Alpacas and Halter Training

Oh dear, we have to start the halter training horror again. We have entered some new animals for the Royal Bath & West who have never been on a halter so today is day one. We also need to work on some that have been halter trained but are still not very good. I am hoping the break they have had may help but it probably won’t.

We sprayed some of the docks last night with me driving the mule and Chas pumping the sprayer thingy, the stuff really stinks. We didn’t have rain until this morning so it should have soaked into the leaves and be doing its nasty hormonal thing.

We went to London on Thursday to see this diabetes consultant. The hospital in the Fulham Road was very flash with enormous atriums, flying sculptures, glass walkways, an underground car park and a proper coffee shop. They tried to stop us using the stairs – not allowed apparently because people have thrown themselves down them – I pointed out that I do not do lifts and was not suicidal so we were allowed to walk. He was very interesting and talked to us for ages and basically said that diabetes at my age takes seven to eight years off one’s life expectancy and the best way to avoid a stroke or heart disease was to take every blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drug in the book. That seemed to be more important from the point of view of staying alive with an excellent quality of life than anything else.

I have to make my GP give me the best drugs rather than the cheapest, wish me luck! Then I have to get a lot more scientific, logical and proactive rather than reactive with my blood sugars. This is where Chas can really help as he has a logical mind whereas mine is all over the place. He also does not get bored with detail whilst I do.

It was certainly worth the trip to hear what he had to say although a little depressing about the early death thing.