Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Good morning, Elle!
It is a fine morning here but a tad on the cool side!
I was out earlier.
Had an urge to make lentil shoup and needed bacon to add to it, so was off to ASDA.
Now it is simmering away in my slow cooker for my tea.
Already this morning I have learned something I did not know.
I do not know anything about American Football other than it looks a fast, exciting, game.
But today I discovered that Florida had beaten Tennessee with a last second "Hail Mary"!
Apparently a "Hail Mary" is a long pass in the last seconds of a game and is almost always doomed to failure.
But once in a blue moon the pass is taken by the receiver and he scores, and that's a "Hail Mary".
Maybe one day we will get a clue about that in a crossword!
Remember and ask about "clocked" if you venture to the park!

Good morning, Rusty!
My goodness, that must have been some strong urge to make lentil soup, to have you out and about so early in search of ingredients!
Mind you, it does sound very appetising....I can almost smell it simmering......
That is interesting about a "Hail Mary" - I did not know the American Football reference!
It is not in my Chambers as an American Football term, but it is in the Oxford as such.
In the latter, a "Hail Mary" is also given generally as " a plan or project with little chance of success" (the same meaning really)
It does not say much for the expected outcome of a prayer to the Virgin Mary....?
Perhaps a rather sacrilegious comparison?
( I wonder who was responsible for the terminology/ definitions?)
I shall endeavour to remember about "clocked" tomorrow!

Hello, Elle!
I was about early today and misremembered to buy bacon yesterday.
So, that was the reason I was out early.
Hail Mary is not in my Chambers, too.
There are several players credited with being the first to use the term, but Wikipedia reckons it originated in the Catholic Universities and has now spread across all American football.
I like it!
I do not see it as sacrilegious, really.
I think some of my wee bets are "Hail Marys"!
Have to file it away with the "Linda Ronstadt" term in baseball!
The golf is on soon, then the cycling.
So a canny day at home for me!

Hi, Rusty!
Uhmm....... I like it, too!
But I see it as thinking that the outcome of a prayer ( a "Hail Mary" aka "Ave Maria" ) to the Virgin Mary has little or no chance of success!
Which may well be how you view some of your bets (I know they are only for fun).... but perhaps not how Roman Catholics should be viewing their prayers to the Virgin Mary?
I will hastily state here that this is not necessarily my opinion (in case I am offending any RCs) but what the dictionary definition" of a "Hail Mary" is indicating!
Okay....I'll buy it...what is the "Linda Ronstadt" term in baseball?
Sounds like a good day's viewing!

Hello, Elle!
I am an RC and I think it is a great phrase!
And remember, it originated in the Catholic Universities, so they must be quite happy about it.
Anyway, today I have taken an interest in Lydia Ko and hope it is not a "Hail Mary"!
In baseball a "Linda Ronstadt" is a ball that "blew by you".
Get it?
I think I may have told you this one before!
Turning into a very nice day here.

Hi, Rusty!
Now "Blue Bayou/ blew by you ", I can happily endorse!
That is very clever!
I appreciate that!
I do not remember your telling me before?
I should surely have remembered it?
(but then again, we both know my memory!)
I have finished the Everyman.
A good puzzle, I thought.
I don't have the Sunday paper as yet.......we cannot always get one locally and Sainsburys does not open until 11am.
I think we are heading out again about one o'clock, so I shall buy a paper then.

Hello, Elle!
That seems late for a shop like Sainsburys to open?
Is it the Law?
It's like that in Norn Iron.
Sunday is my day of rest from puzzles.
There was a very nice scene at the golf earlier.
Ai Miyazato was finishing her very last round of golf ever, before she retires.
There was a reception committee awaiting her at the last.
Gary Player presented her with flowers and many of her fellow competitors were there for her.
They say she is the friendliest player in golf.
So, hope she has a happy retirement.
And I think Lydia is going to need a Hail Mary or two!

Hi, Rusty!
Home again after a pleasant walk.
The dog is walking much better today.
I think whatever she did to her leg/foot/shoulder was only a temporary glitch.
It certainly doesn't bother her to run!
We met up with some friends in the park.
Yes, large stores are only allowed to open for six hours on Sundays.
Sainsburys opens from 11am till 5 pm.
(I believe that in some Sainsburys, one is able to go in from 10am, and fill up one's trolley........but the tills do not open for payment until 11!)
"Corner shops" have no time restrictions.
I have no televised programmes to watch today!
I am reading my new book.

Hello, Elle!
Lydia just missed out on the play-off.
She had a putt to be in the play-off with Anna Nordqvist and Brittany Altomare, but missed, so...
Good news about doggie!
I did not know about the 6 hour shopping rule.
I do not think we have that law up here.
I was watching a bit of the All Ireland final with Dublin v Mayo.
Was hoping for the Green and Red of Mayo and they have a slender lead!

Hi, Rusty!
That is a shame about Lydia!
She did well anyway, though?
It was a shame that we did not see our daughter and the children today, as originally hoped, but they are still sniffly with their colds, and she did not want to pass on any infection, especially to their Gramps.
Her husband was at his school today, preparing for an Ofsted visit tomorrow!
We shall see daughter and YB on Wednesday as usual.
Well, I am saying "as usual", but of course it will only be for two more weeks... as after that she will be back working full-time!
I shall miss our mother and daughter quality time when we met up for lunch every Wednesday!
But there will still be weekends - and of course the children's school holidays!
Life evolves.....