All I want is a simple life

We intend to take our alpaca back to England with us. This has proved very difficult because there was another outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK just after they declared the first outbreak 'over'. We feel it's too risky to assume that when it is time to move them we will be able to, it's not something you can leave to the last minute. There are tests to be done, licences to be got, transporters and ferries etc etc. So we had a brainwave, lets see if there is another alpaca breeder who would like to give them a home for a few months and then we can move them late winter or early spring when it's all over. And we found one in Brittany, another English couple. Hooray, we can relax. They have even exported alpaca to England themselves so understand the process so will be able to deal with it all when the time comes.

There is another threat now Blue Tongue There are restrictions on animal movements but until this morning they didn't involve this area. Now they do. We spoke to our vet and he rang the Orne Departements veterinary service and the answer to the question, 'Can we move our alpaca to Brittany' was 'non'. Our hearts sank, but then, after more discussion we can if we treat them with a specific anti parasite and get their blood tested in 28 days.

Our completion date for moving out has been extended to the 30th November, so you could say everything is working out. It's just that sometimes it doesn't feel like it!

The Goat's new home

We took our goats to their new home yesterday. They are joining two other goats belonging to Ruan and David. It was very funny to watch them eyeing one another up, ours stayed very close to one another, looking very alert and apprehensive in the strange field. Ruan's goats weren't quite sure what to do with the intruders, then thought they should asert their authority so proceeded to chase them around the orchard. This only lasted about 30 seconds as, on Ruan's own admission, her goats are too fat and they very shortly became winded! They would catch their breath, then start chasing again, round in circles. Our's easily out ran them, being superior goats of course lol. We had to make another trip as we donated what was left of our straw, some old tyres and doors, stuff we construct platforms for the goats to get on. When we returned they had all settled down, Ruan's two had become bored with chasing and had gone off to their stable.

I miss them. I still glance across automatically to their old paddock, and now it's empty. But I am sure they will be very happy in their new home, they will be loved.