Well that’s Christmas over for another year, I probably sound a bit like Scrooge but I always feel a sort of anticlimax at this time of the festive season especially after all the excitement in the build up to the big day.

Sorry for the blog being so quiet recently, I will try and do better for the new year. There you go, that will be my New Years Resolution. I much prefer the sound of that to a diet.

The alpacas cleaned up beautifully in the freezing weather, they seemed to love it. We didn’t have any snow but loads of ice and frozen ground. Alas though the rain is back now and the alpacas have gone back to their drowned rat appearance. We have weaned quite a few of the cria in the last few weeks and as per normal most of them handle the next few days quite happily but there’s always one or two that wonder around totally lost. They’re the ones we watch very closely and dose up with wormer, vecoxan and vitamins. They do loose some weight but soon begin to pick up again.

It rains in France, boy does it rain. Just like good old Cornwall. But even all the rain and  rather lumpy crossings didn’t spoil a good trip. All the alpacas arrived safely and have their own private paddock with shelter at Quelvehin Alpacas. They caused the usual clamour of interest at the border post but the official, in duplicate, must be stamped in red paperwork was given a cursory glance and shrug and then we were allowed on our way.

Steve and Jane looked after us very well, we were treated to the biggest plate of Fruits de Mer I have ever seen on Thursday. Friday we took a trip down to Vannes to see the Christmas lights (which hadn’t been switched on) and did a bit of shopping and had lunch in one of the many cafes. Alpaca business took up most of the rest of the time and then it was time to return to Roscoff but not without first stocking up in the supermarket with all our favourite french goodies. We nearly came back with a puppy but fortunately didn’t have the necessary official, duplicate, stamped in red paperwork so had to leave him behind.

Not much going on for the last week at Popham so the blog is a bit quiet. We are off to France tonight on the ferry with a trailer full of alpacas destined for various places but the majority are going to Steve and Jayne at Quelvehin Alpacas near Pontivy. We’re keeping a close eye on the weather as i have heard that Brittany Ferries have stopped livestock travelling if it is too rough in the past. Fingers crossed. I will update again next week.