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...sorry, just noticed you already mentioned that....off to eat :)

Good afternoon, Elle!
A great match!
And two very sporting players.
And great to see Rod Laver.
He is looking in good nick.
So, dry your tears and thank your lucky stars that you were privileged to see two of the all time greats "serving" up a great sporting contest.
Yes, Jazzgirl's parse is spot on.
I think yours is good too.
It crossed my mind that "wives" should be "ww" but that would not help solve the puzzle.
I think there is a "quid" of chewing tobacco, too?
Do you well remember "Manuel and his Music of the Mountains"?
I have just found out there was no Manuel.
It was Geoff Love and his Orchestra.
Ah well, I'll just have to put Manuel to one side, along with the Tooth Fairy!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes you are right, "privileged" is indeed the word to describe what we have been able to see and experience today.
And what will remain to the fore is not just the excellent tennis.......but the great sportsmanship, too.
Well done, Roger and Rafa!
And Rod, too!
A great example to your profession!
I have never heard of "Manuel"?
Although I do of course remember Geoff Love.
But, Rusty, the "tooth fairy" is alive and well......he left my granddaughter two pounds for a front tooth the other day, so she tells me!
( Btw, I managed the remaining parse........it just came to me "like a flash"!)

Hello, Elle!
Yes, the final was a treat to watch.
The Tooth Fairy has been missing in my life for many a year!
It is black ice here again.
Treacherous pavements and roads.
No crossword for me today.
My day of rest!

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear! I am sorry about your weather.... if you have black ice, you had better be careful going out in the morning when you go for your paper.
It will be dangerous underfoot.
We, on the other hand, have very heavy rain!
It is pelting down!
But should be milder tomorrow than of late - expected to reach 7C.
The period of frozen ground equalling clean dog is obviously over for now!
What a pity!
I shall phone my cousin shortly..........

Hello, Elle!
How is your cousin doing?
I will be fine, I hope, on the slippy paths.
I have just texted the young drivers in the family to be very careful on the roads tomorrow.
Not seen a gritter, either.
We are to get milder weather from tomorrow I think.
But, we have had a fine Winter, up to now.
Long may it continue!

Hi, Rusty!
My cousin and her family are doing fine, thank you!
She does not like tennis, however, and so does no appreciate what a fine match she has missed today!
And what two great players were seen on our screens!
Yes, very wise of you to text the young ones to be careful on the roads - they will take notice of their granddad.
I am tired.......must be all the "tension"!
A good day, though!
A bedtime drink is calling........

Good morning, Elle!
It is Baltic here.
Hard frost, and ice.
Roads and pavement treacherous.
But, that apart, it is a beautiful day!
No word from the young ones!
It will be, "Ice, Granddad? What ice?"
So, given the conditions, I shall not walk today, I do not think.
The AnswerBank site is being revamped today.
Be interesting to see how it turns out.
Hopefully no problems!

Good morning, Rusty!
We have the exact opposite to you....it is warm(er) and wet here!
Not a very nice day at all!
Yes, it sounds sensible to stay indoors if your pavements and roads are so very icy.
Not worth risking a fall or road accident.
What is being done to Answerbank ? (I don't go on that website)
Do you use it often?
Now, tell me....what is this I am hearing this morning about Roger Federer's being accused of "legal cheating" by Pat Cash?
It would seem from what I have read that Roger took time out for injury at the end of the fourth set yesterday?
And Pat Cash considers that this was "cheating"?
I know nothing at all about this, as this wasn't shown in the BBC's "Highlights"!
Play just apparently continued on into the fifth set.
But surely one is allowed time out for injury anyway........and this is not something that Roger makes a habit of doing.
Did you see this happen? Can you fill me in?

Elle, I've still got the Sunday paper, with Pat Cash's column. He said 'I'm afraid that Federer's victory over Wawrinka in the semi-final left me with a bit of a sour taste. I didn't like the way he took the extended injury time-out at the end of the fourth set when his opponent had really snatched the momentum from him. Apparently Federer is claiming that he needed strapping very high on his leg and, to preserve public decency, it had to be done in the privacy of the locker room. But play was held up for over 10 minutes over something that was basically a loss of physical condition and should not have been allowed. The rule makers and tournament doctors have got to wise up to this kind of thing. In this regard, Federer is normally the fairest player on the tour and, although I know it won't increase my popularity, I have to point an accusing finger at him. Let's call it a gross bending of the rules, shall we?'