Brodgar and the llama trekkers meet the BBC

 

I’m quite clued-up about cameras as all our guests have them so they can take pictures of:

Brodgar – right profile;
Brodgar – left profile;
Brodgar – full face;
Brodgar and two-leg looking at camera;
Brodgar, some of the rest of the herd and two-legs looking at camera;
Brodgar being hugged around the neck; and
Brodgar – being remarkably handsome and staring into the distance with an expression of deep mystery…

 

But this camera was different. It wasn’t one of the usual out-of-your-pocket-click-and-then-back-in-your-pocket-jobs – oh no! This was a whopper – about the size of a newborn llama cria but without the gangly bits and Bebe Cee’s friend carried it on his shoulder and said how heavy it was. It takes moving pictures! Whopping-camera two-leg Paul lined up a shot as we entered the village – you know, just by the bridge in front of the Temple Bar Inn – it would have been a lovely shot he said, but at the last minute it was spoiled by a big white truck landing in front of the camera. Tee hee hee.

 

More shots of us as we trekked in line along School Lane, past the Old Rectory, up the hill, around the llama grid, and up onto Ewyas Harold Common. It has been a terrible few weeks’ weather and there was standing water in puddles all around. Not a problem for me, but it’s always interesting seeing how the youngsters take to a new situation. It was Croft Ambrey who didn’t want to get his strong little ankles wet – wimp – but he worked out he didn’t need to go around all the puddles and sailed over a couple. Magnificent. Perhaps I can persuade our people that they should train him for next season’s obstacle racing. I think he would be really good.

 

I’ll never understand everything that two-legs do. The trek was going along normally, ME at the front of course, with Croft Ambrey following, and then Avebury, Stenness, our nephew Kennett, and the so-called trek herd leader (I don’t think so), Silbury at the back. We each escorted a two-leg (they don’t know the way so we have to show them). Bebe Cee and Whopping-camera two-leg walked backwards alongside us. He ‘filmed’ us and she guided him in the skilled art of walking backwards with a whopping camera on his shoulder. What strange behaviour. I positively snorted when we veered off to the side whilst he backed straight into the dead bracken and through some mud.

 

Bebe Cee asked the trekkers about llamas, llama trekking and day’s out and then waved Mike in their faces. Seeing as most of them had never met a llama before I was impressed at how quickly they realised that llamas are not stupid. We’re quite bright really (except the dear girl Callanish), and we all have our likes and dislikes. I’m quite independent-minded; boss Ringsbury keeps a stern eye on the youngsters and acts as go-between between the two-legs and the herd; Croft Ambrey will be the strong, silent type; Avebury is a loyal herd-boy; Stenness is an excellent uncle; Kennett is an excellent nephew; and Silbury is… Hmmm, how would I classify Silbury? Lots of words would suit, but let’s just give you three today and say Silbury is clever, fussy, and pretty. He’ll love me for that.

 

We trekked on and came down the slope off the common. Passing Whopping-camera two-leg again he took some lovely shots of us as we walked right through the centre of our village. We went through the gap in the hedge back to our field, Kennett being particularly enthusiastic to see the farm again. Here we eat grass we can’t normally reach which is a nice change. Then back up the fence line to the farm. We all know we will have cereal when we are un-haltered back in the barn, and this and the hay we were given were a real treat. Everyone stood around and looked at us for a while and then said their good-byes.

 

Bebe Cee had said ‘the llamas will be going out tonight’ which was news to me as we’ve never trekked in the dark and I’m tired after a long day. But then it became apparent that ‘going out’ meant staying in and looking at that funny square thing the two-legs like to look at. The square box is placed in the corner of their office and they sit and look at it for ages at a time. Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather! There we were, in the box walking around Ewyas Harold just as we had earlier on our llama trek. Our people told us the box is called ‘teevee’ and Bebe Cee was a clever person who could put magic pictures of llamas inside the box. Brilliant!! I’m thinking of getting myself one of these teevees so I can check on when the two-legs are getting my hay net ready.

More llama chat from Golden Valley Llamas again soon.