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Hello, Elle!
The wind is rising here!
I am not fond of comics.
I have no problem with Amanda's Gold choice, but he would not do for me.
He seemed a very pleasant lad, and he was funny.
His squeaky voice sounded odd, though?
This thing of Simon's stopping a singer and asking them to sing another song is getting a bit overdone, I think.
I have seen this happen at least three times now.
He is not part of the act and should let the singer sing what they want.
I still do not think we have seen the winning act yet, though!

Hi, Rusty!
I became engrossed in my book.......and my husband has been out in the garden, supervised by the dog!
See, this is what happens when a Sunday is "aimless"........ with no structure to it!
Usually we are meeting up with family and playing games with the grandchildren!
"Restful" is not normally part of the equation!
I am not used to such inactivity!
Where has the afternoon gone?
It has passed me by almost unnoticed!
Right......it is time to DO something!
I shall muster the gang ( me, husband and dog) and we shall go out for a walk!

Good evening, Rusty!
Our beautiful day fast disappeared almost as soon as we set foot out of the door!
We had rain...not heavy and not for long... but a miserable drizzle that non- the-less was quite "wetting"!
However, we enjoyed the exercise and fresh air!
I have just looked in on the ospreys.....only Lassie in residence, and she is perched on her eggs in a nest that is rather precariously being buffeted about by a noisy and seemingly heavy wind.
An excellent picture though - the best I have had from the webcam in a long time.
What is your weather like? Did your winds persist?
Have you been out for a walk?

Hello, Elle!
It has been a fine day here, but strong winds.
Yes, I see Lassie.
The nest is high up in the tree, so it will be very windy up there.
I have not ventured out today.
Sunday is a lazy day!
I have been on Amazon but not bought anything!
Just exploring.
Had another wee read of my book to see how Miss Beckwith is getting on!
The locals pronounce her name "Miss Peckwitt"!
I shall say no more as you have all this ahead of you!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just finished talking to my cousin!
It is an hour that passes very quickly........
I was reading up about Lillian Beckwith when I ordered the second omnibus of her books.
Apparently her real name is Lillian Comber........I wonder why she changed it?
Just for the purpose of her books?
She was born "Lloyd" in Cheshire, lived in Scotland with her husband, moving to the Isle of Man in 1962, where she died in 2004.
There, a potted history!
I have been to the Isle of Man.
We stayed in Ramsey.
I went pony trekking........!

Hello, Elle!
When I first came across Miss Beckwith many years ago, i had no access to a computer.
Not even sure if Internet was invented.
But, I believed what was in her books.
In those days I had no reason not to.
Nowhere is there a husband mentioned.
I just discovered the husband yesterday!
She arrives at Morag's on her own, by sea, and previously had been living with her friend, Mary.
As I saId, the books are "semi-autobiographical".
So, a lot of the tales must be taken with a pinch of salt.
She invented a name for the village where Morag lived, but I have since discovered the real name.
They are good tales, nevertheless.
But there was bad feeling towards her when the locals saw how she portrayed them.

Good morning, Rusty!
A somewhat dull and dismal morning!
There were not many dog walkers out and about.........
Now regarding Lillian Beckwith....bearing in mind what you have told me, I shall remember not to take as gospel all that she relates in her books, but will consider that the stories are only SEMI - autobiographical.
But why did the locals not like the way they were portrayed?
Judging by the excerpt you sent me about Morag, I would have said that it was written with affection?
Am I wrong?
Or did they consider that Miss Beckwith was making fun of them by "drawing" them as slightly amusing characters?
I am really looking forward to reading the first of her books!
You are meeting your friends today, aren't you?
What are you all planning to do?

Good morning, Elle!
A bit cloudy here.
I shall expect you to get 18a very quickly!
And 14 down!
I only know what others have written about Miss Peckwitt.
I had not the faintest idea there was a husband!
I do know that she went to a funeral or to the local church, and was sitting next to a "vile smelling woman".
Her words. She mentioned it twice.
I've read that she was almost "run out" of the village when "The Hills" was published.
She certainly left the village and moved to the island of Soay.
But all that apart, the tales are very good, and entertaining, I and many more think, and you will form your own opinion of them.
Remember, too, that Miss Peckwitt came from a Yorkshire town (she says!) and went to a very remote part of Scotland where their ways and her ways were very different.
That makes for many humorous situations, with the villagers, and hens, cattle and "sheeps"!!
The books sold very well.
I am awaiting instructions from my friends as to what the plans are today!

Hi, Rusty!
I received five crosswords from John today!
Five!!
I have already done the Jumbo GK and the QC - both straightforward - and have started on the 15 x15.
I'm on a roll today!
Yes, I got 18a immediately! I would have been ashamed of myself if I hadn't!
( After all he and I were brought up together!)
14 down took a little longer.......I had to get the crossers involved........
After your comment, I was first thinking of James Michener and his islands, which threw me off course!
My mind was initially far from Miss Beckwith / Peckwitt!
I cannot parse it though.....?
Maybe just "he" for "man"? but then what?
I have what I think is a good one, for you, from the QC......
Leastways, I liked it.........
12d: Darling friend folded notepaper, sending out circular letter (5,3)
I hope your weather holds for you and your friends to go out........have a great time !

Hello, Elle!
Peter Pan!
I knew you would like 18!
Now,14,
This is a stab, just!
A "he-bride" could be found at the front of a bridal train?
Though it would be unusual, to say the least!
"An" is in the clue.
Giving "Hebridean"
It is a fine day here.
I am home now.
My chums and me had a coffee and eats at ASDA.
They were buying stuff to take home and sandwiches etc for the boat!