What a great couple of days, results all round.....

Where do I start ?????

Let's start with yesterday, in the morning we loaded up Cambridge Buckingham in the van and I went off cruising again. This time to see Jeff and Sheila once more at Easter-Wood Alpaca Stud in Berkshire. After a trip up the A303 and M3 I arrived to mixed weather, it was a bit damp anyway. That didn't put Cambridge Buckingham off his work, he was introduced to a lovely import female Eringa Park Artistry. It was another chance for a chat with Jeff and Sheila which I thoroughly enjoy, especially with a coffee and fresh cream cakes. Thanks Sheila, very nice.

This morning Leanne and I loaded up the car this time, not the van. With the Ultra-Sound Scanner, not an alpaca. We popped up to Cheldene Alpacas on the Marlborough Downs, we met up with Penny and scanned two of her girls, both pregnant, an excellent start to the day.

Just after we started off towards home, the mobile rang. It was Les, one of our girls was in labour. Why do they always wait until there is one person alone at home. On went the imaginary 'blue lights and sirens' and off we went to the rescue.

We didn't make it home in time for the birth. At last a simple, straight forward, natural birth with no complications what so ever. This is more like it, a simple birth and a lovely solid white female cria. We have been waiting for EP Cambridge Giselle to produce for a while now, she was really huge.

The cria was sired by Cambridge Buckingham, and in honour of Les's previous printing career, we have chosen another printing term for a name. Imprint. But also in honour of the cria's famous grandsire and his involvement in her genetics, her full pedigree name will be Wellground Commisario's Imprint. We love her and her pet name will probably be Imp, or Impy.

So here is Wellground Commisario's Imprint or Impy to her friends. At only three hours old, you can see she has her fathers beard coming already. Her fleece is something very special.

Here she is finally on her feet, after a feed. Looking really wonderful, Imprint is a cracking cria and we are really, really pleased with her.

---

More Photo's For You

Whilst I had the camera out, I thought I ought to grab a couple of up to date pictures of our more recent cria for you. So that you can see how they are progressing.

Here is female cria Wellground Magenta, not yet a week old. From Accoyo Remarque and our top female EP Cambridge Assertive Lass. She is coming on very nicely indeed. If only you could see her fleece.

Here we have Wellground Redwood, a light fawn male cria from Cambridge Buckingham and Eringa Park Scarlette. By far the best fawn alpaca we have ever bred here. He is stunning.

Finally for today, Wellground Little Miss Advocate, the only surviving Advocate cria. An amazing alpaca that makes us appreciate what we had in Advocate, even if it was for only a short period.

---

On another note today, we heard from Mark and Mike at M&M Alpacas in Dartmoor. They have had a solid white male cria born from EP Cambridge Samson and their Aussie import female Warralinga-Gorge Anna May. Mark was pretty excited, it sounds like they have a very special male cria there. I hope we get a picture to show you soon. Wishing Mark and Mike all the luck in the World with him.

Back again soon.

A trip to deepest Dorset

The heading sounds a bit like a title from one of the Famous Five books, infact the trip to Westhill Alpacas in Dorset is a bit magical, it's like taking an adventure, the views are very picturesque and the approaching roads are very characterful.

This morning I was cruising again, this time with Cambridge Buckingham, he is getting far more accustomed to mobile matings now. His original hesitation to get into the van is now replaced with an eagerness to climb aboard and meet 'she who is waiting' at the other end. Having said that, he is not so keen to leave the new love of his life and return to Wellground after the dirty deed is done. I think he treats each new liaison with visions of wedding bells and confetti.

Back to the plot. Cambridge Buckingham and I arrived at Westhill, for the ancient petrol heads who just might be reading this, Westhill Alpacas is close to the old motorcycling mecca of Bullbarrow Hill, a scene of bygone era of motorcycle scrambling in the 1960's. I was there as a kid and loved it, great memories.

It was great to meet up with Rosemary and Carl once more, we took the opportunity to spit-off their female alpaca called Carolyn who was mated by EP Cambridge Samson about a month ago. All is looking good there, a very pleasing reaction. Soon Buckingham was busy and all excited about the new love of his life Flamenco. Meanwhile whilst Buckingham was working, Rosemary made me a nice cup of coffee with hobnobs, this is just not right. Rosemary won the competition a few posts ago on this blog. I am supposed to be making her a coffee, not the other way round.

I have finally found Rosemary's blog which I have added to my blogs list on the left. It's a jolly fine looking blog, so I thought I'd take this chance to 'big it up' a bit. have a look here Westhill Blog and see what you think.

Good News and Bad News

Hi everyone, we have mixed news for you today.

Firstly the bad news. The Lamb has closed down. The local country pub in the next village where we have enjoyed many a meal with like minded people has succumbed to the recession. I drove past this week to see a steel cover over the door and a message saying 'all contents have been removed'. It's a Free House, not a brewery owned pub, and in this current climate I cannot see it being bought as a going concern. It will probably end up being converted into a country house. That is a great shame. People must support their local businesses, or they simply won't exist.

On the good news front, Wellground Scriptwriter, our youngest herdsire was two years old yesterday. It was a great day to discover that he has a confirmed pregnancy for the first time. Happy birthday Mister Scripps.

Yesterday I was out again cruising, I took Eringa Park Lionheart out for another mating at Reddingvale Alpacas in Somerset. Whilst there he had a chance to spit off his previous encounters at Reddingvale. All holding nicely. It was great to meet up with Andy and Viv again and see all the alpacas looking so good in the sunshine.

Today is a day off, but the rest of next week is pretty booked up, so I am off to enjoy the sun. See ya later.

Just when you think you understand alpacas......

Finally we woke to a slightly cooler day, but the sun has been just as strong, just a breeze to make it feel nicer.

Sometimes, just when you think you know alpacas really well, they remind you that you actually know nothing compared to them.... Let me tell you a story.

We had an appointment to take two of our herdsires out for a mobile mating this morning. Decision Time, so Les, Leanne and I all looked at EP Cambridge Assertive Lass, who was overdue a cria. She has shown no signs of imminent birthing. If she was going to have a cria today, Les would like to stay behind and help Leanne with the birthing as Assertive Lass is a maiden. If she was not going to have a cria today, Les would like to come with me in the van for a trip out. It was as simple as that.

Much chewing of fat and banter later, we all came to the conclusion, she was not looking one little bit like she was going to give birth.

So Les and I loaded up Cambridge Buckingham and EP Cambridge Samson into the van and off we went towards Bristol. Just as we were arriving at Pipley Court Alpacas, about 45 minutes after we left home, the mobile phone went off. It was Leanne. We were wrong about the birthing, Assertive Lass was now in labour....... "You cannot be serious" I thought in my best McEnroe tones, (being Wimbledon week and all that).

Well there was nothing we could do to help back at home, so we got on with the job in hand. Meeting up with Roger and Pauline at Pipley Court is always a pleasure, none more so than today. The two boys got to work on the chosen female alpacas immediately and worked very well indeed. This was followed by coffee and hobnobs, just the ticket.....

What was happening back at home though, a bit stressful. Leanne is a very resourceful farm manager indeed. It was clear to her that the cria was not presented properly. Just at that moment, good fortune arrived in the shape of two University of Reading students carrying out more research on our Little Owl boxes. Leanne press ganged the two girls into helping. Holding Assertive Lass, whilst Leanne corrected the 'leg back' presentation and pulled the cria into the world.

We came home rather quickly, to find this lovely solid white female cria, sired by Accoyo Remarque, and out of Assertive Lass, herself a Jolimont Commisario daughter. She is a little cracker, we have called her Wellground Magenta, in honour of Les's original printing career. I think she will be called Madge for short ;o))

Wellground Magenta

Our day has been pretty good, better than Andy Murray's anyway.

Samson goes to make more New Forest cria

It's been a hot few days. On Friday, I had another track day in the Evo at Castle Combe, a few mods to the engine had her running at @ 400bhp, very nice. Very fast too.....

The weekend was a blistering one here, yesterday we got up to 31c, for this part of the world, that's hot and very humid.

Today, the overcast skies made the morning a little cooler, ideal for mobile mating. So EP Cambridge Samson was loaded up in the van and we both went cruising again. This time south into Hampshire, to the edge of the New Forest where we met up with Kathy and Graham at Cherwell Leys Alpacas. They had a stunning new cria by Samson, a solid white with the most amazing fleece, such density for one so young, with lovely individual little staples of fibre. They were so pleased with him, they wanted more of the same again please.....

So Samson was re-introduced to an old flame from last year, Cherwell Leys Spirit of Islay. We are hoping for great things there again next year. Whilst there I had a look at some really elite cria from Samson, Neptune and their own Aussie import male EP Cambridge Regency. Very nice too, no wonder they are pleased.

This evening we sat out on the decking with our new barbecue machine, we enjoyed a juicy rib eye steak overlooking our lovely alpacas, this is the best bit about alpacas, just watching and enjoying them. Back soon......

Competition Time !

To win a free Kenco on the Decking.

Answer this simple question......... How many alpacas can fit under this weeping willow tree ?

Runner up prize is two cups of Kenco on the Decking..... ;o))

Elite Stud Services in the North of England

Hi again.

Now some news that might be interesting to the alpaca breeders in the North of England. It seems that the majority of the Elite Herdsires in the UK are located in the Central and Southern regions of the U.K. This reduces the choice of Elite Alpaca Genetics available locally in the North.

To help with this, we have agreed to stand our top herdsire Cambridge Buckingham in the North of England for about six weeks this summer. He will be standing With Derek and Sandra Williams at Harefield Alpacas just 200 metres from junction 7 of the M62. He will be available for Drive-by services between 15th July 2009 and 31st August 2009

Our leading Herdsire - Cambridge Buckingham

This is a very rare opportunity to obtain these elite alpaca genetics in the North of England at a very affordable price. In fact for this special offer period, we have decided to offer Cambridge Buckingham’s services in the North at a reduced price.

For this period of approximately six weeks as an introduction to these elite genetics, Cambridge Buckingham will be available for drive-by stud services at £700 per mating. This is a significant saving over his drive-by service price in the South of England.

For details of obtaining drive-by stud services with Buckingham, please contact Derek or Sandra Williams at Harefield Alpacas on 0151 430 6647 or mobile 07976 359713. Or see their website at Harefield Alpacas

Snogging Alpacas

Still pretty hectic here. Poor Leanne has been to hospital today to have a wisdom tooth removed under general anaesthetic, meanwhile this morning I had a trip to the dreaded dentist myself. A check-up seems minor compared to what Leanne has had to put up with. She is a bit groggy this evening.

Yesterday we carried out the full herd vaccination and worming, bringing all the alpacas into the barn and through the 'Easy Pen' we bought recently. It's not as good as I hoped it would be. It works well if they stand up, but if alpacas lie down in it, that's not so good.

This afternoon I have been on the road again, Wellground Close Encounter and I headed off down the A303 and M3 to Easter-Wood Alpacas near Wokingham. It was great to meet up again with Jeff and Sheila Easter and their lovely herd. Poor Jeff has pulled a muscle in his back, I tried not to laugh as he waddled along grimacing. Sorry Jeff, I hope the back recovers soon. I am wicked. Anyway, Wellground Close Encounter had an encounter with Yuralee Daisy a lovely solid white Australian import. The trip went well, but the return journey home was quite busy with traffic coming from London escaping to the countryside, all trying to be modern day hippies at Glastonbury. They are welcome to it too.

Picture time. On my last blog I showed you a picture of Cambridge Buckingham's latest cria at Harefield Alpacas, just after it was born.

Sandra from Harefield has sent me this picture of the 4 day old cria Harefield Touch of Class, shown on the left, snogging with their other cria Harefield Endeavour (by Accoyo Killawasi) on the right. Touch of Class is very white. A very sweet photograph of two lovely alpaca cria. Nice.

Harefield Touch of Class by Cambridge Buckingham (left) she's very white indeed.

Hope you enjoyed that....... Back soon.

Scriptwriter comes of age

Hi again everyone, back on the keyboard once more.

No let up in the workload here, yesterday I took Eringa Park Lionheart out on the road, he had an appointment in Somerset once more, and did he perform well ?, indeed he did.

Today was time for some spit offs and matings back here on the farm. Les's little favourite Lilly the Pink, is holding her pregnancy as is EP Cambridge Genyah. We have been struggling with Caramela this year, she just hasn't been holding her pregnancies which is a bit disappointing for us. But today she was re-mated to Cambridge Buckingham. Fingers crossed.

But the big news is that we gave young Wellground Scriptwriter a go at mating today. A few weeks ago he was showing no real interest. But today was different and he mated with Atlantic Eve. Once he got going, nothing was going to stop him either. Eve is our eldest girl and the old gals are ideal for getting a young inexperienced male going. Priceless she is. Now we have to wait and find out if he is firing live rounds.....

We have just heard from Sandra and Derek from Harefield Alpacas up on Merseyside, they have had a solid white female cria born from Cambridge Buckingham today. We were only there on Tuesday, shame we missed it. By all accounts she is a little cracker too.

Cambridge Buckingham's new cria at Harefield Alpacas today

I have been fiddling with our web site too this week, just a few little tweeks to update it on the 'homepage' and the 'alpacas for sale' page.

Well, it's the British GP tomorrow, I will hopefully have time to watch that on TV before I am off out on the road again tomorrow evening with Cambridge Buckingham and Eringa Park Lionheart. Come on Jensen....

Cruising for a Bruising

I am feeling proper crackerjacked today. I can hardly keep my eyes open. I need some sleep tonight.

The last two days were hectic, Les and I headed north. Meeting up with Derek and Sandra at Harefield Alpacas on Merseyside.

EP Cambridge Samson was treated to a real tonic. He was given the opportunity to mate with a solid white maiden Harefield Simply Superb. She is the first of Cambridge Buckingham's female offspring old enough to be mated. That union is of great interest to us, and will be watched very closely. Meanwhile, Wellground Close Encounter had an interview with EP Cambridge Zishka, a lovely solid white female by Jolimont Encantador.

The boys were then rested in a big paddock each, where they relaxed overnight. Meanwhile, Derek and Sandra took Les and I on a tour of Merseyside, we went for a walk along the River Mersey infront of the Royal Liver building and the amazing new museum opening in 2010, there is some serious architecture in Liverpool. Then we tripped off to a fab wine bar where we enjoyed some fine food washed down with a bottle of Bollinger donated kindly by the landlord and good friend of our hosts.

After a night's kip in the local Premier Inn, we loaded the boys up and headed east to Lincolnshire where we met up again with Kay and Daron at Chestnut Farm Alpacas. Two more elite girls needed the boys attentions. Samson was delighted to make the acquaintance of Australian import EP Cambridge Secregaze. Whilst Close Encounter was really chuffed to have an interview with a sweet little maiden Wellground in the Spotlight, she has genetics from EP Cambridge Peruvian Caesar and Accoyo Killawasi.

Daron had kindly cooked us a fab lunch. We were having a really nice trip. Daron had created a super chili with baked potato, it was amazing. We also did some ultrasound scanning for Kay and Daron, unfortunately I got a whack in the face from a rearing alpaca whilst trying to see the image in the monocle monitor. I was seeing stars for a few minutes, I was a bit dizzy but I was soon back at it. I have a bit of a bruised nose and face today, but nothing to worry about.

It was a long trip home afterwards and the rain was heavy, the conditions could have been better. Anyway we arrived home and the boys were out on grass in their own paddocks again. Those two boys will be rested for several days, as we are very careful not to over use, or tire our working lads.

This morning, after a night in our own bed, we loaded the van up with Cambridge Buckingham, he had an appointment at Ashton Lane Alpacas, he is getting accustomed to mobile mating now. We met up with Peter and Carol, Buckingham was soon out and working, great news that the two girls we had mated about 10 days ago had both taken having carried out a rejection test. Buckingham mated a lovely white maiden by Wirracocha, I think that union will create a very pleasing offspring. I am looking forward to seeing the result of that.

This afternoon we had to catch up on some injections that needed doing on some of the alpacas here. Then a small fix on the van, a bolt had come lose on the side door gates. Bring on Mrs Rawlins the spanner wielding wellground mechanic and all hell breaks loose ;o)) Soon the nasty little squeak that was annoying us was silenced and finally we crashed for some tea. Nice....

Back again soon......