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Good afternoon, Rusty!
Home again now!
Yes, I had a lovely time , thank you!
The restaurant was rather busy today, but fortunately my daughter had booked a table.
(Not something I ever think of doing at lunchtime...I just tend to take pot luck!)
I did some shopping, too, whilst out.
Yes, the crossword was okay today...mostly!
"Ani" was a new bird to me, too!
I was not impressed by "marge" for "margin"!
Poetical?
It is a rum poet who talks about "marges / margins"!!
I was puzzled by "meagre" in 29 across?
Now, I always thought that "meagre" meant poor in quaNtity , rather than in quaLity?
The latter is a new definition to me.......although I have confirmed it in Chambers.
And where does the fish come into it?
I cannot do 20a: Eccentric boasted when cutting southern Yankee (6)
S?R?W?
No ideas here!
My favourites were "cacophonous" and "seize".

Goodness, what a long way down I had to scroll to find your post!

Hello, Elle!
I had my dinner out, too.
Had macaroni and cheese at ASDA.
Was fine!
There is a fish called "maigre", which can also be spelled "meagre".
20, Is "screwy", "crew" as in the past tense of "crow/boast".
S for Southern, Y for Yankee.
And goodness only knows what 5d means!

Hi, Rusty!
I have never heard of a fish called "maigre / meagre"!
Did you know of it?
Is it in your Chambers?
In MY Chambers there is no mention under "meagre" of its also being a fish!
Yes, now that you have told me, I have looked up "maigre" and there is an alternative spelling here...but NOT the other way around!
I always thought that the past tense of "crow" was "crowed"........
No wonder I couldn't do that clue!
I am not liking this at all!
I need (strong) coffee!

Hello, Elle!
No, "meagre" was new to me.
Mind you, there are bucket loads of fish in Bradford's that I do not know.
I noticed today she has one called "oyster", but I think "oyster" is a word used as a verb, "oyster=to fish for oysters"...I think!
"Crowed" sounds better than "crew".
But, the approach I take is the setter is almost certainly correct or the editor would not accept his clue.
And, the setter knows a lot more than I do, so "crew" is probably quite correct.
I'll have a wee look!

Hello, Elle,
Chambers gives the past tense of "crow" as "crew", "crowed", or "crown".

Hi, Rusty!
Well, "crew" and "crown", used in that context, are both new to me!
So I have learnt something there!
(I am still unhappy about "maigre"!)
I am debating whether or not I need to eat.....lunch was quite filling!
Maybe I shall just have a bowl of ice cream....?
That sounds tempting........
Now, I have two (recorded) serials' episodes to catch up on......if I don't be watching them soon, I shall get so far behind that I shall lose interest...!
I'd better get down to it......

Hello, Elle!
That's good you are learning from the puzzles!
I do, most days.
Now, speaking about drug tests.
I was reading earlier about an American cyclist who has just failed a dope test.
He had seven illegal substances in his test sample!
Seven is quite a lot!
I think we are supposed to get a nice day tomorrow!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just watched the latest episode of Dr Foster....a serial I have been following.
It gets more complicated by the minute!
Next week is the final episode, but I cannot predict where it is going.
Suranne Jones stars in it...and I like her......I think she is a good actress.
But I am still undecided if I am enjoying this series or not!
Maybe that is how the viewer is meant to think?
Or is that too "deep"?
Right, back to my book... a nice family saga by Rosamunde Pilcher...no dark thoughts involved!
Any word about your granddaughter's car?
It is raining here!

Hello, Elle!
Well, this viewer does not watch plays and the like, so I do not know about "deep".
I would rather read a book.
No, the car is at the garage.
They offered her a courtesy car but she declined saying she had volunteered her Granddad to drive her to work etc!
It is quite windy here but dry, so far.