Oh my god, I was inspecting the main female field this morning and they weren’t there. Stomped around the field, a very big one, feeling more and more anxious, cursing Andrew, has he left a gate open somewhere, has someone stolen them, typical Hebditch paranoia. Then I found them, hidden away tucked up under a hedge out of the rain. Apologised to Andrew in absentia, breathed a huge sigh of relief etc. etc.
Big hurrahs here too as Joshua is home from his South American travels. The plane was a teeny bit late so I sat in the cafe at Heathrow with a clear view of the arrivals area for what seemed like hours until he suddenly appeared. He had a pretty torrid time leaving Quito because they took him into a little room – one very, very scared 19 year old – and x-rayed his stomach for drugs. Two others got the same treatment as him, all tall and blond. Obviously he hadn’t swallowed any drugs and got on the plane safely. Because Quito is so high planes can’t take off with a full load of fuel, so they fly to somewhere lower, land, fill up and then set off again so four hours later they were over Quito again before heading for Madrid. He says Iberia are crap, tiny seats, only one film, ancient planes.
We had to stop in a motorway service station with an M&S so we could acquire chocolate, smoothies and crisps. He is a bit put out that he is no longer the tallest person around as in Ecuador and is still surprised by everyone speaking English. He has brought me back some shells from the Pacific – I am a shell freak – and an Ecuadorian cookery book, all in Spanish but with handy pictures of the method, he will have to translate, not sure about the guinea pig recipe, maybe we should acquire some and fatten them up.
Chas has been fishing poo out of the anus of a gelding boy. His anus has popped out and the vet had to sew it back in. We have to loosen the stitches every so often. It is not that pleasant. Bizarrely we have had three popped out anuses this year for the first time in twelve years of alpaca breeding. It could be associated with coccidia as that makes them strain but none of the boys seemed unwell and with one we just pushed it back in and it has stayed there ever since. We learn SUCH exciting things down on the farm.
jo –
wonderfull stuff,glad Joshua is back safely, all Mothers can start breathing again! do hope the anus problem is’nt catching as we might have to review the coming w/end!!
Alex A –
Mary and I took an Iberia plane to Barcelona – though we booked BA!!! – and it wasn’t very nice. They obviously didn’t want to spend any money on air con so when we arrived my shirt was plastered with sweat to the back of my tiny seat. And they didn’t even give us a complementary drink. BA on thw way home and we got big seats, a cool air con breeze and free drinks & small meal.
x