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Hi, Rusty!
A pleasant walk......
We met up with a friend who sadly had lost one of his two dogs to renal failure since last we saw him.
The remaining dog seemed a bit low......apparently she has been pining for her companion.
Now re 11a...I think "flag" means "mark for attention"?
And for 15a......I have been doing a bit of research on Google....
Apparently LIDAR—Light Detection and Ranging—is a remote sensing method ("detection system " in the clue?) used to examine the surface of the Earth.
Remove "d" for diamonds and we get "liar"?
It is the best I can come up with?
Oops.....it is now pelting down with rain!
We timed our outing well!

Hello, Elle!
You have explained 11a satisfactorily, thank you.
I have not heard of LIDAR, but it makes good sense the way you have explained it..
And...Anne Bradford has it under "radar".
It is a fine afternoon here.
Now, back to Irma and Yeehaw Junction.

Hi, Rusty!
Goodness, it is getting very chilly.....whether it is because of the rain (again) or just autumnal evenings?.......
But we have switched on our central heating!
Now, I have found another clue that I did not parse!
I have "Locke" for 4d.
I am assuming this to be John Locke, an English philosopher (def) ?
How does "seen stripping" fit in , please?
Fortunately, the Times QC - just done - was very straightforward!
I must go and organise dinner - chilli con carne.
It is already cooked....just needs heating up!

Elle, I've seen that the possible parsing for Locke is...
Clocked = seen
Stripping = remove the first and last letters and you're left with Locke.

I don't think it is a good clue!

Hello, Elle!
I had the heating on for a wee while when I got up this morning.
My interpretation (it makes sense to me!) of the "Locke" answer is to look to the word "seen".
"Clocked" can mean "seen".
Chambers has it as "slang".
Strip "clocked" by removing the outside letters and you have "Locke".
I bet your con carne is very tasty.
I had a cheese roll and a banana for my tea.

Hi, Rusty!
I did not know that "clocked" meant "seen"?
This is not something I have ever come across before.
Yes, I can see where "stripped" then comes in!
Cheese and banana taste good in the same sandwich....especially cream cheese with banana........
Try it?
How were the pies that your son brought for you?
Savoury or sweet?
I have run out of fresh reading material...I didn't get around to browsing Amazon....
I shall have to decide what to reread....



Thank you, Malone...I didn't know that "clocked" meant seen.

Hello, Elle!
You scientists must lead a very sheltered existence if you do not know "clocked" for seen!
Have a look in your fine Chambers Dictionary?
Well, "clocked" is certainly in use around here, anyway.
I am surprised you have not came over it before.
They were beef pies my son brought me.
It is a fine butcher he goes to.
They rear their own cattle on farms not too far off.
I am very fond of bananas!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I have found "clock" in Chambers as "to observe, notice (slang)"!
I am not alone, though, in not knowing this, as neither my husband nor my daughter has heard of the term........
( I shall do a survey in the park in the morning! )
Cat is still eating...and with more enthusiasm now.....that is a good sign, isn't it?
He has just come miaowing for food!
We go to the vets on Wednesday to have his stitches taken out - and to discuss the biopsy results, and possible treatment.
I hope he will be ok........

Hello, Elle!
I am convinced your friends in the park will know "clocked"!
Anne Bradford has "clock" under "notice".
Yes, your cat seems to be doing fine.
Yes, you should know more about his condition on Wednesday.
Hopefully, no more treatment.
Did you order a book from Amazon?

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I have ordered an omnibus edition from Amazon - two books in one.
You may perhaps have heard of Rosamunde Pilcher?
I am not expecting that you will have read any of her books, but she is quite well-known......perhaps in particular for "The Shell Seekers", and for several of her books being serialised on the television.
Well, I have ordered two books by her son, Robin Pilcher.
The read-ups are good, and I hope I shall enjoy the books.
0.40p for the omnibus.
Not bad?