A Day in the Life of an Alpaca Farmer

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After my resounding success looking after the farm for one day, John and Gwen confidently set off for Sunshine in Victoria with the fleeces leaving Mum and I in charge at the farm. Their confidence was well founded. The farm ran like a well-oiled machine and they returned two days later with the farm (pretty much) how they left it. A typical day for those not of farming backgrounds went something like this:
3am: Wake up call from Leo the dog. As it turns out his bed is just uncomfortable. Readjust bed only to find Leo sleeping on yours. Ah bless...
4am: Wake up call from rooster crowing or cat jumping on you (I think they have some sort of job-share scheme going)
4.30am: Let cat out
6.30am: Wake up swim
7am: Feed chickens, sweep mess possums made of porch
7.30am: Feed alpacas and horses, open up various gates in an exciting game of animal tetris - the final result being the alpacas get a bit more space to roam, the horses don't trick you into letting them into the wrong paddock, and the sheep don't eat the horses' breakfast. It's a skill...
8am: Breakfast for cats, dogs and humans
8.30am: Jobs depending on what's happening
9.30am: Gym (yeah, I guess I wasn't that busy), pick up cake for morning tea
10.30am: Check on alpacas. Morning tea.
12.30am: Lunch. Quick check of alpacas (this is only necessary when you are expecting babies), quick swim
2pm: Doctors appointment to get all the jabs I should have got done well before now. Spend afternoon recovering. Unable to swim as have no use of arms.
5pm: Feedup. Feed chickens, collect eggs. Count and feed alpacas. Extra food for pregnant ladies or those feeding babies where necessary. Count and feed sheep. Put grass hay out in the house paddock for the girls. Close gates.
6.30pm: Wine time. News and Home and Away - we really needed to know if Sally survives, all very exciting. Feed dogs. Start looking for cats - put cat door on one way trip.
7pm: Shut gate to alpaca paddock. Open horse gate and let Noe the sheep out.
8pm: Final check of alpacas. Dinner.
9pm - 12am. Relaxation punctuated by looking for cats and ensuring inside for the night.

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