The weather forecast was certainly right in Essex today.We sat on the veranda and had our breakfast this morning, just finished it and low and behold it started to rain. We have had it all day so it has put a damper, on doing much work outside my poo picking went right out of the window, never mind another day tomorrow mind you I think we are forecast pretty much the same over the next few days.

                                                                                                             I suppose things sometimes work out for the best, as we have had our two daughters over and it has been nice to catch up with what they have been up to.They both came to see our lovely boy who was born yesterday. Not that he has been about too much as soon as it started raining, he was off into the shelter but he kept on coming out with the other cria, well lets face it he was most probably wondering  why all this water was falling down on him.

                                                                                                                    As I am writing this blog I am watching him out of my office window, having a nice run about,  sorry he has stopped for tea, Wizard is such a good Mum. It is rather funny for years we bred cattle and now Alpacas and all animals are much the same, when it comes to their young, all so very protective it is so lovely to see. Well I better be making a move as it is my turn to do dinner got to admit it will not be nothing fancy as I am not a very good cook, so we are just having beans on toast, well I thought that was a pretty good suggestion, so bye for now speak soon.

                                                                                                    Chase-End-Joe. 

Good day to everybody,
                                     well I suppose in between jobs you were all watching the Jubilee, it was fantastic viewing, and all of them people turning up, I think it surprised quite a few people, especially with the weather and it being a bit nippy, still the concert was good,Elton-Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, just shows theres life in us old dogs yet, hope you are listening Jeff Easter,it is his Birthday this week.                  
                                                                                   Well we had a pretty hectic morning, it all started about nine, I was getting ready to go off to Hoddeson, on a bit of business, just got out of the shower, got dressed, when my wife Ann called me, our Wizard had started to give birth. I quickly threw some clothes on shot down to the birthing paddock, and after a few minutes having to help her, with a few tugs she was fine and we had a lovely boy cria. After making sure everything was fine I had to have another shower and be on my way. Unfortunately our daughter Sharon, who we call our midwife, could not be there as she has been a bit poorly, these last few months, still pet it is not many you have missed is it.
                                                                                            I was only gone a couple of hours and when I got back the new cria was playing with our two week old one, chasing each other around the paddock great to see, I stood watching them for quite a while as they both looked extremely happy, and by the way so were we.Time to go folks as Ann is calling me for tea, gammon steak tonight yummy,
                                                                                             Speak to you all soon,
                                                                                                   Chase-End- Joe.

Good Evening everyone, just a quick hello today,
                                                                       well what a scorcher, Ann and myself were out early doing our chores this morning, she said it was going to get warm, so we got stuck  in which I am pleased we did, because by lunchtime it was melting here.Jude our next female to give birth, has been up and down all day, so we will be keeping a close eye on her, knowing she has not got long. It is rather funny, because she is in the same paddock as our new born cria, whose name I have just been told is Daisy May,anyway the new cria has been making a proper fuss of Jude, which is a bit odd because when Jude is ready to give birth she is a proper loner and spits at anything that goes near here, but she has been letting the new cria cush right beside her, first time for everything I suppose.
                                    I contacted Farrlacey Alpaca Mill today and they are coming to collect our fleeces at the weekend so they can get started for us, then Ann the knitting starts. Well folks it has just turned seven, and tea is nearly ready so I am off for my cold shower, speak soon,
                                                                                              Chase-End-Joe.

Hi everybody,
                       well we were supposed to wake up to sunshine today, but it is dreary and very much on the cold side, have to put my coat on to start with, still cannot grumble it is not raining. We do need the sun to shine though as with all the rain we have had, we need the warmth now to help the grass to grow. Providing it does we should have a much better crop of hay this year.
                                                                            I am just listing my jobs for today, seems to many to fit all in,so I am going to do the normal ones first , short feed the Alpacas, do some paddock cleaning, and finish off, re-arranging  my boys to another paddock.We have some nice Stud boys for sale, out of Ice Cool Lad, that we have kept and they are now ready to be put to work.
                                                                                 My wife Ann had a good look at some of our pregnant females yesterday, and she wants me to bring another one into the Birthing paddock so better get my skates on, and get the jobs done, or it will be bed time before we know it, so cheerio for now, speak soon.
                                                                              Chase-End-Joe.

What a great week

Good morning to you all,
                                      I must admit it is good to start the blog again after quite a long time from doing so.Ann and myself, have had a very busy week, first off we had the Shearers last weekend, Saturday in fact. It was a very nice day sun was shining, and all went according to plan. They were up and running by 8-15 and the last Alpaca was sheared just after 1pm, including a bacon and egg  15 minute break,the boys did not hang around as they were off to another job in Norfolk, that they wanted to get done. After they had gone it was good to have a sit down, and rest the muscles, you did not know we have.
                                                                                                  Having a nice cup of tea and standing watching all the Alpacas, I said to Ann, they look undressed, I certainly like them better with there coats on,and we both laughed. As the week passed by we knew we had to keep watch, to a couple of our girls, as there time was nearly due.I had let the girls all into one of the chases, where there was some lush grass, and I carried on with my hoover cleaning there paddock, like you do when you are using the hoover I was thinking about other things when all of a sudden our Jude nudged me in the back, sure enough she was giving birth, but she had come to me as she must have sensed all was not well. The crias head was showing , but lying  sideways, having experienced this before I knew the legs were not in the right position, I went and washed straight up, Ann called my daughter, Sharon and we started to help Jude. It was a little difficult as one leg was straight back and the other was bent. I knew this was going to be tough as the crias legs were long, but we persevered and after twenty minutes we had a lovely female cria, solid white, Jude looked at us all as much to say thanks, its funny how animals trust us and know we will help them.
                                                                                                                          Sunday arrived and we had a visit from Jeff and Sheila, from Easterwood Alpacas, they had come to take Ice Cool Lad back as they have some matings to do with him. It was great to see them, they stayed a few hours, and we all had a good old natter, time does fly when your enjoying yourselves does it not, They were back on the road about five as it takes them a couple hours to get home, by the way Jeff like your new Alpaca Wagon.
                                                                                                                Well folks that all for now as must go and do my jobs, so speak to you all soon,
                                                                            Bye for now
                                                                                             ChasE-End-Joe.

Well done Easterwood

Good afternoon everyone,
this is just a quick blog, to congratulate two of the nicest people we have met, since we started breeding Alpacas. Jeff and Sheila, what can we say, only we are so happy for you both, you have worked so hard, establishing your Farm, and let me say you have made a Brilliant job of it.Having been involved with your goodselves, since being partners with ICE-COOL-LAD for quite a while now, we have seen what you have acheived, Good Luck to you both and may it continue.
All the very best,
Joe Ann.

Finally one more name

Well as I said on the blog the other day, my wife Ann always picks the names for our newborn cria.She has taken her time with the last two newborn, but has finally decided on a name for the female, Chase-End-Blossom, still waiting for the boys name but I am sure that will come in the next day or two will let you all know when she comes up with it, must go now as I have had my teabreak, speak soon.
Chase-End-Joe.