Otis explores outdoors

Today we took little Otis (born 6 November) and mum Alice back out to join the other Longhurst llamas who we're minding for Mike and Sue at the moment. Otis was thrilled to be outside, and the other llamas were all very pleased to meet him.

Llama wrestling - llama 1, me 0

A llama wrestled me yesterday - and won! Chris and I drove to Bagnols in the Auvergne through snow and ice and temperatures down to minus 7 to see a llama. His owner had phoned me before Christmas asking if I'd like him. She told me he was black, and 4, and in need of llama company. So we went to have a look, but sadly found that he is what's called a 'beserk llama'. This syndrome is most common amongst male llamas that have been handreared or had an unnatural amount of human contact when young. It turns out this llama was born in a zoo in Germany and so must have been overhandled as a baby. He had handsome markings, but appeared to have a few physical problems in the form of a deformed face and nose and crossed over bottom teeth. Chris led him around on a lead, but had to keep it short as he wasn't the best behaved. Then he came up to sniff me as llamas often do, and next thing I knew I was on my back on the frozen ground. Ouch! He had chest butted me without any warning at all. Luckily my butt took the impact so no harm done! We certainly can't take him on - his behaviour is very difficult and it would take a lot of rehabilitation to try and sort him out, but it's quite likely that would make no difference. I'm not sure the owners wil lfind anyone prepared to take on such an animal. It's a real pity that misguided treatment by people in the past has produced what is now an unmanageable llama.
So it was a disappointing and long and tiring day. But we did see some lovely scenery in the Auvergne, one of our favourite parts of France.

Wrestling with Diablo

We did a spot of llama wrestling today. Actually, it was llama-dragging. Silly old Diablo had climbed up on some hay bales and his front legs had gone down into the gap between two of them. He was well and truly stuck when we found him. Husband Chris was there so he pulled Diablo free, not an easy task as llamas are pretty heavy. Diablo can't have been there very long as we'd only checked on the llamas an hour or so previously, but clearly it was long enough for his legs to have got stiff or gone to sleep. He couldn't move for a few moments and we were beginning to worry that he might have broken something, well he heaved himself upright and trotted off. Phew.

The Llama Wrestler has arrived!

Hi! I originally started out at The Knitting Llama just two days ago but then found out there was already a Knitting Llama (without the 'the') who had a blog. So as not to cause problems I've changed my name. I shall be mainly blogging about my knitting but bringing in llamas here and there too. And llama wrestling? My daughter made me a t-shirt with 'Professional Llama Wrestler' on it as a birthday present and I think it's a great name. And I have wrestled llamas a couple of times, but only very gently, don't worry! So that's why I'm the Llama Wrestler.