When Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were imposed in March and agricultural shows across the country were cancelled, many of us turned our hand to developing new skills or doing jobs about the house/farm/croft that had been needing done but weren’t top of our lists.  

Christine Cuthbertson, NFU Scotland’s Ayrshire Regional Manager, a committed supporter of her local Newmilns Show was hugely disappointed when it was cancelled but challenged herself to spend her free time carefully stitching a beaded llama (pictured) something that would have looked great in the craft tent at the Show itself.

Hours after starting, Christine’s llama was born but it wasn’t for staying put – it wanted to go the to Show!  Christine decided to write a poem about this as a fictional adventure and after lots of people praised her needlework and imaginative writing, she decided she’d share her work with you now in print and audio.  We hope you enjoy it.

“Everyone was disappointed when the local show was cancelled but I’m a positive person and wanted to try and do something a bit different.  The poem was a bit of extra fun that gave my bead work a little more interest.  I’ve had so many positive comments from friends, colleagues and family that I agreed to share it more widely.  I hope it brings a smile to those who read it and brightens their day up.”

The Llama Who Went to Newmilns Show

Let me tell you of a story, it’s one you may not know,
Of the wee Ayrshire llama, who wanted to go, to Newmilns Show.

All the animals on the farm, the sheep, the horse, the coo,
Every year in early June,  thought Newmilns show, the best do!
But for our wee llama, it was not to be,
For there simply was no class, for his pedigree.

Llama thought the sheep class, with his fine fleece he could try,
His mum always said, not to let a chance go by.
But the ewe said, “Oh llama, don’t make me laugh!
With your long neck, you’re more like a giraffe!”

Llama said “Well, with my nice neat feet,
In the cattle class, I could compete.”
The coo giggled, “I really don’t think,  you have the right breeding,
You need the best genetics, like me, to be succeeding!”

“I know”, said the Llama, “what might be my thing,
I could try the show jumping, in the main ring!”
“Ha Ha!” shouted the horse, “you don’t have long legs,
going over the jumps, you’d knock off the pegs!”

“Well, a helpful llama I like to be,
Maybe the Education Barn is the place for me!”
“No, no” said Christine from the NFU,
“It’s for animals from Scotland, not darkest Peru!”

Llama thought, “I am sure in the catering tent; I would be a help?”
“Indeed not!” Mrs Ireland let out a great yelp.
“With your tendency to burp, and parp,
We couldn’t have that, when serving up, a strawberry tart!”

“I am sure the Young Farmers, who never exclude,
Would let me serve drinks, to get folks in the mood?”
“Ocht llama, we think that would be really great fun,
But its’s such a small bar, there’s no room for your bum!”

Every year, the show came and went, like so,
But our wee llama, never got to go.
Then, in 2020, a nasty virus, arrived in the land,
And all get togethers, were totally banned!

To the coo, horse and sheep, it didn’t matter,
They could just stay in the hoose, and, get fatter!
But for llama, to be busy, he had a need,
“I’ll try a new hobby and learn how to bead!”

Whilst in ‘lock down’ llama kept in touch via Facebook
And one day spied a post, that was worth, a second look,
“Yippee!” llama squealed with delight, and danced round the room,
“The fab Newmilns show committee, have been chatting on Zoom!”
“They have decided, not to hold the greatest show, would be such a shame,
And with all this technology,  pics and vids,  you can enter from hame!”

“Yikes” cried the coo – “I’ve been sitting watching telly,
I am really no show ready, with this big belly!”
“Oh no!” sighed the horse, I’ve not been keeping fit,
“They only thing I can still fit into,  is my bit!”
“Michty!” bleated the sheep, “would you look at the length of my wool!
I simply just can’t enter, when I look far from cool.”

“Well, well” said the llama, “I’ve been a busy bee,
And whilst you were lazing about, I’ve learned a new hobby!”
“With little beads, stitched one by one, see, I’m no daft,
I can enter the class, for ‘any other craft’!”

So, llama picked up, his needle and thread,
And worked through the night, not even getting to bed.
He took the time, to bead a self-portrait you see,
“For the first time ever, at the show you’ll see me!”

llama got to take part, in his first ever show class,
Along with all the other folks, who entered on mass.
On the 6th June, llama logged on to the virtual show,
Of all the winners, he wanted to know.

“Oh, my goodness!” squealed llama, “I’ve won 3rd prize!
You see what can happen when, one really tries.”
The judge said “Your work was very tidy and neat,
Especially for a llama, with not so nimble feet!”

So, 2020, a strange year it had been for all,
But, with different ideas, you could still have a ball,
And for one wee llama, it gave him a real glow,
As for the first time ever, he went to Newmilns Show!


To listen to Christine reading her poem click here.