Today’s guest picture comes from our older son Tony in Fife. On one of his recent outings he met these charming alpacas.
Those weather gods certainly know how to get a good laugh. After several grey and miserable days, they waited until we were bound to spend a whole day indoors regardless of the weather and then they turned on the lights.
There was not a cloud in the sky when we came out of church to see kayaks bobbing up and down on the Esk.
We had a short time at home, enough for a coffee, a sandwich and a glance at the birds, (who were enjoying the sun)…
…and then it was time to drive to Carlisle for a final practice before the Carlisle Community Choir Christmas Concert in St Cuthbert’s Church, a seasonal must for lovers of good music and alliteration.
Outside the church….
…a large crowd had gathered.
We had a very good attendance inside the church for the concert and thanks to the slightly more relaxed attitude of our new conductor, I enjoyed the singing more than I usually do. I view practices as times where there is a chance of getting things right and a concert as a time where it is all too easy to get things wrong so I find practices enjoyable and concerts slightly stressful. However, since the audience members whom we met over refreshments after the concert told us that the choir had sounded really good, we had to be pleased with our performance today.
The slow cooker had been patiently cooking a pasta sauce while we were out singing so we had a warm welcome when we got home, even though the car thermometer was registering 0° C.
I rang my sister Susan to ask after her health and she reported that she was feeling much better. She told me that her arm was much less painful and this was another factor that led to today being entered on the credit side of the great ledger of life in spite of the weather gods’ cruel joke.
The flying bird of the day is a chaffinch as I didn’t have time to wait around for something more interesting to come along.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
I liked the crowd outside the church.
Good news all the way around, and great photos of the birds as well!
A little sunshine is always welcome.
You had good fun, good friends and good food, so that was a great day.
It was.
Very nice pictures! Please say hello for me to Susan, I hope she gets well soon. Thank you. 🙂
I will HJ.
Nature, nature, and only nature. Thanks for giving this feeling.
Best wishes to Susan! The FBOTD is a good one, as are the Christmas decorations at the church.
I liked the figures with their light touch of gold.
Your exchanges with Quercus have oft suggested to me that I should visit your blog. Now your comment on mine has prompted me to do so. Right up my street. What a coincidence that should should picture alpacas on the day I feature mohair goats.
Thank you for visiting. Quercus has proved to be a blogging conduit.
🙂
Those alpacas sure are cute (though I understand they like to spit.) I’ve been encountering the river Esk and Carlisle in my reading. Nice to have a visual to go with it.
Welcome to our world.
I’m delighted to be able to visit.
Glad the concert went so well, and that you were able to enjoy it. What a lovely blue sky in the Esk picture.
Glad Susan is feeling better! Lovely church and quite the alliteration.
I like a little alliteration.
Me, too!
Love all in your post from the alpacas, skeleton crowd, Christmas alliteration, happy singing through to a bright eyed flying chaffinch…lives up to your title!
I am glad to hear your sister is doing better.
The birds seem to be enjoying the sunshine.