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Good morning, Elle!
Yes, you did very well, indeed!
I do not think that clue would get in a modern Jumbo, though.
It's more of a GK clue than a cryptic, in my humble opinion.
Only those with knowledge of the poem could solve it.
Thickos like me could not do it.
As I mentioned before, modern cryptics are much better than the ones in the past.
I'll see if I can find another later today, to test you!
But, I have a bike race to follow, first!
You probably annoyed your toe with your walking exploits?
It will settle in a day or so.
I have no potato cakes, but....I do have maple pancakes, and they are very tasty!
The weather is a bit on the dreich side this morning.
Hope it bucks up!

Good morning, Rusty!
A dull start to the day here, but we are promised sunshine later.
It is very warm and a bit humid.
I have just come home from the park....having hobbled around with my bad toe!
It is very painful.....I don't think the dog has ever had so short a walk!!
I don't know what is wrong with my toe?
The joint hurts, the toe is red and swollen and shiny?
It began hurting indoors, between walks , so it is a mystery.
I wore my Nubucks whilst out hiking yesterday afternoon, so "sensible" footwear.
Ah well, time, hopefully will effect a cure!
Drinking coffee....and about to take a look at the Everyman before our daughter arrives.
I am not really expecting her much before noon.
What time is your bike race?
Don't forget the tennis Final between Wawrinka and Nadal.
It should be a good match!
Yes, do send me another clue! I like the challenge!




Hello Chris!
A more innocuous version that I learned as a child is:
"The boy stood on the burning deck,
whence all but he had fled.
Did he wash his dirty neck?
did he heck!"

Hello, Elle!
Your toe sounds as if it could be "gouty".
The symptoms suggest it, but I am no doctor!
A visit to your GP would be sensible, I think, Elle?
Not sure of the times of the bike race.
There is the Tour of Switzerland on, too.
Now, next week on your EuroPlayer, there are two athletics meetings, the Paavo Nurmi Games, and Diamond League from Oslo, and a few days later, from Stockholm.
And Roger Federer is playing tomorrow but I forget where!
It is on EuroSport, though.
I'll look out another clue for you, later!

Hi, Rusty!
I shall check out gout! - and Eurosport!
Thank you very much for info!
My daughter just phoned - she is on her way.......arriving in ten minutes.
Talk later.......probably about tea-time?
Enjoy the cycling!

Sounds like gout to me, too elle! Colchicine used to be the answer, and no red wine of course1

Yesterday one of my sons had to sit in an aeroplane for six hours on the runway (in China) and then the flight was cancelled. The airline arranged a hotel for everyone and a bus to take them there. The bus broke down and they had to sit in that for an hour as well! Somehow I don't think he was meant to travel that day.

Hello, Elle!
Let us hope the following clue/answer is not the case with your wonky toe!
From Times Jumbo, Easter 1989.

"Unhappy verdict of famous physicians on Henry King's complaint" (5,2,2,4,3,4,7)

I have the answer.
I have an idea it is from a poem?
But I could never solve it.
I think you would need a degree in Literature to solve these ancient Jumbos, and I do not suppose Mr Google was on the go back then, if anyone owned a computer!

Great racing in the Alps today, and very scenic, too!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
We have had a lovely time with our daughter...and have now caught up on family gossip first-hand!
She is now on her way back to the Midlands.
I too hope that such in not the case with my big toe.......as the answer to your clue is ' " There is no cure for this Disease" Henry will very soon be dead!'
I could not believe my eyes when I read your clue as, funnily enough, you have picked another poem that I once knew!
I can only remember bits of it now though .......

" The chief defect of Henry King
was chewing little bits of string..........
At last he swallowed some which tied
itself in ugly knots inside."

I cannot go any further!
The poem is by Hilaire Belloc.

I'm rather liking your 'old-style' clues!
I always go for the "Art and Literature" questions when playing Trivial Pursuit!

Rafa has just won the French Open!
Roy Emerson is presenting the trophy.

Hello, Elle!
Amazing! You are correct....again!
I would never have got that.
Never heard of Henry King and but vaguely of Hilaire Belloc.
There was another answer that puzzled me, but I forget the clue.
The answer was "The Seven Lamps of Architecture"
Do you know about that?
You would like these ancient Jumbos.
A high percentage of clues are to do with Literature.
Very different from the modern Jumbos.
No good for me though!
The cycling was excellent today.
The race was won by Jakob Fuglsang, a rider I like.
Fuglsang means "birdsong" in Danish.
Federer is playing in Stuttgart tomorrow.
How is your toe getting on now?

Hello, Elle (Clever clogs)
Try this one from Easter 1974.
"Exhibition of London's home-made home?" (4,2,3,5,4,4,5)