Lisbee Stainton at the Toft Alpaca Studio

Lisbee Stainton giving her first set at the Toft Alpaca Studio Knitalong. We've had another great alpaca day here at the Manor. 

Congratulations to Kerry and all the ladies of the Toft Alpaca Studio for making this s remarkable event. 

Big thanks to Dougie Lord and his Dad for working the entrance and car park.

Much thanks to Laura Bettinson for organising and operating the sound system. (Up and coming Star becomes roadie- it happens to us all.)

And of course much thanks to Linda our herds woman for keeping the alpacas coming for the walks and talks. Long Days but good days at Toft alpacas.

The bus is back

Morning Glory the catering bus arrived back on the Manor at lunchtime to sort out the catering for the Knit & Gig event commencing at 3pm this afternoon. 

Tonight at 7pm and 9 pm we have Lisbee Stainton performing in the ToftAlpaca  Studio. 

So it's been all hands to the pumps this morning to get ready for the 120 guests who will arrive throughout the afternoon and evening.

Up ont moor...

Breakfast at the Deli in Hathersage and then up onto Stanage edge to watch the boyos climbing.

 Reassuring to see that the crowd was much the same as it was thirty years ago, which was the last time yours truly joined in. I was four stone lighter then- scandalous!

When I stopped being a rock bunny Stanage was dominated by noisy anorexic weirdos who clung to the edge like Spider-Man and loved nothing more than leaping off without a care and swinging on the rope for another go.

Nice to find it crowded but dignified and quiet again. Much more like it!

Walked for three hours on the moor with the wind in my face, not an alpaca in sight and loved every single minute. 

i love the moor at any time but August when the heather is in bloom it is just perfick!

Hope show at the crack of Sparrows

Playing companion animal today as Shirley is judging the Alpaca fleece show at the Hope Show in Derbyshire today. 

So it was up at the crack of sparrows to get the judge here and working. The show is tomorrow so the judge is busy in a big tent on an empty ground today.

Meanwhile the companion animal is going to sneak off for a long breakfast and explore the countryside.

Only one cria to go at Toft Alpacas

We're just about done and dusted with the birthing for the season, our last one was the end  of July. This Du Prem male cria arrived last week and they are expecting another birth from one of their agisted alpacas and that will be the lot for this season. Most of the matings are just about done also. The girls are spitting off like fishwives on the manor and the stud males are competing hard for last knockings. 

It's been a dry old time with the weather this summer but thankfully  the alpacas seem to thrive on the dry grass. 

Toft Alpaca Studio hosts 60th Anniversary

Toft Alpaca Studio played host to my parents 60th wedding anniversary last Saturday as the Bettinson family gathered to celebrate a wonderful couple. Audrey and John Bettinson have been married 60 year. It's official folks, as they even to a card from the queen. Truly inspirational. 

On behalf of all our family and friends I thank them for their devotion and for the love and support they have given us all throughout the past 60 years. Thanks for the Lurve folks!

We had a great weekend, there were 16 of us all together and the Toft Studio was the only place big enough to accommodate a sit down do for all. We had a great night, the old folks gave it some on the dance floor. Some of the young folks welcomed the sunrise over the manor. There was a ridiculous amount of Al Jolson played to keep my father happy and a few tears shed as we played in the background an audio visual show of family  photies going back 60 years. 

My thanks to all the family for making the effort and pitching in to make this a very special weekend. A huge thanks from all of us to my wife Shirley who organised us all to make it happen, well done that girl!

A massive thank you to John and Audrey for their love and dedication and we wish them many more years of happiness to come. Well done Mum and Dad. Xxxxxxxxx

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Had a great night out this week at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Drury Lane. Impressive. Technically sensational. The packaging and execution is truly gobsmacking and the performances excellent. I sang the set until 2 am in the bar. Inspiring, congratulations to all those involved.