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Glad you are going out, elle. Tell them why- you may get a free drink!

My book about Scottish agriculturesays that Turnips were absolutely vital. Potatoes were not grown there until 1739. It is pointed out that cattle couldn't get their teeth into turnips when frozen hard, so the next day's supply had to be kept somewhere where they didn't freeze. My Dad used to store root veg in clamps, rows and rows of them piled up with earth on top and down the sides.

Hello, Elle,
i am glad you have had a rethink about the wellies, splendid and all as they are.
Otherwise you may have been hidden away in a dark corner of the eating place.
Yes, I'd say gansey comes from Guernsey.
Another one from my boyhood that I never hear said now, Is "sloppy-joe", for a t-shirt.
Did you have that one?
None of the young ones know it.
Your Cockney clue has sailed over the top of my 'ead, Elle, I regret to say.
The Times Crossword was on the easy side today, except for a Latin phrase.


Hello, Pigale,
Excellent research, if I may say so!

Thanks Rusty - Having got those books, I may as well make use of them!

Rosalind, one thing that is apparent from my research is that
Turnips were popularised by a Charles Townsend (born 1674) of Norfolk because not only they were a good fodder crop, but it also renewed the soil after wheat or barley - Townsend emphasized the theory that if grown in rotation (wheat, barley, clover and turnip), the soil would regenerate better.

In case you are interested!!!!

I am very interested!
At this stage wheat was pretty unknown in Scotland, as they ate oats (as do I, great stuff). Oats had taken over from barley. When wheat cultivation started, some thought it a "national disaster"!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I have been on the telephone for about the last hour and a half, all told!
First my son rang to wish us a Happy Anniversary - today is also his birthday!
And then our younger daughter rang!
It is turning out into a nice day - all this talking to the family!
Yes, I once knitted myself a "sloppy - joe" - defined as a long loose-knitted sweater!
It is the only thing that I ever made!
Now the clue......
17a: A saint 'assled and stupified (9)
The answer is "astounded" = stupified (def)
a st 'ounded (hounded)
(Throw something at Mr R........not me!)
Yes, I thought the 15 x15 was on the easier side today, as I have managed to do all bar two!
I especially liked 4a and 9a - the former the Latin one that you mentioned.
(but then Latin was my favourite subject at school!)
I couldn't do 8d
I have M?R?L
and 22a: CHINA?A?
Chinaman?
but if so, why please?



Thank you, Pigale, for the best wishes!
We shall do our best to enjoy ourselves.

Hello, Elle,
Our sloppy joes were t-shirts.
8, Extra = more, large = L
Morel = fungus/mushroom.
Chinaman is something to do with cricket. A ball bowled in a certain way, I think!
May be in Chambers?
I tend to go swiftly past Cockney clues.
That is good your young ones are calling you.
Should be a nice day for you.

Hi, Rusty!
Our "sloppy joes" were definitely baggy (woolly) sweaters!
Although I see no reason why a baggy T-shirt should not be described as such?
It is given in Chambers as "a large loose sweater".....or......get this one......" a runny mixture of mixed beef and sauce served on a half roll"?
Now I've never heard of that!
I would never have got either of those clues - thank you!
I forgot.......I couldn't parse 21d:
Answer: papyri = old MS
p - penny
pay - wages
but where does the "ri" come from?
Getting dark already......

Hello, Elle!
I always thought that sloppy joe was an American phrase, and I think t-shirts originated in the States, but I don't know.
Your clue is "Old manuscripts deliver cut below penny in wages"
So, penny in wages is, "pa p y"
deliver cut is "ri(d)"
Giving "papyri"
it is getting dark here too.
I had a look at the loch just now, and there were car headlights going along the road on the far side of the loch.
Very infrequent, though.
A very quiet road!.

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, I see it now...but I hadn't considered "deliver" to be synonymous with "rid".
All done and dusted!
I think we are planning to go out about 6pm so I had better think about getting ready......
I am looking forward to our evening out!
I wonder whether the restaurant will be especially decorated for Christmas?
Or if it is too early.........

Hello, Elle!
Have a look in Bradford's for rid/deliver.
I imagine the restaurant will be done up for Christmas.
Lots of work nights out etc over the next few weeks.
Is the restaurant far, or can you walk there?
I had my bridie for tea and it was very good!
Scotland has had its sunniest November since records began.
Long may it continue!