IT must be my propensity for whimsy that causes me to smile every time I pass Llama Ted's and see one of his llama's heads popped up over the hedge.
We are not talking about a new cult on the moss, by the way [that would be Lama Ted spelt with only one L, a funny way to spell Ted I know] but the movement of Farmer Ted's herd of llamas to his big field.
It must be a surprise to strangers to see these Andean animals grazing on a West Lancashire farm but, after a while, you look forward to seeing them there.
If camels are said to have been designed by a committee, then llamas must have been put together by a small working party. Their camel-like neck, pointed ears and goat-like face sitting atop a woolly coat any sheep would be envious gives it a character all of its own.
Music On The Moss: I read an interview in one of the quality papers with author-TV presenter-columnist Clive James that he was going into partnership with Pete Atkin again. Pete who? Thirty years ago, James and Atkin were a formidable partnership with James' lyrics matched with Atkins' music and stage performance.
As you can imagine, their songs were erudite, witty and off-centre enough to make you smile. Master of the revels is a jaunty funsong which the original liner notes said featured the former Salvation Army tuba played on the Sgt Pepper album. Have you got a biro I can borrow is a wistful tale, while Girl on a train is another subtle twist on the boy-girl theme. Beware of the beautiful stranger is one of their better tracks, though few fall below the very good mark. Tracks like Session man blues show how perfectly Atkins could adapt James' lyrics to form a perfect song.
If you come across one of their LPs in a rack somewhere, snap it up, though they're apparently quite pricey these days.

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