With invaluable help from a friend we loaded up 8 alpaca into his double horse box. There was just enough room for them to kush down comfortably, alpacas don't travel standing up. Then we put the two males into our smaller trailer with a partition between them as they would normally have a go at one another!
We then set off for the 4 hour plus trip to their new home in Brittany. We pulled up to their new fields and I lead Max to his seperate paddock next to the girls, then we let the rest out, and they immediately explored their new quarters. Running here and there, grabbing a mouth of grass on the way. They all seemed very happy, pleased to be out of the trailer.
I miss them terribly. Although they still belong to me, this is the last time I will care for them directly. I think we have more or less decided to settle in the Stroud area of England, which is close to where they will be settling once all the movement and import restrictions have been lifted.
Even our chickens have gone to a new home, the Peafowl are being kept in as we have to catch them tomorrow and deliver them to new keepers. The place is deserted, barren and cold now.
Packing, sorting, clearing out and generally downsizing is carrying on a pace. We have managed to sell and give away a lot of stuff we just won't have room for and don't need anymore. We are even getting rid of things that we will need but we don't like, like our living room furniture! It is liberating.
I have several boxes of fibre, wool, and general spinning and knitting equipment to keep me occupied in Brittany for the 3 months we will spend there until we move to England. I think I might have too much....
This weekend we have a mad dash over to the UK with our trailer packed full of things to deliver to children that they are taking, then we sell the trailer. A quick lunch with friends, stay overnight in Stroud to further explore the locality. Sunday will be spent visiting my parents, Dad in hospital, (he's getting better thanks), Mum, staying in a care home for people with mental health needs, and my poor brother who is trying to cope with all of this. Then back on the overnight ferry.
That leaves 4 days to tidy up loose ends, Thursday the removal company descend, Friday, we spend 2 hours in the Notaires signing everything off before driving into the sunset to Brittany.
