There was plenty more work to do and it was still cold. I wanted to get on with things quickly in the hope that I could go and get bread as well as collecting 2 trees before dinner. I checked the weather forecast and there was some rain due at about 9.30. Ah well, I might get wet later. My first job upon arrival was to collect the empty lick bucket on my way past the pond. It was no where to be round 🤷♀️ I let the ducks out and messaged Neil to see if he had put it somewhere safe. It wasn’t in Cai when I got alpaca food.
I took two small buckets to the barn so there was enough food for 9 alpacas. Once they were fed, I fed Rascal. There still wasn’t any news from Neil so l hoped to find the lick bucket on my way down. I found it alright, but not where I expected. It was around the neck of an ewe 🤦♀️ Well that was just bloody marvellous wasn’t it? I recognised her. It was Mabel, a pet lamb from a few years ago. She isn’t tame like Munchie, Molly and Blossom. I tried to get close but she wouldn’t let me. Hmmm. 🤔 Time for International Rescue! With that bucket on her, she was very nervous, not good when pregnant but the worse thing was that she couldn’t eat with a bucket in the waty. I went to Cai, got some ewe nuts in a small bucket and went back. In that short time, the sheep had all wandered off quite a distance. Mabel had followed them. Someone spotted my bucket. I added a shake and a shout. They came jogging. I opened up the airlock and pulled the gate partially shut. Mabel was trying to run but kept kicking the bucket, so to speak 😂 Luckily, lots of the ewes ended up outside the airlock. Mabel finally made it in. I only had a small number in with me and managed to let most out of the airlock. There were about 5 left, including her and a black ewe. I got the gates secure and tried to get them in the pen. They headed straight for the run but poor Mabel didn’t fit. I was behind her and she couldn’t go forward so began to freak out! She then ended up with both front legs in the bucket too. I began panicking then, I wanted the bucket intact 😂 She got worse when I got near her but did manage to free one leg. She gave up then, sat down and played dead. She just sat there, like a statue. I grabbed her leg and began to manoeuvre it out of the bucket. It wasn’t easy. I hope her leg is alright🤞 Once that was out, I just unhooked the handle from her neck and and she rushed into the run. I left the pen gate ajar for them to work their way out in peace.
I went to get the jeep and it was misted over inside. I got the blowers on and wiped a bit with a glove. I set off anyway as wasn’t on a road. On my way down, I decided I would take the Christmas tree out of the boys field if they hadn’t eaten it. Later, I intended to give it to the rams. I tried to drive through and turn upfield. That didn’t happen. I had full lock on to the left but the jeep remained steadfastly inside the ruts left by the tractor tyres. I stopped when I realised. I walked down to the LST and filled the buckets. I fed the boys and climbed the fence for the tree. I hurled it over the fence and got back in the jeep. I’d forgotten I had full lock on and when the jeep burst free from the tractor ruts, it immediately began that left turn so I had to turn right rapidly to get me up the field. With that left lock on, I was in danger of turning right round and going back the way I’d just come 😂 I stopped by the outer ring and took the hay bag. The gate is higher than the fence but opening it is too difficult for me. I did a bit of a hurl and roll/push. Mental note not to get much in the bag, even if I need to take hay more often. I dragged that to the ring feeder and emptied it out. The alpacas ignored me. I went back and dragged the tree. I then had to get that big sucker over the gate. I got it up a bit and then let it drop. Hulk came rushing over to eat.
Back at the jeep, I drove to the trough area and began feeding in there. I gave Ffion hers and set off to the far field. The cria over there, Texas Hold’em I think, eats the bits of food I drop on the floor so I’ve hung a bucket really low to train him to eat. Today, he learned to do that. Well done little man! At least he was eating. There wasn’t ice today so at least I was saved that job. I drove back along the tyre tracks, stopping only to pick up another lick bucket. I put the jeep away and took the extra lick bucket to the IBCs at the back of the barn. They now have 2 buckets for water. After that, I went to sort the Peckys out. There were 5 eggs left by Neil from the afternoon before and I had another 3 eggs. Off to Aldi for bread. I had another bright idea on the way. Instead of struggling to park the truck, I decided to park in the larger spaces, just outside if there wasn’t a BMW or Merc there 🙄 I was in luck. There was a transit van and a space for me. I grabbed 2 loaves of bread, put the address in my sat nav and set off for Creigiau. I got a rather big and bushy tree from there. I stuffed it in the back and wondered how on earth there was going to be any room for the 2nd one. I decided it was worth trying it. It it didn’t fit, I’d have to call back later. I pushed and reorganised, then pushed a bit more. I then slammed the door before anything fell out😂
Back at home, I unloaded the bread and eggs then went to print something out. I let Skye out to play and for dinner started. I then filled another green waste with bloody ivy 🤬 It doesn’t look like I’ve cut anything back either which is demoralising. I had dinner and walked Skye. I then escalated a complaint to Royal Mail. Then I went out the front and took my Christmas lights down. I had put them up, when there weren’t any vehicles in the drive. Today the car was there. I’ve been full of great ideas though and used a mop handle to unhook from unreachable areas. I’ve been cooking on gas today, ideas wise. I hope I haven’t peaked to early for 2026, it’s only the 2nd day of the year 😂 Time to go up to close.
I reversed part way down the drive, next to the tradesman’s entrance. Getting the trees out of the truck was harder than getting them in 😂 There were a few casualties – pine needles on the ground by the back of the truck. I flung the small one over the gate but I had to open it to get the big tree in. I dragged them to the site of the old tractor shed. Ewes started running to eat. I went to feed Rascal then but kept my eyes peeled for the ducks. They were up by the wellfield wall, identifying as alpacas 😂 They must have watched me feed Rascal though because they rapidly came down the field when I left the barn. They must know my routine. I sorted the Peckys first and lastly the ducks.
It had been cold but none of the implied snow had fallen. I’d stayed warm by keeping busy 😁 I had also had several good ideas 😇
Helen x
