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Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear......you sound as though you are going out fitted up for combat!
Does pup not respond to commands like "Sit"?
I am sure, though, that she will enjoy the "treats" !
My cousin has just texted me.......she went back to the hospital today about her hand.....
There is still an ongoing problem...it seems there may be a fracture... she has been fitted with another cast.
I shall hear the full story when we speak on Sunday.
Enjoy your porridge!

Hello, Elle!
I am usually a fairly casual dresser anyway, Elle, though I draw the line at jeans.
They are not for me.
No, the pup does whatever she likes, by the looks of things.
They tell me she is just being "affectionate"!
That is a pity about your cousin.
Fractures can be painful!
I was on YouTube looking at "crosswords".
Great clip of the Two Ronnies doing them on a train.
Very funny!

Good morning, Rusty!
We have had a good brisk walk!
I like these crisp mornings.
I bought a paper on the way home, as John is away this weekend.
I didn't want to do without my crossword "fix"!
What time are you going to see Miss O'H?
Don't forget the dog treats...bribery and corruption......and all that jazz.....
I need a coffee........

Good morning, Elle!
Just home from seeing Miss O'Hara.
Had a nice visit.
What a change in the pup.
A lot less boisterous now.
Her diet has been changed and she eats only raw food now.
It has made a big difference.
Even her coat is much softer now.
I have not looked at the paper yet.
I had the heating on earlier.
Think Summer has gone!

Hi, Rusty!
I am glad that you enjoyed the time spent with your granddaughter!
It is good that the pup has quietened down somewhat.....
I have heard of the BARF diet... but don't know much about it......
I believe it to be quite a controversial subject between vets?
A lot of pros and cons......but yes, a silky coat is one of the pros!
We have had our heating on, too, for an hour or so first thing this morning.
A decided autumnal chill to the air!
But I am liking the freshness! Very invigorating!
I have finished the 15 x15 Cryptic and the Jumbo GK.
Three clues still to parse in the former puzzle..... but I shall think about those for a while......
I need to hoover......
Speaking of which, how are you liking your new vacuum cleaner?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, my new vacuum cleaner is grand, thank you.
I know nothing about BARF diet, I'm afraid.
My son was recommended to go and speak to a man who knew all about it, and now that is where they buy the pup"s food.
They think it is great and have noticed a huge difference in the pup.
So have I!
I can visit in normal clothes now.
I have not looked at the puzzle yet.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, a different diet may suit an individual dog!
It is of no use being recommended a type of food, if your dog (or cat) will not eat it!
We have found that ourselves with our cat!
A lot is also trial and error - what suits their appetite , their behaviour, their health......and, as you said, the beagle's coat is very soft and silky on this new BARF diet.
Your son will be the best judge!
(and think of the saving to your clothes!!)
I have now hoovered....
and I am now down to only one parsing...!
It is starting to rain ......

Hello, Elle!
Explain "BARF", please?
My son told me when he went to the store, (it is on an industrial estate)
the owner spent over an hour explaining the raw food scenario to him, and what was awful in the tinned dog food brands.
I have looked them up on line, and this store and owner, gets 5 stars from everyone.
It gets rave reports!
There is even a bit from one of the girls at my ASDA, who gets food for her horse and dog there!
She is very complimentary!
I have finished my puzzle.
Quite a good one, though I cannot quite tie in the answer with the definition in 18 across.

Hi, Rusty!
BARF appears to stand for either "Bones and Raw Food" or "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food".
I do not know much about it, Rusty?
All I know is what I have briefly come across at some stage.......
It consists of a certain percentage (say 60 -80%?) of raw meat bones, plus the remaining percentage of vegetables , fruit , dairy produce, offal......
As I said, there appear to be advantages and disadvantages of such a diet.
I have never tried it for any of our animals, but I do not know enough to advocate its usage or otherwise!
18A; I have....
"Sovietic" = old Communist (def)
vie - struggle
tic - movement
so - OS (outsize; big) reversed.
It seems ok to me?
The one I still cannot parse is 22a: "twerp " = fool (def)
Why, please?

Hello, Elle!
22a a "keep" can be a "tower".
Drop "round" makes it "twer"
"quiet" is "p" for "piano" in music.
So "twer +p" is a "fool".
I took "old communist's" to be a noun, which would have been "Soviet", that was my difficulty.
I'm still not convinced!
I had never heard of BARF, but that appears to be what this lad is selling, plus all the free knowledge and advice he passes on.
His customers are delighted and the creatures are happy.
So, good news, I'd say?