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Hello again, Elle!
Here is today's puzzle being solved by a super-fast lad!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y56Uc4Gmfro

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, a nice afternoon out!
I enjoyed the fresh air, but I cannot say it enlivened my brain power!
Well, your man did very well with his parsing Vlog in general...he is a clever guy ...... but he wasn't a lot of use as regards 9a with "lands", was he?
He intially said "Um, that was quite hard..... 'L and S...Lands'....."
Ad then later at the end, referred to "the difficult 'lands'..."
And that was it!
No proper explanation?
I didn't miss anything, did I?
My favourite clue was 20d: answer "acronym"
I really liked that one!

Hello, Elle!
No, he did not volunteer an opinion on "lands".
I preferred the younger lad who was solving last week.
Today's lad was "Mark".
Mark Goodliffe has/had been The Times champion for around ten years.
I wonder if that was him?
He was very fast!
I needed Chambers to find out the acronym in "c ONS ensus"!
A new acronym to me.
And I had fish pie for my tea and it was very nice!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, the younger chap was very good. and I preferred the explanations given as he went along, rather than saved for comment at the end.
It is a little unnerving to hear the clues argued out, isn't it?
I can almost follow my own thought processes there at times!
I didn't know ONS, either!
I liked today's puzzle, though, apart from "lands"....I managed to parse all the other clues!
Now, I have a query for you from the QC?
12d: Pain centrally in cricket match - box needed! (3,5)
My answer is : tea-chest = box (def)
Ache - pain
test - cricket match
The query is why the word "needed" in the clue?
What am I missing here, please?
I had liver and bacon ..and mashed potato, with lots of thick onion gravy!
Delicious!

Hello, Elle!
Your tea sounds much better than mine!
Especially on a coldish evening.
Not had liver for ages, though I am known for having bacon from time to time!
"Needed", Is asking for the answer, I think.
Seems OK?
It would work fine without it, too.
I agree, I prefer the younger lad, too.
Did you read that Mo has left Salazar?
I think that is very sensible.

Hi, Rusty!
No, I didn't know, until you told me, that Mo had split with Alberto Salazar...
so it is only now that I have been reading about it.....
I gather that Mo is saying that he is only leaving Salazar because he, Mo, wishes to move back to London?
He says that he still believes in Alberto, or otherwise he would not have stayed with him during all the recent drugs trauma.
I understand that Gary Lough - Paula Radcliffe's husband - is to train Mo in future?
That sounds like a good plan....Gary Lough is well versed in Marathon training.
Now, this is interesting...
The AELTC has sent me a newsletter showing me the plans - and developing pictures - of the retractable roof for Court One at Wimbledon!
The photos are really great!
It will make a big difference to Wimbledon fortnight, when both Centre Court and No One Court can accommodate play, come rain or shine!

Hello, Elle!
Good news from Wimbledon, indeed!
I am a tad puzzled about Mo.
I read that he missed London and wanted to come home.
Yes, Gary Lough is to be is trainer.
But, Paula lives in Monaco.
So how will this work, if Mo is in London and Gary is in Monaco (I presume?).
Or, won't it matter?
My wee brain is puzzled!

Hi, Rusty!
I hadn't thought of that?
The way the various reports read is that , on his return to the UK, Mo is to "join up" with Gary Lough .........sounding as though Gary is already here in the UK?
I have tried Googling to find out whether Paula and Gary are still living in Monaco but cannot find out anything......
It doesn't seem to make sense........unless perhaps Gary will commute?

Hello, Elle!
I am sure there will be a simple explanation.
I know a lot of cyclists are based in Monaco.
Good for training, and I understand there are tax advantages, too.
It may be that Gary would have to watch the amount of days he spent in the UK, or HMRC would be taking an interest?
Just been reading Laura Muir's Twitter line.
She is working night shifts at an equine hospital in the Clyde Valley as part of a placement.
She seems to love what she does!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a pleasant, sunny day here and a little warmer than of late.
An enjoyable walk, although fairly quiet.
I have no specific plans for today, so will just take it as it comes,
Coffee first, and a browse through the crosswords........
Then some household chores........
(Ugh!)
What are you up to , today?