I didn’t finish working until really late last night and put the TV on to see Doc Martin – something I didn’t even realise had started up again!

Imagine my surprise during this episode to see ONE Alpaca on its own and the “owner” saying that “she was in season so likely to be aggressive”

First and foremost Alpaca should never be kept singly – they are a herd animal

Secondly, they are induced ovulators which means they only ovulate by the act of copulation – they do NOT have seasons like horses, dogs, cattle etc.

Finally, the ridiculous noises that they appeared to make the Alpaca do on that program have not come from any Alpaca I have ever heard.

At least they were genuinely promoted as valuable!

Some blogs maybe should be forgotten about and not repeated – especially in view of new life. In this case, we have a new beautiful hefty 40kg dog whom we have now had 18 months. However, sadly just a short while ago was the 2 year mark of losing our beloved Flat Coated Retriever here at Kensmyth, Clay Meadow. Most of you know she had a nasal tumour and was put to sleep before she was 8 years old.

She was a beautiful dog and where there is love in the world, there is always pain. not just loss but at growing up and change. just look at the size of the boys now…

Everything changes in time. What amazes me is the most beautiful photo of her here was how the fields were when we got here to Clay Meadow… one forgets

and the saddest is that all the dogs in the photos also have died – God bless them all

I have heard the “same old same old” bewailing from farming friends this week of the ground conditions and the weather. I cannot deny I have been soaked to the skin most days but that is farming for real – but take a look at my office! I would not swop farming Alpaca for the world…

we are always crazy busy but we were delighted to have received an invitation to the Community and Friendship Launche in the presence of His Excellency The High Commissioner of Australia at the Cirencester Church recently for the Abbey 900. It was a beautiful evening, having donned my “glad rags” swopping smelly Alpaca clothing for some perfumed numbers and I saw a great many people there that I recognised and knew. It was great to catch up with so many friends we have made over the years we have been here at Clay Meadow in the Cotswolds. So many Businesses and Clubs and Groups there too.

Words cannot describe the beauty of the Church, the music played and the moving speeches…

The concept of Abby 900 is a continued joint Country development of community and friendship – long may it continue…

sometimes you just take the most weird photos and then they come out perfectly! Back to Nature here but I am sure it is not intended – my home grown tomatoes indoors growing better Nettles…

and a Ladybird flying a long way from home in nearly November…

warm sunny days, grass growing madly still, temperatures at 22 degrees in October? chilly at night but I think we might pay for this weather this winter… meantime get ready for winter by retail therapy… its so weird what you see in the shops just in the run up to shhhhhhhh – don’t say it!

we call it the “C” word in the Alpaca industry, not rude, just means a lot needs to be done for your Alpaca way ahead of it. meantime, a quick break to the Swindon Retail Outlet centre had me in stitches. Why the big shoes? Why the manikins hanging in the air not even advertising a shop? I get the train…

farming is such an enjoyable experience whatever the weather or time of day and Alpaca are simply the best quadruped I have ever bred! this years two and three year olds are out of this world!

we have been so busy its crazy crazy keeping up with things but we have had time to horse around, so to speak. amazing how different photos can make physical appearances be…

people often do not like change, it is just human nature. they do not like the change in the weather, or the change of their roles or the change in friends and so on… here at Kensmyth we have been making many changes in preparation for 2018 and what lies ahead for the New Year. It is very exciting and will be a very different year for us. It will be involving “Imports” and a huge amount of grass and that is all I am going to say LOL.

Meantime – Big changes in the weather scenes here in the Cotswolds…