ALFIE THE ALPACA

2nd October 2022. Yes ! October !

Mrs RM had heard about an alpaca farm to the west of Sheffield, and having recently put turf down in our garden it seemed a good idea to get an alpaca to tend the grass.

Oh, apparently that’s not how it works.

Anyway, a trip out to the edge of the Peaks and a pint on a Sunday lunchtime, that’s almost normal behaviour.

Mayfield Alpacas charges you £5.50 to visit its alpcas, but their Q & A is very clear on fondling, as so must we be.

£5.50 is a bargain, as you also get access to a cute little animal home with meerkats and creepie crawlies.

But we’d come to see alpacas, and feed them, and decide which one we were taking home.

Archie and Francisco seemed a bot grumpy;

We made our choice, who we called Alfie Baaaland the Alpaca, seen here meeting Baa Baa Toure for the first time. They’re inseparable.

At the exit a small girl came up to me and asked,

“Is.. is the alpaca for your daughter ?”

“No, it’s for me. And to keep Baa Baa company.”

She seemed bemused. Her parents moved her away.

We retired to the Norfolk Arms, a stately looking country pub, packed with Sunday roasters (is that a proper word ?).

Mrs RM clung for dear life to the only unclaimed table while I attempted to take a place at the bar, which is difficult when folk are determined to form a queue.

Quite a lot of handpumps in a non-GBG pub, and the Creme Bearlee was a brave choice.

But a successful one. A cool, rich, complex pint from Congelton’s finest (NBSS 4.5). Such strength in depth in Sheffield’s pubs these days.

Alfie feels at home now, but he’s yet to experience the joys of a pub tick. But that will come.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

13 thoughts on “ALFIE THE ALPACA”

  4. It’s a while since I’ve been to the Norfolk Arms – I don’t share your need to fondle alpacas, evidently – but I do remember noticing how good the beers are there.

    There are several pubs in Sheffield called Norfolk Arms, plus several more that have closed. For the avoidance of doubt, we’re talking about this one – that I have somehow failed to review on Pubs Galore – https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/76216/

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  5. Now then young man, if you are going to reside near the Peak District, it is right that you should learn how to abbreviate the name properly. It is The Peak (singular), not The Peaks (plural). The name has nothing to do with pointy landscape, but is a corruption of the Pecestan, an ancient tribe (Iron Age?) who lived there and, after whom, it is named. There is only one part actually named The Peak, and that is Kinder Scout, which is a plateau!

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