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Good morning, Rusty!
A lovely fresh day!
Very nice out walking!
I made sure to be home by 9.30 am to phone the vets then, as requested.
Both were tied up and so I am (still) awaiting a call back to see what has been decided.
"Waiting" must be the most annoying and worrying word in the dictionary!
Oh dear!
How are things at your end?

Good morning, Elle!
Yes, a worrying time for you!
You should at least find out a bit more today.
I am on the warpath with DVLA.
They have taken a payment for road tax today, for my old car!
The woman I spoke to at DVLA Headquarters was not at all pleasant and decidedly unhelpful.
She "raised" her voice to me!
I cannot be doing with folk like that!
Roger Federer won his match.
That should please you!
Caroline Wozniacki is kicking up a stink about Sharapova, an unseeded player, having her matches on the "show" courts, Arthur Ashe, and Louis Armstrong.
A very valid point.
Mind you, Sharapova playing on court 15 is no good at all to Nike!

Hi, Rusty!
Right, update .......
The vet has just phoned , with apologies for failing to get back to me earlier because of overwork and emergencies.
They looked overrun with animals when we were there yesterday!
She says they are operating on my cat later today, but with a view just to removing the gall stone, if plausible, rather than the gall bladder, as her colleague told us yesterday.
So that is even better news!
A speedier recovery for the cat.
I hope you sort out your difference with the DVLA .........
Down with bureaucracy!
I am glad Roger is doing well...and even more furious with Eurosport Player that I am missing all this!
I am having no response to my emails!
Maria is a big "attraction" to the public......I do not approve of her being on the show courts, but I can see why this is happening!

Hello, Elle!
It is a fine afternoon up here!
That is encouraging news about your cat.
Things are looking up!
The DVLA are not as friendly as HMRC...in my opinion.
Just my luck to get a cranky jobsworth!
Maria is on Arthur Ashe, again, today.
Last game scheduled, so it will be late.
She is playing an American girl who I have not heard of before.
So... "Come on, the Yank!"
EuroSport are a big disappointment.
One of the major sporting events of the year and their system is kaput!
I do not mean to make matters worse, Elle, but the coverage is excellent.
On both channels, too.

Update, Elle!
Sharapova plays Sofia Kenin, 18 years old, who was born in Moscow but moved to USA when she was a baby.
Her father apparently buys her jewellery for every match she wins.
I am going off her already!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just sent yet another email to Eurosport Player!
I have followed their instructions to re-establish my account, very carefully.....but to no avail!
I have asked them if they are enjoying watching the US Open!
It sounds to me as if you will be between a rock and a hard place, when watching Maria play "Daddy's Little Rich Girl" Sofia Kenin!
(Isn't that the name of a song?)
I am beginning (reluctantly) to admire Maria's tenacity...if nothing else!
If the DVLA are worse than the HMRC, then Heaven help you!
I am restless, I cannot settle to anything...and the cat's op is not scheduled until later this afternoon, about 4pm.
The vet has just phoned to tell me, so I will not be worrying when I do not hear from her any earlier!
Have you done your puzzle?

Hello, Elle!
I will not watch Maria, too late for me, and it clashes with the golf.
And her constant screaming is more than a body can abide.
The DVLA woman was an uppity besom.
I have asked the Lord for a murmuration to perform above her car.
Yes, I have completed my puzzle.
A good one.
I have learned a new river.
There is one where the parse is beyond my ken.
And the Chambers explanation is lost on me.
Other than that, it was very satisfactory!

Hi, Rusty!
Uhm.....I wondered for a moment whether a "murmuration" might also mean an incantation......you know, like such as might be uttered by the three witches...!
But decided that justice might indeed be best served by a clutter of starlings!
(apparently an alternative term for "murmuration of....")
Yes, I thought the Times Cryptic was a good one, again - I am having(for me) an unusually successful week!
Only two left that I couldn't parse......
6a. Cycle material primarily on side facing leader (5)
moped = cycle (def)
m - m (aterial)
maybe "ed" meaning "editorial" (leader)?
I'm not sure where to go with this?
16d: One taking off, or opening up, in a way (9)
aeroplane = one taking off?
I can't account for the rest of the clue!
Which was the one you yourself had difficulty parsing?

Hi elle,
my bag fat Homer fingers opened this thread by mistake but couldn't help noticing;
6a look up op-ed
13d pore reversed in (a lane).
Cheers.

Hi, Ginge!
Thank you - I would never have got those two!
It's good to hear from you...how are things?