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Good morning, Rusty!
We have a lovely day here!
It began very foggy, but as I walked across the fields, the sun gradually came out!
I have a leisurely morning before me - just a few chores to do, then I shall tackle the crossword.
This afternoon, we go to visit our friends.
How about you?
Do you have anything planned for today?

Good morning, Elle!
A fine day here, too!
No plans today.
I am very pleased with myself!
Managed to thread a needle so I could replace a shirt button. Thought I would take ages, but no!
I have finished crossword early today.

Hi, Rusty!
The trick is to have needles with big eyes!
You surely have done your crossword very early!
Whatever will you do at teatime?
Well, I have "sort of" finished today's 15 x 15 too!
Certainly I found it a lot easier than Saturdays' puzzle.
There are two I cannot parse?
18D: 5 run out to play guitar 97)
R?S?R?M
I have "rostrum" purely because the letters fit
but why?
and exactly the same situation with
20D: On the shelf, Emma may be here?(7)
L?B?A?Y
It must be "library"?
I have no idea why?

Most libraries would have "Emma" on the fiction shelf I hope.

Hello, Elle,
5 is "stage"
ro is a cricket abbreviation for "run out"
You could "strum" a guitar.
Rostrum.
I think "Emma" is a well known novel.
A novel may be found in a library.
I have just watched "Treasures of the British Library".
Was very good.
An actress, Meera Sayal, chose six things she wanted to see.
1, John Gielgud's own scrapbook.
2, The local dialect of Derby, many years ago, on tape.
3,The story of the ayahs who came to Britain many years ago.
4, Jane Austen's hand written manuscript of "Persuasion".
5, The newspaper reports of the Grunwick dispute.
6, The pre WW1 instructions of how to play netball.
I thought it very good and the Library is superb!
On Tuesday, a musician called Jamie Cullum, is choosing his six items he would like to see.
Pity it is on Sky Arts, though, I am sure many more would like to see it, on BBC for instance.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear! I feel really stupid now......
I knew of course that a rostrum is a stage, but just didn't relate the figure 5 in 18d as referring to clue no 5! (the answer to which was of course "stage")
I didn't, though, know the cricket term "ro."
(But I had already got the "strum" part!)
And in 20d I was looking for some obscure hidden meaning!
I never thought of Jane Austen's "Emma"!
My not getting that clue was unforgivable!
Especially as I managed others that were far harder!
Your programme "Treasures of the British Library" sounds great!
I wish it were on a channel that I could watch.
I shall definitely try to fit in a visit there!
We are away out shortly to visit our friends......

I wish I had access to Sky Arts.
Julian has gained 8 new followers since yesterday :)

Hello, Elle,
Yes, you not getting the "Emma" clue is unforgivable!
A year or two ago, Elle, I would not know "ro" for run out at cricket, but you learn as you go along.
Part of the "learning curve"!
I think there are another five folk to go on "Treasures".
One is a female trumpet player, who's name I've forgotten!
But i shall be watching!
The British Library is so very modern, I was very surprised!
And experts everywhere!
Yes, if I lived down there it would be on my "must visit" list.
Go!

Hello, Jazzgirl,
It is a pity Sky Arts is not on mainstream TV.
You, who like your music, would possibly find some of today's programmes interesting.
Nat King Cole was on earlier, and later today there are concerts by Meatloaf, Carole King, and Dusty Springfield.
Not too bad!

Hello rusty,
I am not keen (and a bit wary) of taking out contracts and monthly fees so, for now, I will have to miss out on Sky Arts.
I like Jamie Cullum; I have several LP 's of Nat King Cole. He had a beautiful mellow voice and the orchestral backing was so good.
I listen to more classical music now.
I read that Meera Syal was moved to tears after reading a letter written by Jane Austen, not long before Jane passed away. Handling such docuents can be a very emotional experience.
Enjoy the rest of the series.

Hello, Jazzgirl,
Yes, you are wise about contracts and fees, etc.
For me, Sky Arts (there were two Sky Arts channels until recently) were part of a package I agreed to, for the sports channels.
I have several hundred channels which I simply do not watch.
There are one or two gems on Sky Arts, though.
Yes, Meera was moved, the letter was with the Persuasion manuscript.
Jane Austen had very neat handwriting.
Meera was also moved by the reports of the Grunwick strike.
It involved mainly Asian women working in awful conditions.
And she was affected by the fate of the amahs who came with the British families from India. Some were abandoned when their charges had grown. One was left at a railway station with a £1 note.
It was an excellent informative programme.
Looking forward to Jamie Cullum's choices!