Blog - Westsongs

Dylan moves to Llandeilo

Pistyll Gwyn Dylan - superb intact male for stock guard or stud services — Dylan at Llwynmarch 2013

Pistyll Gwyn Dylan with Xander — … with suri friend Xander

Our wondrous stud male, Dylan, who has been staying at Alpacas of Wales over near Llandysul has now moved to new lodgings – still with Alpacas of Wales, but at Llwynmarch – their new site near Llandeilo.

He is up for sale, sadly.

After five years here we have realised that we just don’t have what it takes to run a successful alpaca business, both in terms of land and resources and in ourselves, for different reasons. We didn’t go into it completely blind, but we obviously had no experience, and if I knew then what I know now … etc etc.
The alpaca business climate has also changed, not just in relationship to the wider economic recession, but also because when we bought in 2008, Bovine TB had yet to make any impact on UK alpacas. Since then it has become big news with alpacas not only being affected, but even being scapegoated in some quarters. We’ve had no problems here, but some other local farms have received serious hassle, despite being TB free.

With regard Dylan, the fact that he has to reside elsewhere has become unacceptable for me – I want my alpacas here. Unfortunately, we just don’t have enough space for him to be kept happily with other males – not when the girls are just over the fence!

So for us it’s back to roots with the alpacas – some animals for keeping the grass down, and for the wondrous fleece, and for the sheer delight of their company. No more breeding.

Pistyl Gwyn Olive - superb breeding female — The lovely Olive …

Along with Dylan, we’re also selling off the young ones, as always planned, and also Olive our top breeding female. Although she is something of a mascot for Pistyll Gwyn it seems wrong to keep her and not breed from her as she is such a star alpaca.

So if you know anybody who wants some great alpacas at very reasonable prices have a look at the Pistyll Gwyn website. The animals are also listed on Alpacaseller UK as well.

Rick’s Wood Pile

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Sorting the wood at Pistyll Gwyn — Wood getting chopped, sorted and stacked at Pistyll Gwyn. Alpacas in the background munching breakfast.

Its that time of year again – harvesting and processing wood for next years winter.

I am breaking myself in gently by finishing off some wood piles that were left over from last year. I’ve also made a better drying area in the orchard for twigs and small stuff – putting some old asbestos roof sheets to good use.

So … they tell me I can get married …

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its not fair – its not natural – gay people are nice – no they’re not – yes they are – its a sin – and so on … and on …

Not that I want to, thank you very much.
I suppose I should be pleased, and part of me is – the part that as a young man campaigned, marched, protested and at times just defied. But that was in the 80s.
As a young teenager in Wisbech in the 70s, my response to omnipotent homophobia was to just run away and hide, which I did, splendidly, in the loony embrace of the Hare Krishnas. Not that they were any less homophobic of course, but they had a downer on sex full stop, so I guess I just didn’t feel so out of place.
But that’s another story …
Today I find myself sitting at my desk working, with a background murmur coming up the stairs of MPs debating this (Caerthan appears to be transfixed). They have spent all day debating it. I have spent all day getting mad that it is still necessary to debate it. My patience is clearly done. I am angry for men and women everywhere who have had to wait this long to have their relationships recognised.
If you want to comment, DON’T start debating the issue. There is no more debating on this subject here.
I feel better now!

Fantastic Day for Brambling

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Brambles along the ride, no longer smothering the trees

Gwen, posing very self-consciously for the camera in front of a pile of brambles

Today was just glorious. Next to no wind, blue skies, and more warmth in the sun that I would expect for February.

So I set about one of the bramble patches with a vengence.

We have a lot of brambles here, scattered about, and each year I take them back, pulling up as many as I can at root. I’m not trying to eradicate them – I love blackberries – but just trying to keep them under control. They are an amazing plant, I mean – what a trick – planting yourself at both ends!

I have had a lot of experience – Olive’s garden in Exeter had some really mean brambles which could put this lot to shame – and I do enjoy it. On the bank where I was working today there are some trees, a hawthorn, a few ashes, a birch, a sycamore, and something else that I can’t identify, and it a real joy to free them from the encroaching growth.

Gwen and Herbert have been out with me, and the alpacas have been chewing on the bramble leaves, all of which adds to the pleasure!

My mum’s wonderful sewing machine

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Here it is! A classy old sewing machine, with a bakelite light fitting (on the other side) and a motor too!

A couple of months back my dad gave me mum’s old sewing machine. It was in the way at his place, and my sister-in-law didn’t want it as she has her own mothers – sewing machines are obviously things to hand down.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever use it, the spirit being willing, but time and the requisite skills and experience were all lacking, so it sat in the conservatory doing service as a table (it all neatly folds up in its own cabinet).

… and this is all the gubbins below. Flywheel, treadle, and a neat little half moon box for spare needles and bobbins and things.

THEN … the zip on my trusty jacket failed me. I do tend to get attached to my clothes. This jacket was a Christmas present from Pam, Caerthan’s mum, a couple of years back now and has been worn almost continuously, bar the hot days, since then. So as well as being a great article of clothing, and supremely practical for Pistyll Gwyn, it has sentimental value. So the time was right for the sewing machine to come out of its cabinet and shine, and it did!

It is a beautiful piece of machinery, and the way it sits in the cabinet, which has its own little box for things like the bobbins and oil can etc is just a delight. And it is SOLID. And iron. And ornate. It’s operated by a treadle, but it has had a motor fitted, so you don’t have to keep treadling continuously, and also a little light added – all mod cons. The electric cable is that old furry stuff you used to see many years ago so it was nostalgia hits all round.

I hadn’t got a clue where to start of course, so I got out the ancient, and rather tiny, instruction book and started at the beginning … how to thread the bobbin … how to thread the needle … I was up and running in no time and after a bit of practice I decided to go for the zip.

I’d found a replacement zip the day before on eBay (£3.99 from a place up north, with free delivery that arrived less than 24 hours after I ordered it, so they get my vote – Pro-Sew-Darlington), and I’d already carefully removed the old zip leaving the jacket all gaping and horrible, so well past the point of no return.

And I just did it. It hadn’t helped that Caerthan had sucked in air between his teeth saying how notoriously difficult zips are – well what does he know! I now have a jacket with a brand new zip and I know how to my work my mum’s wonderful sewing machine. She’d be proud, I reckon.

I then went out, skidded on the hillside and landed flat on my back in a muddy puddle, so the jacket got a wash as well!