Monty Python & Llamas!

Yes, llamas even infiltrated the very strange world of the Monty Python team. Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TenoyjilNjU

Newcomer

A message went out to the llama community earlier this year from June, in Lincoln. She'd had two llamas for years and one unfortunately died after a long and happy life. Llamas don't like being on their own and although they'll sometimes be happy living with different animals, it's obviously much better for them to be around other llamas. June therefore asked if someone with llamas could take on Tonto and we helped out. Tonto - his name might be changed yet to stay in keeping with our jazz musician theme! - has dropped pasterns, commonly called ski feet, so he won't be out trekking. He's happily settled in though, as you can see here.

Lena

After a busy few months with various things, we're back onto updating the blog. Our first piece of news though is one we'd been avoiding. Our beautiful Lena, who we believed to be pregnant to Django, died suddenly on New Year's Day. Janet went out as usual to let the animals out and found Lena, who looked as if she'd just collapsed on the spot. Due to two days of bank holidays, the vet advised us not to have a post mortem but he said it was very likely to be due to her pregnancy. Needless to say, we were all incredibly upset and it was an awful start to the year. We'll never forget her, but read on for more of our activities this year.

A`week of contrasts

Well what a week of contrasts! We'd been enjoying such lovely weather on the run up to Easter, as you can see from the sky behind the tree, and then, in the space of one very wild night,we were blocked in by snow. Two sheep went missing and we found them after prodding around with a stick in the 4' drifts by the crags. Luckily they'd made a little igloo each and bounced out when we dug them out. The llamas, as usual, took it all in their stride but were a little miffed when they realised they couldn't get to the feed bowls. A new bale of hay in the shelter soon made them happy again though. Thankfully the thaw has now set in as we're off to Chatsworth again soon - keep your eye out for us!

Happy 60th, Ken!

Karen was determined that Ken's 60th birthday treat wasn't going to be put off by the weather, and here's the proof (can you see Ken's '60 today' badge?)! The weather report was very grim and the longer picnic trek was abandoned in favour of the shorter Chatsworth 'A' one but in true Peak Llamas fashion, the rain stopped and the wind died down. That is, until the second half, when we got very wet! Django and Jelly Roll performed really well even in the face of this but were glad to get to back to the traler and hay. We were equally determined not to disappoint Karen & Ken but we're looking forward to the summer when we'll do a proper picnic trek with them - maybe even the Ladybower one. Ken had a knee replacement recently and has exactly the right attitude - use it or lose it!

Update on Lena

Well Lena did all the right things after Django was introduced to her for the third time in early August. Poor old Django went into her field with high hopes fuelled by his two previous experiences with her, but she was having nothing of it this time and refused his advances in no uncertain way. She's now spending lots of time sitting in her shelter and eating good quality hay with a feeding supplemment every now and then. We're not absolutely certain she's pregnant but we're sufficiently confident to be thinking of changing our annual holiday (only one week away a year for us!) to make sure we're around should the happy occasion materialise. Here she is hiding behind Satchmo, her half-brother. We'll keep you posted!

Godfrey & Jean in the sun!

It seems like a distant memory now but we actually had some nice weather quite late in the year, as you can see from Godfrey & Jean's trek in October. We meant to update the blog sooner but we've been so busy with Beastly Science, the llamas and everything else we do that we never got round to it. Now we're working off the Christmas excesses (including hosting the village and musicians' party) we thought it about time we did. This was yet another great trek, with Django enjoying being led by Jean, who was very kindly letting him munch away on the superior-quality Chatsworth grass more often than he usually does! Jelly Roll, as usual, was very happy to bring up the rear. If ever there was a hippy reincarnated as a llama, then it's definitely Jelly Roll. Thanks too, Godfrey, for the offer of help on the book - it's all done and due out in May!