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Hello, Elle!
I think Pentaquod was a giant!
You will learn quite a lot with Chesapeake.
Shipbuilding and how to protect hulls from borers, etc!
Cataracts are a great op.
Just like going for a filling, plus I got a coffee and rich tea biscuits!
Pity I only had the two eyes to get done!


Hello, Rosalind,
I have every confidence in my dentist.
And she is a very nice lady, indeed.
I shall post a "report" as to how I get on!

Good morning, Rusty!
A dull and dank day as yet....I am not sure if we are promised any sunshine.
Now, Chesapeake......
Oh, it wasn't clear to me, so far, that the tribesmen referred to as "little people" were of standard size, and that it was Pentaquod who was of Brobdingnagian proportions!
I know a little about "borers", don't I , from that crossword clue?
Leastways, I now know what a "borer" is!
Right, well, we are away in about an hour to Bromley for our optician's appointments.
I am unsure whether we are going by bus or taking the car.
And speaking of cars....shall you get yours back today?

Good morning from a very sunny Scotland, Elle!
Cold though.
Pentaquod is huge.
Hope you both get on fine at Bromley!
I have just had an email from Which.
They are testing opticians.
I'll have a look later, to see where my Tesco figures in the ratings!
My car?
I'll phone later today to see how things are going.
We know the exhaust is blowing and will need a repair or replacement part. Other than that, we shall see!
I should get it back today. No rush though.
I know the garage owner very well.
He is almost family!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Our appointments at the optician's went well.
My husband has come off lightly, as he has no alteration in his reading glasses prescription, and he doesn't require distance glasses since his cataract operation.
I am not so fortunate, and have to have new glasses for both distance (which also means sunglasses) and reading glasses.
(But I would have needed new reading specs anyway, as I had broken the previous pair!)
Apparently I am also developing a very slight indication of cataracts.
"Nothing to be concerned about yet" I am told.
An expensive outing with three pairs of specs needed!
but then I never look at the price of frames initially, as I work on the principle that I shall choose what I like regardless of the price!
It is strange how often my choice alights on "designer" labels!
What sort of a day are you having?
Any news of the car?
A coffee now and maybe the crossword........

Hello, Elle,
Good results at the optician?
Once they do your cataracts you won't need distance glasses.
Your optometrist is on the ball, anyway!
How come, three pairs?
I had a wee look at the Which optician ratings.
Local independents came out on top.
Second were Costco.
Dollond & Aitchison next.
And.... ASDA in fourth place!
That was a surprise, seeing ASDA ahead of Boots and Specsavers and Vision Express.
My car failed on exhaust, as expected, that is all,
It is ready to collect, but the bill is not!
He will work it out tonight, and I'll collect old faithful in the morn. No point in collecting it now and going back to pay the bill tomorrow.

Hi, Rusty!
I have had a visitor! My friend and neighbour popped round for a chat and has only just gone home!
She came just after I last posted to you - so no crossword so far even attempted!
We have had coffee though!
Three pairs of glasses because I have two for distance ....an "ordinary" pair, and then a pair of prescription sunglasses.
The third pair is for reading.
I am surprised that "Which" mentioned Dollond and Aitchison separately in their ratings?
D &A were our opticians for very many years, but the company was absorbed into Boot Opticians back in 2009 - and the name Dollond and Aitchison gradually phased out to become known as Boots Opticians.
A bit odd?
Was the car okay apart from the expected exhaust needing fixing?
I am just taking the dog for a quick belated walk before it goes dark......

Hello, Elle,
That is exactly what Which say.
All D & A branches will eventually assume the Boots brand.
Yes, only a part, or parts, of the exhaust system failed.
Two new words for me in crossword, and a clue that is "iffy" in my opinion.

Hi, Rusty!
That is good news about the car? No "hidden" problems!
I still haven't had the time to look at the crossword today.
I have it printed out before me.......
Which clue do you think is "iffy"?
I shall take a look......
Doesn't it go dark early? - I was really surprised tonight.
I am not usually out walking that late.
We had a treat for dinner - fish and chips (well, sausages for me) from the chip shop!
We decided we had been so busy today, that we wouldn't cook!
Very tasty!

Hello, Elle,
6d, "Mostly quiet and not up to it, I have a place on the board" (7)
S?I?T?N
i do not like it one bit!
No, only a rotten exhaust on my car.
I do not use it very often.
Exhausts eventually rust.
Chip shop teas are nice.
My local one delivers, too, does yours?

Hi, Rusty!
Well, I am all right with the first part of the clue?
stil(l) mostly quiet
+
ton ("not" reversed)
and I get stilton = cheese = I have a place on the (cheese) board.
But I think the second half of the clue is clumsy?
On the other hand it was easy enough (but then you had given me the crossers)
Although I think I would have got it anyway.
But not the "smoothest" clue?
I don't think I'll venture any further!
I shall see what Pentaquod is up to.....................
No, our chip shop doesn't deliver, but then most people that use it live only a stone's throw away!
It's just around the corner!