Guess where we went?

 Eeeeeh, that's an awful lot of metal Geordie to be doing nowt!

Well not quite- it's more than a little inspirational just because it's there standing on a hill master of all it surveys and that's a bloody lot of the North East I can tell you. If this Mamma turned on a pivot like a weather vane it would have total dominance over a mighty kingdom indeed. Mind you, if it did you could probably hear the squeaking in York!

It's an impressive hunk of metal Geordie but I still can't quite work out if it's defending you or protecting you. A bit of both I suppose. At least you knew where you were with a ship.

Having passed this chunk of arty scrap for the past 16 or so years we finally tripped over the base of it yesterday by sheer accident on our way back from the Northumberland County Show. Always too busy in the past to take a gander we did  quick whizz around the next roundabout and lobbed ten minutes out by paying the old red boy a visit.

Impressive engineering in its simplicity and scale. Shirley unexpectedly announced she liked it. I checked she meant the Angel and not the ice cream. 

Me? Well, I still don't see why we needed an Angel. And having read the blurb on the information board I was non the wiser. ' we need to preserve the idea of Angels in our scientific world...' Or some such. That one had me pondering all the way down the A1 Mr Gormley. You could have quite easily said the same about winkles- thank God you didn't. Imagine?

It is because it is. And  it is a huge modern landmark impressive in its own right for merely existing.  As such satisfies any function which we individually bestow on it and that is enough. It's called Art and if it is truly significant to the human experience it will still be there 500 years from now. 

Whatever, like the bridges of the Tyne this magnificent landmark will always herald the arrival or the leaving of a great and vibrant city and a warm hearted, loyal and generous people.Until of course the price of scrap metal quadruples! 'Twas ever thus, Geordie- Enjoy!

Toft Alpacas 'companion animal' had a great day out

As a companion animal I'd make a better cabbage! I'm not a watcher at all. I can't watch alpaca judging for too long.I much prefer to be doing than watching. So I love the agricultural shows as I get to wander around all the livestock exhibits asking questions and meeting the breeders.

I couldn't resist clicking these two Suffolk's who were all dolled up, trimmed, combed, polished and dyed for the sheep show at the Northumberland County Show.

A real contrast to the paddock condition in which alpacas are shown. I love the sheep lines at the agricultural shows. I can genuinely stand for hours watching the sheep being judged. It's a mystery I am dying to understand but each time I come away a little more mystified than when I arrived.

There the judge is, is in the ring, with his or her stick poking and prodding and touching as the sheep run hither and thither. The handlers kind of wait at the fence side until he or she taps their sheep with the stick at which point the handlers dive in and grab their entries and put them in a semblance of order which only they seem to understand. 

The judge then grabs the rosettes, slaps them on the sheep in the order he sees fit and the then they all nod or shake their head and move on to the next class. No explanation or justification of the decision making is deemed necessary and much muttering and speculation amongst the watching sheep men as to what the poor judge is thinking.

This in contrast to the alpaca judging where all is concentrated and orderly. Animals are placed and the the judge must reason down to sixth placing their decisions and rationale for their placements. 

The result? The public flock to the alpaca judging in droves and love the glimpse they get into the judges brain as opposed to walking away from the sheep judging as mystified as when they arrived. 

And for the alpaca breeders? Well they were told in public why they were standing where they were. It won't stop the disgruntled moaning about the judges mental capabilities but they can't add any speculation about the judges reasons into the mix!

I for one would love to hear the sheep judges reasoning. They are all experienced sheep men and women who obviously know what they are doing I just wish they would share this knowledge with the rest of us. 'Twas ever thus!

Alpacas at the Northumberland County Show draw big crowds

I love the Northumberland County Show. The wonderful thing about the Northumberland County Show is the genuine mix of town and country with country lovers from the City of Newcastle attending in droves to mix with the farmers from right across the North of England to appreciate the cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, cavies, horses and of course especially the alpacas.

The public just love the alpacas. There is a tremendous interest in all things alpaca and it made me realise yet again how much I miss the Alpaca Showing at the Agricultural Shows. Breeders only shows are fine for breeders but they are not a replacement for getting our alpacas in front of a new crowd. There is genuine excitement in being in front of large members of the general public with alpacas that is hugely rewarding. Also the promotional aspect for the Alpaca is irreplaceable. There will be a lot of enquiries coming NEBAG's way in the coming weeks I'm certain. I'm jealous to death!

Paul Rippon of Barnacre Alpacas did a sterling job of educating the public on all things alpaca with an informative running commentary throughout the judging. I dare say he'll go very quiet for the next few days having talked on the microphone non stop for almost eight hours straight.

The alpaca showing never had less than a hundred members of the public watching at any one time and for the climax of the Show Championship there were close to three hundred waiting for Shirley to announce the result.

The Supreme Champion Huacaya Alpaca was won by an intermediate light fawn female from Beck Brow Alpacas in Cumbria.  A bit more 'bling' for your cabinet Barb. 

The Reserve Champion and Best Bred Northumbrian Alpaca went to Fallowfield Alpacas.

A high standard was maintained throughout all the classes with an especially impressive entry in the white juniors both male and female. Congratulations to NEBAG on creating a great show with a lovely atmosphere. Congratulations also to the Northumberland County Show Organisers and their team for persevering despite the challenges caused by the weather on creating a genuine country event which was a joy to attend regardless of the mud on our boots. What else do you expect when you're out in field? Pavement? There's enough of that stuff in the Toon!

Northumberland County Show

Great Bank Holiday Monday at Bywell in Northumberland where Shirley was judging the North Eastern and Borders Alpaca Group annual halter show at the Northumberland County Show.

 Shirley judged 104 alpacas in total on the day and a good standard of entries maintained all the way from Grey to White. 

Although the ground was wet and very muddy  having been severely affected by the rain In the week, the weather held off on the day and a good time was had by all. 

Congratulations to the members of NEBAG for organising a great show and especially to Melanie Douglas of Fallowfield alpacas and her merry team of show organisers. Her husband Mike, current NEBAG chairman performed his role of Ring Steward for the morning session with Paul Vaclik and Paul Shrimpton sharing the responsibilities in the afternoon.