For anyone that doesn't know, there are a couple of types of solar installation. There is solar thermal which is usually a couple of panels on the house roof - these warm up the water passing underneath to give you warm/hot water. Solar pv, which we have invested in, is different. Solar pv or solar photovoltaic is a number of panels - in our case 40 of them in two arrays 21 metres (70 feet) long and 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) high. They sit on the south side of our new shed which stands nearly 5 metres high at the apex. The solar pv cells on the panels capture sunlight and the silicon they are made of then create an electrical field which produces electricity.
The system should produce around 8,000 Kilowatts of electricity and we should only use around 3,000 so we will be putting lots of 'green' elecricity back into the grid. We will also save over 4.5 tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) - very green! On the financial side, we get paid by the electricity company for every kilowatt of electric we generate - we will be smiling when the sun is shining!
As a result we do not have any gas or even an oil tank on the farm and the only electric we will 'buy' will be some cheap rate night time electricity. Combined with our new house build insulation, ground source heat pump, electric Aga and stove (maybe I'll save those for another day) even Debbie should be warm enough!
Anyway, enough words, here's the picture that reveals all:
Paul
Debbie and I had many 'debates' about this, although it was something I really wanted us to do. We are not green nuts or anything, it should give us energy security, avoid crazy oil and heating bills and (unsurprisingly) should be a great investment. All was going well until the Government kindly made changes to the Feed in Tariff part way through our project - requiring me to spend the last month pushing and organising about 6 different companies to do their bit (including installing new power lines!) as it happens we got everything done with a couple of days to spare - good job as the new Feed in Tariffs are some 60% lower and they last for 25 years!
For anyone that doesn't know, there are a couple of types of solar installation. There is solar thermal which is usually a couple of panels on the house roof - these warm up the water passing underneath to give you warm/hot water. Solar pv, which we have invested in, is different. Solar pv or solar photovoltaic is a number of panels - in our case 40 of them in two arrays 21 metres (70 feet) long and 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) high. They sit on the south side of our new shed which stands nearly 5 metres high at the apex. The solar pv cells on the panels capture sunlight and the silicon they are made of then create an electrical field which produces electricity.
The system should produce around 8,000 Kilowatts of electricity and we should only use around 3,000 so we will be putting lots of 'green' elecricity back into the grid. We will also save over 4.5 tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) - very green! On the financial side, we get paid by the electricity company for every kilowatt of electric we generate - we will be smiling when the sun is shining!
As a result we do not have any gas or even an oil tank on the farm and the only electric we will 'buy' will be some cheap rate night time electricity. Combined with our new house build insulation, ground source heat pump, electric Aga and stove (maybe I'll save those for another day) even Debbie should be warm enough!
Anyway, enough words, here's the picture that reveals all:
Monday, 12 December 2011
1.7 ton quiz night (Paul)
Thanks Dave for your guesses of the 1.7 ton new purchase for the farm - unfortunately both are wrong!
Here's a few 'helpful' clues for you and the other blog readers:
1. I love it - Debbie hates it
2. It is nearly 5 metres high
3. Mad dogs like it
4. It keeps me fit
5. It is nearly 21 metres wide
6. When I'm asleep it is useless
7. You might think it is lazy because it doesn't even move when it's working
8. Although it is green, it is so shiny you can see your face in it
How easy! More guesses please - picture to follow...
Paul
Here's a few 'helpful' clues for you and the other blog readers:
1. I love it - Debbie hates it
2. It is nearly 5 metres high
3. Mad dogs like it
4. It keeps me fit
5. It is nearly 21 metres wide
6. When I'm asleep it is useless
7. You might think it is lazy because it doesn't even move when it's working
8. Although it is green, it is so shiny you can see your face in it
How easy! More guesses please - picture to follow...
Paul
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