What is all this about...please you brought it take it with you

To those thoughtful people who use wee plastic bags to pick up your dog poo we appreciate you efforts to keep our 3/4 miles of footpaths clean. 

To those of you who then proceed to hang the bags in the hedges and fences in the absolute belief that their is somewhere on TOFT a 'poo fairy' who comes along in the night and spirits these packages away- I have to inform you , at risk of destroying your innocence forever. There is no such fairy and in my busy life I could do without having to dispose of your little presents. You brought these items with you, you used them, please take them away with you. The whole point of performing this worthwhile function is that they go back on your own bin, not in mine and certainly don't hang like urban Christmas decorations all over the countryside. 

Much love and thanks- the TOFT 'Poo Fairy' who wants to be made redundant ASAP by your change of habit. xxx

Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta 2016

Popped into  the Heart of England Alpaca Fiesta yesterday at the Bury Farm Equestrian centre, Slapton near Leighton Buzzard.  Always amazed to think back to 2000 when we managed about 48 entries in the first BAS Alpaca Show at Purston Manor Brackley. Some exhibitors actually carried their alpacas into the ring to be judged and carried them out again. At that time there were less than 2500 alpacas in the country and halter training was in its infancy. The learning curve had only just begun. 

16 years later and the Heart of England Fiesta attains over 300 entries 24 hours after they opened for bookings.

 I think it's now safe to say as we approach our twentieth year of breeding alpacas that our South American friends have secured a permanent presence in the Agricultural landscape of the U.K. All we have to do now over the next 20 years is start to move to a more commercial fleece producing operation to add real value for the breeders to this magnificent fibre. Onwards and upwards!

High rise estate erected at TOFT....

What a day yesterday at TOFT for me and 'Bird-box Billy' aka Edward Lord. 

Together we knocked out a dozen new bird boxes and a bat box in Grandad's new workshop. It's rustic high rise accommodation for the bats and wee birdies at TOFT this season. And the bats well...first time we've ever made a bat box. The joy of explaining the mechanics to my three year old apprentice was simply priceless. "They land on the bit hanging down, grab hold of the wood, then crawl up the hole Dandad?" Apparently  he told his Daddy all about it when he got home and he had it all right too. Will the bats take up our offer of free accommodation? We shall see.

Widdy is a great Glue man dipping the perches in the white stuff and then putting them in the holes. Then of course he tested each one for robustness with his new hammer. "They all passed the test Dandad" 

The wee birdies will be spoilt for choice deciding where to live at TOFT this season.

We got half a dozen hung up last night before light stopped play and hopefully we'll get the rest up tonight when he comes in from nursery.  It simply must be done. Perfick! 

TOFT Summer Open Day ... Fun for all on a Perfick day!

We kicked off August with the TOFT Summer Open day... Weather was perfect not overly hot but dry with plenty of sunshine interspersing the rapidly moving clouds. Congratulations to Kerry and her team of Tofties in the shop who worked tirelessly to entertain the crafty crowds. A massive thanks to Uncle Keith, Ollie and Rob for their work in the car park. A massive thanks to Auntie Lorna for her priceless meet and greet work. Not forgetting Jules and Tom supervising the catering from  the TOFT Coffee Shop aided and abetted by Scott and Doug. A big thanks from me for my team of a Linda, Olivia and Lizzie working with the alpaca walks and of course to 'Whoopy Daisy' and Caroline who walked and talked themselves to a standstill around the farm and back again. And let's not forget Auntie Sandra who had the two young uns to entertain throughout. Thanks you one and all for creating a truly unforgettable experience for all our guests both young and old. And a special thanks to the 84 year old alpaquero for letting me take her photo. A Perfick family affair on a Perfick TOFT day! God bless you all! 

And this afternoon it will be Assembly

10 small Hayracks rocked up today to take their place in the new TOFT quarantine area. Every alpaca family staying for mating will have their own little hay bar!

Girlie class of 15 coming out to play early....?

It's been a very dry summer so far here at TOFT and although it may not have done the hay making much good (we've still got yo see how much we get at the end of this week) the alpacas have loved it. The young girlies of 2015 are maturing fast and there's half a dozen of these elite maidens who may well become women by the end of the season. Good weight, good size and starting to show interest ....we normally leave it until the second year but these girls seem determined to change that policy this year....we shall see.

Surprise surprise !!!

One of our clients who has three alpacas in our quarantine facility for mating was pleasantly surprised last week when her grey female gave both to a lovely little grey girl... These things can happen. Apparently she had discovered an abortion in her herd over winter and now realises that she had attributed it to the wrong female...'Twas ever thus. An unexpected grey girl enabled her to get over any embarrassment very quickly- congratulations!

Shearing with a difference at TOFT ...

Kerry's Dog Pete got his winter clothes cut off this week and is now all set to enjoy the summer...

Sexing guinea pigs is a little trickier than alpacas

A couple of months ago for young Edward's  birthday his Gran bought two female Guinea pigs for him. Unfortunately three weeks ago both females gave birth to five wee ones. Apparently Guinea pigs can breed at three weeks so suddenly we have five iincestouos offspring to find homes for. 

Today was week three for the little ones and this morning Shirley decides we have to sex them and separate boys and girls immediately  be on the safe side. So before we leave for Germany to judge alpacas we are sexing Guinea Pigs. As you do.

 The one below protruding is a male. The one not protruding above is a female. Obvious, when you know but tricky to apply the right amount of pressure to facilitate protruding. All this over ones Cornflakes. There's never a dull moment at TOFT alpacas. At least they won't get to bonk their mothers and sisters while we are away!

Jobs still on at TOFT Alpacas...

Big TOFT thanks to young Will who came to help me with the alpaca fencing last week. We are about halfway through setting up the new 15 acres of alpaca paddock. Ran out of time today as I am off to Munich at the crack of sparrows in the morning to judge fleece and halter at a big show over the weekend. Next week it's Spain. The fence job will all get done by Christmas- we hope!

Jobs on...

We've been at the fencing on the new alpaca pasture for almost nine days solid and can now see the light at the end of the tunnel but it's still small and a long way away. We're probably at least another week or so away from getting the alpacas onto the new pastures which are currently growing  like they're on speed with this warm autumnal break. The number of posts in the stack are diminishing but still  a daunting pile remains. If the weather holds we get there quick and if it breaks we get their later but at least we know now we shall get there.

Call country character and select Falconer direct for one of these...

And you will get something so right like this Dude, straight out of  the Falconer casting agency to authenticate your country event. No stone unturned to entertain the crowds at the Alpaka Show Ost in Burgstadt this weekend. Every Alpaca Show should have one.

Every alpaca show needs one of these....

Camel rides all round at the Alpaka Show Ost...there were two of these Mamas to entertain the crowds and they had passengers all day long. Every alpaca halter show should have one.

What an Alpaka Showcase....Alpaka Show Ost

Jorg and his merry men did a fantastic job on the equestrian ring overnight to totally transform it into an alpaca wonderland with a handmade wooden ring centre stage. They have created a magnificent stage on which to celebrate the German alpaca industry. Congratulations!

Will you look at the wall of bling to be given out over the two days. Here we are in the expectant hall waiting for the first class to start. More later on Alpaka Show Ost.

J we are in the transformed hall just about to start 

There really is no getting away from the fibre business...

The hotel we are staying in in Burgstadt whilst Shirley judges the Alpaka Show Ost is a converted textile spinning  mill. The fibre business chases you everywhere...The machines are no longer running but the place is packed tonight  with German Alpaca breeders, celebrating their annual show, all of whom wish they knew just a smidgeon of what has been forgotten here.

Oh Lordy ....alpaca judging just got a lot more colourful

 I suspect my good friend Cameron Holt has not yet visited.

The garden gnomes in Burgstadt are as big as me...

How about this bad boy? I. Met this dude hanging around in someone's garden in Burgstadt with a load of others of similar scale. (We are over here for the weekend while Shirley judges fleece and halter at the Alpaka Show Ost for Association e.v ) You don't find many of these mothers  in Dunchurch. 

You don't find many in the UK at all probably because your jocular Friday night youth would take him walkabout. I know I'd be tempted!  Imagine waking up on Sunday morning with this bad boy on your doorstep.

The glamour of Alpaca fleece judging... Alpaka show Ost

All an alpaca fleece judge needs is a big warm room, nice high table, detailed preparation, good organisation, a good scribe. Throw her a bun regular  and she can keep herself amused for hours. Does she care that we are in the beautiful town of Burgstadt in Germany? Not a jot. The world could end at noon and she'd not notice until the last fleece is scored and done.

Saturday and Sunday in the halter classes will be a different matter entirely Mrs Toft Alpaca Judge has 180 alpacas to judge in one and a half days. She is already behind before she starts at midday tomorrow but there's no rescheduling the ancillary events. It turns out she is also sharing the ring with a fashion show, fleece talks and various other presentations and alpaca attractions. The girl will have to get her skates on early doors to ensure the prizes are not awarded under floodlights on Sunday.

Nice big hall for the halter- the hut in the middle is the association office. It arrived first and the rest is set up around it. Nice scorecards too with the show branding. If the alpacas are as nice as the people it should be a great weekend.There is a lot more alpaca show here than I thought there was going to be and the enthusiasm and commitment is tangible - love it. Can't wait for the alpacas to arrive and the show to start. Somewhere on site this weekend there will be camel riding- what me? No I don't think so. I'll look like a bad version of Oliver Reed in Gladiator.

Alpaca unpacker ... Everyone should have one..

At 2 years old Lord Eddie knows how to get stuck in when we've a job on. He insisted on helping us unpack the van this morning after the TOFT ladies returned from Ally Pally. He's not in pain that's him smiling on request. He might be the star of Edwards Menagerie but he's not averse to rolling his sleeves  up and working on the shop floor.

Ladies of TOFT looking fab at Ally Pally

Told you the ladies of TOFT could do it. Kerry the Wonder Lord has done it again. The stand looks fabulous ladies enjoy!