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Hi, Rusty!
We have had a great time with our granddaughter, grandson and their mum!
They left about 7.30 pm - school tomorrow for our granddaughter, so she must not have too late a night!
The presents were "a hit"!
I only sent the "Cockney" crossword clue, because I thought - now that you are becoming so proficient at solving them - you might like to have a go?
Characters with picnic baskets for Cockney and son (10)
ampersands = characters (def)
(h) ampers - picnic baskets for Cockney
and
s - son
I liked it!
Your cafe sounds good!
Although I would not have thanked you for the black pudding!
I do not like it! I DO like white pudding, though!
How is your son?

elle
Have you given black pudding a fair chance? I was prejudiced against it before I moved to Lancashire, but I love it now. It must be topped with the much-discussed poached egg, though.

Haggis is even better!

Chris, remember I am a Lancastrian born and bred.
I have been inundated with black puddings!
They have never improved on acquaintance.
I love haggis! and faggots!

Hello, Elle.
Great news your "tea" was a hit with everyone!
I am getting a bit more proficient at "Cockneyisms" but my heart sinks when I see one.
Too parochial for a national newspaper, in my view.
Fine now and again, though.
I would not have got it, Elle, for I did not know "ampersands" were characters.
You sure?
My cafe is in a less salubrious part of town, but it is popular.
Simple, plain grub, and all the local gossip!
This is Stornoway black pudding, Elle.
It's as good as I have come across.
Son is to the fore, he installed the heated towel rail for Miss ATW and she is pleased.

This is an ampersand, rusty- &
Maybe one of your books would tell us how it became to be named that.

Although a very "cheffy" dish, which I have only eaten once, black pudding and scallops is a great combination.

Hello, Rosalind!
I knew what an ampersand was, but did not realise it was a "character".
It is a strange kind of word, isn't it?

"A character is a letter, number, or other symbol that is written or printed."

This is a definition from collinsdictionary.com.

Am off to read for a while and try to forget seeing a new dentist tomorrow. Always scary.

Did I say that the last time I had a new dentist, she turned out to be the nicest girl I ever taught?

Unfortunately she married and moved to Shefifeld to be with her husband - how unkind is that?

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear......
I am sorry to be responsible for your heart sinking, Rusty!
I just thought it was a good clue, and you might enjoy solving it, as you are getting so good at these cockneyisms.
Chambers corroborates that an ampersand is a character!
Our granddaughter is full of enthusiasm for her forthcoming holiday with her dad.
Our son is taking her to the New Forest for half term!
They will both enjoy (and benefit from) some quality time away together.
That is a good thing, isn't it?
Miss ATW will be glad to have such a good and helpful uncle!
I think I need a coffee...and then I shall catch up with "Eggheads".......

Good morning, Elle.
Rainy morning here!
No, I find the constant use of Cockneyisms irksome in a national newspaper.
I hope I do not end up watching "Eastenders" to try and catch on to the speech nuances!
I looked up "ampersand" in Chambers, but I did not understand it.
So...I took myself off to YouTube and found a video about it.
The video was by Mary Norris, the "Comma Queen", of the American publication, the New Yorker.
She explained it very well!
Now I know quite a bit more about it and where the word came from.
She has a series of videos which I may have a wee look at, when I finish fixing my bike.
Now, off to collect my paper!