Where has the week gone, it seems like only just yesterday that I was blogging about our impending trip to France and before you know it I was back at work this morning still feeling as though I was rolling around on the ferry in a complete daze and very happy when 5.00pm came and I could go home.

This general state of confusion today may have something to do with all the celebrating. Popham Colombus (born here at Popham on May 19th 2005 and sent France in 2006 with this victorious day already planned) was crowned Supreme Huacaya Alpaca at the European Alpaca  Concours. So often the runner up he finally pulled it off even with his poodle haircut.

Actually the cross channel alliance of Popham and Quelvehin had a pretty good weekend. Not only did we bag Huacaya Supreme but also took home Brown Huacaya Champion, Black Huacaya Champion and Coloured Suri Champion. As you can see from the photo they look pretty happy about it !!!!!

I do love our trips to France, we’re only 15 minutes from the ferry this end, a few beers on the ferry then we wake up in France and we feel as though we are on holiday. Quelvehin Alpacas and gites are about a 90 minute drive from Roscoff and the accomodation is wonderful. We haven’t had a bill yet either. The next day we load the alpacas up and start about a 5-6 hour drive to Vierzon.

We always stay the Arches Hotel in Vierzon, our third time there now and its a bit like home from home.  The public areas are decorated with framed posters and photos of 1950’s era movie stars plus old juke boxes etc – rather quirky, but nice to have something different from the usual standard hotel decor.

The Friday night saw the AGM of the French alpaca society and don’t ask me why but Jane and Steve had to endure a rather difficult meeting while Felicia and I nipped off to the pub. Why is there always politics in the alpaca industry, no matter where I go you find it. Something to do with egos I guess.

I must confess the post victory celebrations on the Saturday night were a bit subdued. We were knackered basically. However Sunday saw us up early and packing up ready for the return journey.  Then before you know it it’s Monday morning and we’re heading off back to Roscoff……and work!!!

Once again the blog has been a bit quiet. This last weekend we were in Birmingham visiting our daughter. She had a major netball tournament on the Sunday. It was the medical schools equivalent of their “Nationals”. We watched them beat Leeds, Manchester, St Georges and then Kings, before going on to beat Cardiff in the finals. The girls were so delighted there were tears everywhere including Felicia.

This week it is back to alpaca business and we are catching the overnight ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff were we shall join up with Steve and Jayne from Quelvehin Alpacas and head on down to Vierzon for the French International show. The truck is going to be laden to the roof with  cornish pasties to restock Steve’s freezer and feed his pasty habit.

This will be our4th visit to this particular show and it is always great fun. There is a festive meal laid on for Saturday night where all the breeders from around Europe huddle togeter and swop alpaca stories and generally drink far too much. We are taking only one boy down who is resident with Quelvehin, he’s a brown male huacaya called Daniel. Steve has a team of about 5 to go plus some animals he has sold and will be delivering while we are there. We return to Pontivy on Sunday no doubt nursing hangovers and hopefully a few rosettes.

Sometimes when you’re are delivering alpacas you come across some wonderful parts of the country and almost envy the alpacas their new home. This bunch recently went down to their new home at Mylor Downs near Falmouth. The ruins in the background are those of Carclew House which burnt down in 1934 ( apparently after a rather wild party ….or so the story goes).

The alpacas now form the beginning of the Innisfail Alpaca herd belonging to Peter and Sandy Andrews. Good luck to them.

We’ve had a lovely few days up in London visiting our son Phil who is working as an environmental technician on the Olympic Park. Apparently it is being built on old industries and tanneries etc so all the waste and water outflows need to be monitored. He should be working there till summer 2011. Being an avid fan of Spurs he treated his parents to a game at White Hart Lane for Mothers day!! Well I’ve been a rugby fan all my life and have never played football but what an excellent game it is to watch live. When viewing on tv you just don’t realise the movement and speed of the game, and the skill. Certainly better in real life than on the telly. Spurs winning 3-1 helped the day. Nicely rounded off by the the fact that my first ever football bet paid off !!! Correct score paying out at 9-1. Beginners luck was all Phil could say.

Sunday we visited the Natural History Museum where I drooled over the 2009 World Wildlife  photography exhibition. What talent.

Back to the alpacas yesterday and the first thing was to deliver the 3 girls to Jacqui at Cherokee Alpacas where they soon settled in to their new home. She’s got a nice bunch coming on there. I had a look at  Little Legend male weanling she was thinking of selling but he is definitely good enough to show so watch out for him at Devon County.

The Popham fields and raceways are so dry and brown they are beginning to resemble the high veld. Plumes of dust follow the quad around. The alpacas are beginning resemble antelope and the rhea look like ostrich running across the African plains (with a little bit of imagination or perhaps I just spent too long in the Natural History Museum)!!!!!!!

Fortunately the sun shone on a very chilly “Experience” day yesterday. We had a good turnout and I think it was one of the best groups we’ve had. Always a bit embarrassing when you’ve got kids and it comes to the reproduction section but there weren’t any awkward questions this time. We were all ready for Felicia’s lunch when the time came though and the alpacas behaved well. Only one stabbed finger this time.

Our next day is scheduled for the Sunday 7th March. Please contact us for details.