Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Many thanks robtherich and caravaggio. I'd never heard of that expression before.

Mondrian, Chances are that we have met. I was manager of the Cathedral retreat centre for a while. We entertained Dr Mary ? and her two dogs and two nurses. She is world famous in the world of Gregorian chant. Sadly, I can't remember the lady's surname.

Fr Byrne, the young priest who writes in the SCO, is also well into this particular musical art form.

Keep trying the Catholic Herald. It is not impossible (says one who couldn't complete the cryptic last week, and who made a mistake in the quick). For any that you are stuck with, if I can't help, Terry and Trevor, among others will surely know the answers.

Just back from a wonderful day of bus travel - Largs to Ayr, Ayr to Glasgow and Glasgow to Largs. All for no other reason than I like buses (and I travel for free).

Best wishes.

P

Dear Mondrian et al (especially al - a lovely girl...) yes, I realise that the visits are somewhat haphazard, unpredictable. But I get sorely tried by the erks, berks, twerps, twits and tw*ts who try their hardest to drag us down to their level. I shouldn't, because the sheer weight of humour, good advice, sagacity and charm herein ought to burn them off.

Plus I've got a garden to tame!

robtherich, try slabbing the entire garden and decorating it with scrap cars. No need to do any more work, and the neighbours will love you.

P

I was worried you were all going to say it was dead easy this week - coz I managed it without even using a dictionary today. So am delighted that a couple of clues caused a little consternation. I like crosswords 16 and 17 better than most previous ones.
I have just retired and am loving it. Sitting in the garden (a few slabs but no scrap cars) doing the crossword is my idea of Heaven.

Hi all and welcome newcomers! Am still stuck on a few - ones I feel I will struggle with are 8a and 17d so any further cryptic clues would be gratefully received. Have to go back to hospital for results of biopsy - WHY cant they just tell you over the phone. I will spend Easter convinced I have cancer now.......Hey ho! Time for a chorus of always look on the bright side of life, I think - tu du tu do

Hi, Old Gal,

Sorry to hear that bit of news. As you say, tell me over the phone, tell me now, please. I hope the outcome is good.

17 down The in a foreign language;single letter abbreviation for temperature; go by way of. In that order, the name of a country appears.

8 across Another word for valley around i+abbreviation for a tyoe of dog. All of which gives a word meaning to hand.

Hope this doesn't confuse you further.

Please keep us posted re health matters. NHS is a fine organisation.

P

Hope all will be well with your health. Two friends have been through the tests and subsequent operation/treatment lately and both have come out fine. Another friend had the scare and was ok without treatment. They all had excellent care under the NHS. This probably sounds trite but all three have been so positive about it all and they really are ok now. Sincerely hope it's just a scare, but, if not, I hope you fare as well as my mates. One old gal to another.
Not clever enuf to help you with clues without giving them away completely- I might get told off if I do that1

Thanks Murphy and Pipesmoker - have the answers now and am pleased to say guessed 8a myself just after posting! Thanks for your good wishes - I will be more positive tomorrow, just indulging in a little bit of self pity this evening! Will set my upper lip to stiffen mode......

old gal

Just been through something similar.

Do not fret, the health service nowadays seems to work in "mysterious ways".

Bad communication does not always mean Bad news.

Big huggles...that my daughters word for hugs and cuddles, which we all need.

Take care

p@ x