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Good day, Elle!
Lovely day here!
No 1 son is just away.
He was doing a couple of jobs for me.
My friends are in the middle of the Irish Sea on their crossing!
They will be here until Sunday, and may just stretch it to Monday.
I have done my puzzle.
Quite a good one today.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Foggy here!
I have just arrived home, having been out for lunch!
And very nice it was, too!
It is good that your son can help you do jobs!
Now I meant to tell you yesterday that Jeremy Vine made a rather clever joke on Eggheads........
The question was about bariatrics (a new word to me)...........which apparently deals with obesity.
Jeremy suggested that it might be a reference to Barry's getting three questions correct...............
As in "Barry's 'at trick"!
Which wasn't bad for an off the cuff remark?
I made a slight start on the crossword puzzle before I went out......but I was finding it hard?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, "bariatric" was good!
The puzzle is on the hard side, I think.
For me anyway.
Persevere and you should get there!

Hi, Rusty!
I have given up on the 15 x 15.......
I got seven -eighths the way through it, but with about six so far unanswered clues.
Normally, I like a challenge ......but I was not enjoying this at all!
I have put it aside ......
I am reading instead!
Have your friends arrived ?
How long does the ferry journey take?

Hello, Elle!
The boat takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Last I heard they had just passed Stirling, but they should hit Dundee shortly.
It was a hardish puzzle today.
The Championship is on Saturday so maybe that's part of the reason!
Anyhoo, this is today's vlog of the puzzle,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Rn5M8chK0&t=9s

Have a wee look if you get a minute!

Hi, Rusty!
I expect your friends have arrived safely, by now?
And you are meeting up with them tomorrow?
Didn't they have a relative (mother?) ill in hospital, last time they were there?
Thank you for the Vlog.... this is especially welcome this time, as I need to see where I have been going wrong!
I haven't had the chance to look at it yet.......some friends dropped by and have only just left.......
But I shall take a look/ listen shortly!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, my pals are staying in a hotel just down the road.
They are collecting me tomorrow.
Yes, my friend's Mum is now in a care home so that will be high on their agenda.
The guy doing the vlog is very quick!
He is taking part in the Championship on Saturday.
My other son has just gone home!

Hi, Rusty!
I had forgotten that today was Thursday and your son would be visiting you!
I am glad to hear that your friend's mum made a good recovery and is now better.
Finding a suitable Care Home can be difficult, I know. I hope she is happily settled.
I have now listened / watched the Vlog........it was a pity it wasn't done by the younger guy....I find him easier to follow?
I am not really a lot forrader....
I wish that the parsing would be done as the solver goes along...
This bunging in all the answers as quickly as possible..... and then going back later to attempt the parsing........ is not to my liking!
I should prefer a more logical approach?
Have you yourself listened to the vlog?
What did you think ?
I am still confused......!
I gather that in these competitions, the contestants just have to produce the answers?
It is a pity they do not have to account for the parsings?

Hello, Elle!
I agree with you.
The younger lad is much better, I think.
I just do not get the speed merchants, unless they are entering a competition.
In the Championship, I am fairly sure that each contender is given 3 puzzles to solve, and first all correct one is the winner.
Parsing not required.
My son brought me a chicken dinner!

Hey, Rusty!
My only saving grace in today's puzzle is that I found 7d: answer of "table tennis", very easy...whereas your man appeared to find it difficult!
And I was yelling "boot" at him, when he couldn't seem to recognise the relevance of "wellington" in 9d!
But seriously, in the Championships.....one would think that the parsing be important?
I am amazed that explaining how one arrived at the answer is not a part of the competition?
As far as I am concerned, I haven't "done" the crossword , unless I have parsed it correctly, as well as filled in an answer!
A chicken dinner sounds good!