05/03/2026
I’m sorry for the radio silence. Life is shifting a lot for me at the moment and there have been many changes, both good and sad.
This week I had to say goodbye to one of my heart pigs, Carnivalé Koji.
She was an exceptional cavy and I learnt so much showcraft with her. She was my first alpaca I coated and she is the cavy that made me fall in love with the alpaca breed. Koji was my first Best in Show and taught me so much about showing longhairs. Koji was more than just a show cavy and really loved the cavies and people around her. She was always happy to be patted by anyone and loved a chin scratch. I’ve never had a cavy that trusted me so completely and utterly.
Losing her at a time when there is so much upheaval in my life has been confronting. The caviary feels very empty now. Whilst she has many cousins, grand nieces and nephews, Koji does not have any direct living family.
Yet I still feel her presence when I sit down down and tend to my current show team. In some instances she has created a living memory inside me, that extends beyond blood or family ties. A sweep of a comb here, a wrap being carefully secured, an innate patience as I teach a baby how to hold themselves on a show board. She helped create and forge my craft and these skills will be used for years to come.
Koji and my love for each other was a quiet calm presence based on deep respect and trust. My biggest hope is that everyone who welcomes a Carnivalé cavy into their family gets to experience it as well 💖 rest easy my girl.
