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hi Elle
The Everyman had upped its game this week. Some convoluted parsing needed. Very enjoyable, and it took me a little longer to finish.

Hello, Elle!
Miss O has landed at Manchester!
Well done on completing your puzzle.
The harder puzzles are more enjoyable, as I am sure you are finding.
"The Land of Nod" is a computer company?
I did not know that.
Now, you have missed a treat!
Just watched the Federer v Nadal final in Shanghai.
Roger won, and the presentation ceremony was most enjoyable.
They appear to be good friends.
They were being asked questions in Chinese and responding in English.
But they both had a few Chinese words for the crowd and that went down very well indeed!

Hi, Rusty!
I am glad to hear that Miss O has arrived home safely!
You will be looking forward to seeing her during the week, and hearing first hand about all her exploits.
And looking at more pics!
Grrh! Why couldn't I have seen the Shanghai Open?
Two of my favourite players, too!
Yes, Roger and Rafa are good friends!
Didn't they go together to open Rafa's latest academy....?
Something like that, anyway.......
I am pleased that Roger won!!
Our lovely day is fast disappearing in cloud......



Hello, Jazzgirl!
Yes, I was delighted to find the Everyman a tad harder this week!
It is my favourite puzzle, but I'd found it somewhat disappointingly easy of late.......today I had to engage brain!
Let us hope this more difficult strain continues......

Update, Rusty!
The sun is out again...going out for a walk..........

Hey, Rusty!
Get this!
I have returned from our outing to find an email from Bahamut Media Group awaiting me!
And on a Sunday!
No waiting for the statutory two business days as quoted by Amazon!
I am sent sincere apologies and the promise of another book!
It will be with me within fourteen days!
How about that for a prompt and friendly response?
I am impressed!

Hello, Elle!
Well done the Bahamut folk!
That would be along the lines I would expect.
Mind you, I don't see why they would need 14 days, though it will probably come sooner than that.
But, yes, that has been my experience of book sellers.
Pretty quick to sort out things to ensure happy customers.
Pretty windy here.
I have had a look on Met Eirann and there is wild weather approaching Ireland, then the UK.
How are you folk in the South doing for weather?

Hi, Rusty!
The weather down here is great as yet.......
We had a glorious afternoon, sunny with a temperature somewhere in the mid -twenties.
"Shirt- sleeves" weather!
A mild pleasant evening.
According to the local BBC forecast, it will only drop to 17C tonight!
Cooler tomorrow, but fine......strong winds early on Tuesday....... with very heavy rain on Wed and Thurs., possibly gales, too, on Thursday.
But hey, plenty of time for all that to change!
What is the outlook for up your way?
BTW, Bahamut told me to keep the present book.....

Hello, Elle!
Our forecast is for "high winds and possible power cuts"!
The storm is going to hit Kerry first and come North over Galway etc.
Up the West coast of Ireland.
It will be worst on the West coast of Scotland, too.
The schools etc in the South of Ireland are closed until it passes.
It is a "red alert" on Met Eirann.
That is good of Bahamut.
Remember to phone your cousin!

Hi, Rusty!
It is many years since we were threatened with power cuts......and then caused by strikes, rather than by bad weather!
I hope it doesn't come to that!
Are your local hospitals covered for such an eventuality?
I presume they must have "back up" for their life -saving equipment, in case of electrical failures?
I am now remembering that I intended to replace our non -functioning gas-fire with a modern equivalent, in case the central heating ever stopped working should there be an electrical stoppage / shortage.
I never did anything about it!
Have you spoken to Miss Orlando since she came home?
Yes, I did remember to phone my cousin!
All Quiet on the (North) Western Front!

Hello, Elle,
I think the storm will mainly miss you folks.
Looks like the North of England will catch it, though.
I do not know how the hospitals will cope, but I think they are saying only a small chance of power cuts.
I am certain the hospitals will have contingency plans.
I have had texts from Ireland saying the animals are behaving a bit strangely.
It is Tuesday we are getting it.
No, I have not heard from Miss O since Manchester arrival.
I'll text her now, I think.