Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hi, Rusty!
Still damp here, not a nice day weather wise at all!
But the time out with my daughter was good, and we had a very nice pizza each for lunch!
(YB slept through lunch so we had to give him a sandwich later)
Then when he awakened , we took him to buy a pair of bigger shoes in the Clarks Sale.
A good bargain at about a third of the price!
I am expecting to watch Jo's match later today?
I wish that she could have beaten Serena!
I don't know much about Coco ....who does she play next?
Do you think we are on track for a Federer v Nadal Final?
Now that would be fantastic!

Hello, Elle!
Good, a fine day out you had.
I know little about Coco, other than she is American, 6ft 1inch tall, her given name is Colleen, she is playing very well, and she plays Venus in the next round.
If Federer plays Nadal, I am firmly on Federer's side.
I can't be doing with Nadal.
I did not see Jo v Serena.
She should learn something from the experience though.
The days are stretching!

Hi, Rusty!
I watched Jo play Serena...it was a good match.
Jo can be proud of her herself; she acquitted herself well!
Well, should it come to a Final between Rafa and Roger, I shall of course be supporting Roger....he is an all-time favourite of mine, as you know!
But why do you not like Rafa?
I am told by someone who lives near him in Mallorca that he is a very nice guy and does a lot for his local community.
This is hearsay obviously........but I see no reason to discount it?
And then there is his Tennis Academy?
He has done a lot of good there?
Right, "Eggheads".........oops, it's already started......

Oops, Rusty!
These pronouns will be my undoing......!
I have just noticed my typing error.......
The sentence should have read "Jo can be proud of herself......"!
Right, Update!
I have finished reading the last volume of the Clifton Chronicles.
I had wondered how Jeffrey Archer would bring the saga to an end.
He did it by "killing off" his two main characters.
But I hadn't foreseen that the title of the book - "There Was A Man " - would be the epitaph for Harry Clifton.
Very skilfully done.
And very appropriate.
I applaud Jeffrey Archer!

Hello, Elle!
Jo can be very proud of herself!
Her performances are improving, so there should be more to come in future.
I have read a Jeffrey Archer book and thought he was a good novelist.
It appears to be getting cold here.
I am heading to cemetery tomorrow and it won't be warm there!
Crossword quite good today, but 10a "ratchet", I can not parse.
A ratchet-wheel has teeth but other than that, I am beat!
I have looked at it for a while and given up!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is arctic this morning!
-3C now with an expected maximum of 1C by midday.
But minimum frost and NO fog!
So that is an improvement.
How about in your neck of the woods?
I hope it wasn't too cold in the Cemetery?
Did you see that Nesta Carter has retrospectively failed a drugs test?
He was found to have been taking drugs during the 4x100 relay race back in Beijing in 2008, for which the Jamaicans won Gold Medals.
They have now been stripped of these.......
The publicity has centred around Usain Bolt's deprivement of one of his Gold medals but I also feel sorry for the other (less well-known) members of the relay team who also have lost their medals.
This is the problem with its being a team event.
Innocent members suffer as a result
Now that random "back" tests are being carried out, I feel sure we shall see many more of this type of incident.
Right, now for coffee and the crossword......

Good morning, Elle!
Hard frost here, but a beautiful morning!
Very cold at cemetery but I did not really notice it, as I was busy tidying up the grave.
I read about Carter and the Jamaican team losing their medals.
Cheating is rife in sport, unfortunately.
My sport of cycling is/was particularly known for it.
There have been Tours de France where it is estimated that 90% of the riders, were on dope.
I hope it is better now.
But, I fear the testers are playing catch-up all the time.
Too many panic rooms on the go!
Nicole Cooke says she was 19 when she signed for a pro team and was immediately offered dope.
She did not accept it, but knows of many that did.
Federer v Wawrinka is on now.
A good game.
Maybe that will be the game BBC will show.

Hey Rusty!
Thank you so much for telling me that Roger was playing Stan Wrawrinka right there and then!
I found it on the computer and have been listening to it on BBC Radio Live Sport!
Blow for blow as it were!
I am absolutely delighted that Roger has won!!!!
He is the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam Final for 43 years!
I feel sure that it will be the choice of match to be shown on the BBC highlights programme at teatime!
I'm so excited!

Hello, Elle!
There is live coverage of the tennis on BBC Radio 5.
Do you have a wireless?
Federer played very well and I hope he wins the tournament.
Final is on Sunday, I think.
I am heading out now.
Got a couple of things to do, then heading for a walk.

Hi, Rusty!
Good afternoon, Rusty!
I am not sure whether you will be back home yet?
I hope you enjoyed your walk? Where did you go?
It is freezing cold here......
I think the BBC forecaster forgot to include the wind chill factor......... this has to be the coldest day we have had yet, this Winter!
I have just been out to open the side gate for the window-cleaner.......
and that is as far as I am going this afternoon!
There will be no second dog walk!
I am indoors now.....and that is where I am staying!
I was listening to the tennis on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, but on the computer.
This will be the same as on the radio?
I am hoping now for Rafa Nadal to beat Dimitrov tomorrow, and then we can have a Final between Roger and Rafa.
( Just like the old days! )