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Hello Elle and Rusty!

How are you? (though I keep up with your news through reading
this thread!)

It is a real Summer's day here - up to 22C earlier!
I took a little walk down to the village to do a couple of non urgent
things - the main reason really was to enjoy the nice warm sunshine.
The cats are having a whale of a time in the garden! Nice change
from yesterday's mucky rainy day when they slept almost all day!

I don't seem to have a problem with the Time on line - everything
just as usual; strange no? I suppose it could depend on the area?

Rusty, I keep on exploring Youtube and still enjoy Amira and Laura Bretan; they certainly do not have quite the same style, Laura has
so much more passion in her powerful voice; have you listened to
any more of her songs? 'The Prayer' is quite something! She
almost becomes someone else half-way through!

Good afternoon, Pigale!
Nice to hear from you!
I was surprised to learn that Laura Bretan did not win America's Got Talent?
Yes, I browse YouTube most evenings and will look out for "The Prayer".
I have just heard that a great hero of mine has died.
Fats Domino.
He died surrounded by his family.
Fats was 89.

I liked Fats Domino - Reminds me straight away of Blue Berry Hill!

No, Laura did not win, even though she gave a great performance
of O Mio Babino Caro -
It is great to follow these two young opera stars progress and to see
them grow and turn into nice young girl.

Hi, Rusty!
We have just come home from a quick walk!
The day became so warm - almost shirt sleeves weather! - that we ventured out again!
It was glorious!
Have you been out yourself? although it sounds very blustery up your way!
Now.....John says that there was a fault with his Times Subscription package - he can access the rest of the paper, but not the crosswords.
I have no idea what he means exactly, or what this involves!
He is so very kind in sending me the crosswords every day, that I do not like to query the situation too closely when for some reason there is a hiccough!
I am just grateful for the days when the puzzles do come!
How very sad about Fats Domino.
89 is no age at all these days.....
We were talking about him only recently weren't we?
Now why was that, can you remember?
I can remember mentioning "Blueberry Hill" to you .......




Hello, Pigale!
How lovely to hear from you!
We have a mild sunny day here too - not as warm as yours, though, but still about 17C!
Very pleasant!
I can envisage your cats running around in your garden!
My dog goes out into our garden especially to chat to the foxes next door!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I was out again, and is indeed blustery!
Well, I have a subscription to The Times and can access the paper online, too.
I pay by Direct Debit each month.
It is laid out section by section, and my puzzle section is there as usual.
So, a mystery why he can not access the puzzles?
Yes, the death of Mr Rock 'n' Roll.
I liked Fats!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, another end to an era, with the death of Fats........
I am still being niggled as to why I was talking about "Blueberry Hill" recently?
Oh well......it may come back to me........
How was your crossword today?
I only made a start on mine after my return from the park this afternoon........so have not yet made much inroads.....
Right, I must phone my (younger) daughter.... they are off to Stonehenge tomorrow, and I missed a call whilst I was out!
I had better get the latest lowdown....!

Hello, Elle!
Puzzle was fine.
1a, is not a good clue, unless I am not seeing something.
5d, is a new phrase to me.
Other than that it is a good puzzle.
Yes, you 'phone the family.
Hope they like Stonehenge!

Hi, Rusty!
I gather from conversation with my grandson, BB, that the plan is to go to see Stonehenge tomorrow, stay locally that night, and then visit Wookey Hole Caves - which I think are near Cheddar Gorge ? - the following day.
Then they return home.
So just a short break.
I was unaware that one had to book to see Stonehenge, and that it was run on a time schedule.
I had thought in my innocence (or is it ignorance?) that the stones just stood there......and one went and gawped!
But no..........money is involved!
One pays to see!
I have never been either to Stonehenge or to the Wookey Caves, so I have instructed BB to see that lots of photographs are taken!
Now re the puzzle.......
I have "left- back" for 1a.....but apart from the fact that "left" and then "back" involve "return", I cannot parse it?
I am all right with "kangaroo justice", though, for 5d.......
The term "kangaroo courts" were so called because the judges moved about from place to place (jumped from here to there)
I liked "rib" for "rag and bone"!

Hi elle
Somewhere or other I have an album of old black and white photographs of our first family camping holiday - I was 7 or 8, I think. We went to Stonehenge, and there are snaps of us sitting one of the fallen stones, having a picnic. Nowadays they won't let you within 50 yards of them!

Hello, Elle!
I did not know that about Stonehenge.
I have heard of Wookey Hole but I could not say where it was.
I am with you regarding 1a.
I had "went back" for a while, but "left back" is a defender, hence fits the definition.
I can not parse it, too.
I think the setter is on a different level from me!
I have heard of kangaroo courts but not kangaroo justice.
I got the Cockney one at 16a.
Quite a good clue!
And I thought "jam jar" rather than "jamjar" for 6a.
"Jamjar" is new to me!