Bank Holiday Special - 15% extra

What's special about this blog? Well it's a day late, and I've got an extra day to write about, hence the 15% extra - struck by a head cold, I was pooped last night at 'blog o'clock'.
I've included a few pics which I took while walking the dog this morning around our area, to set the scene for anyone who doesn't know our whereabouts - in the picture above, you can just see our three alpacas on the brow of the hill - our field slopes down away from the brow - I think they like a hill-top as a self-preserving instinct, so they can get a good view of predators: Lynx, Condor, snakes etc. - you know, typical South American wildlife - I wonder how long it will take for British-bred alpaca to change their nature in that respect?

Just listening to America: 'Horse with no Name' - what a brilliant, yet simple song.

May Bank holiday is known for odd country pusuits like Cheese-rolling and Dorset knob-throwing, but when you have a house and small-holding to run, there are plenty of energy-sapping jobs to do without making them up - it was a weekend of Somerset door-chiselling, gate-latch fitting, hedge-trimming, tree-pruning, alpaca-bonding, alpaca mite-treating, shed-tidying...

We've got two ducklings, a few days old as in the picture, and ten more which are imminent - they have 'pipped' (that's when they chip the eggshell to get oxygen in, so they can make the big push for hatching, an amazing struggle).

We had a go at applying some 'lotion' to treat the mites on Moiras' (the black maiden alpaca) legs - she's a big girl, not much fleece, and doesn't like her legs being touched - she'll struggle, throwing me against the shelter, and kick with the back legs, aiming for Mrs. Small-holder, so we both end up black and blue.

Earlier in the week, we went to Langaton Alpacas for a day of Advanced Husbandry training presented by Gina Bromage - a very full and useful day - she didn't waste a second, talking at great speed, and giving us loads of information, plus an opportunity to practice assisting a birth if a cria or mother are struggling, on their alpaca simulator - yes I did say that, but I'll spare you the detail, unless you want more...