Blogs from Deux-Sevres, Poitou-Charentes, France, Europe

Hello All! Its been a few weeks since I last updated this blog. Truth is I havent done much exciting in that time. Since the debacle that was the castle I moved to a nice house in Neuils les Aubiers, just north of Bressuire, where I have spent most of my time digging the garden, which is back breaking. i have also done some painting, wire brushed and putty'd loads of outside doors ready for painting, and even built a tortoise run!!! Trouble is I have been working so many hours here that I havent managed to get much studying done on the web design front. Plus the house is literally next door to a wooden box making factory, and the machine that strips the bark off entire 75ft tree trunks is just the other side ... read more

and so it came to pass that my last day at Limalonges Alpaca farm arrived. It was a beautiful day, with clear blue skies and lovely sunshimne - albeit pretty cold. The day itself went quite slowly - i had breakfast and then packed all my belongings up again. Then I visited the local supermarket to stock up on bottled water and comfort food, as i didnt know what to expect at the 'castle' in bressuire. When i got back Maria informed me that Tina the Tortoiseshell had given birth at alast - she had 3 little kittens - see attached video for the ultimate in cuteness!! Then i went out to give the alpacas their evening feed for the last time. And it seemed as though they knew i was going, because they were a ... read more

On Monday I witnessed the birth of an alpaca, when Persephone gave birth to a healthy, if gangly, Marcie, who weighed in at 8 kgs! It was quite an experience to witness, and the way that Marcie was up and walking withing 30 mins of being born was incredible - even if her legs were a little shakey. Sheree and Toby couldn't keep away and were constantly poking their noses in to places they shouldn't have!!! So heres some photos of baby and mum.... read more

Well, what can I say? These alpacas have no shame. I was busy working in the bottom field again, where Vision, the alpha male lives, when Maria decided to put Christine (the spitter) into the field. She hadn't been in the field for more than 5 seconds when Vision chased her around for about a minute, and then proceeeded to mate with her. And what a noise he makes!!! Christine looked totally unimpresssed but was compliant anyway. And he took about 30 minutes, which is quite normal apparently! Anyway whilst all this was going on i was busy cutting back and clearing the shrubbery, brambles, and the trees with the really hard, sharp, pointy, stabby prickles on them. I think I got stabbed in the head about a dozen times, and in the hands, arms, legs, ... read more