Today was probably the most nerve wracking day for Neil but it was all worth it. He had to get up at 4.30, having had little sleep ( I know because I didn't either) as we were both thinking of all the things which could go worng at the Royal Show.
Still, the loading all went like clockwork and the two girls were installed in the trailer without incident. The drive also went fine, although Neil took it steadily. I had a text at 7.30 that he'd arrived, leaving 30 minutes to unload and get the girls in the pen before he had to remove the trailer. That gave time to grab a bacon butty before the vet was due to arrive to check the girls. That was the most nerve wracking part of all, especially as he didn't turn up until 11.30. By that time I was in my meeting but I got another text to say all was well and the girls had been given the OK to participate. I finished my meeting on time at 12.30 and Nick was on hand to drive me up to the show grounds, where we parked in the disabled parking and I sorted out my mobility scooter. That proved a lot easier to drive than the electric wheel chair and I found the alpacas without a problem and I was just in time to see Neil and Brunhilde in the ring being judged for the junior brown female class. Brunhilda strutted her stuff without any problem at all and came third. Claudia had already been in and sported a bright red rosette - first in the intermediate grey females. Apparently she behaved impecably in the ring after some initial reluctance.
Apparently Brunhilda's little white socks had caused great consternation - should she be classed a 'multi' i.e. a piebald type alpaca? She was allowed in the brown class but we were told she may not be allowed to compete in the class in future. Interesting as her fleece is unquestionnably brown. She's also given Neil a heart-stopping moment when she jumped over the hurdles forming her pen, but he was soon able to usher her back in and was fine for the rest of the day.
I manned the British Alpaca Society caravan all afternoon, which was very well kitted out. I wasn't rushed off my feet, but had a steady trickle of enquiries and I hoped my enthusiasm for alpacas rubbed off a little.
Eventually the show closed to visitors and we started packing up. Of course, just as I was motoring my way back to the registration desk for the mobility scooters, the skies opened and I was drenched. By this time the girls were back in the trailer all safe and dry. Another slow drive home and a celebratory curry as we were both too tired to cook.