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I apologise if you know this already, elle, but you have a question mark after informer-person shopping. In this case shopping means what we used to call "telling on" as kids.
How's the Ian Rankin?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, it is a fairly simple clue.
The setter could have used other meanings of "rm" but went for the most obvious, in my mind.
Did you know a nickname for the Marines, in the forces, is the "cabbage hats"?
Anyway, congrats on finishing it.
You have done well!
Friday's is usually a tricky one.
I hope so!

The Royal Marines are also known as "jollies" (no idea why) - could the setter have use this, perhaps?

Hi, Rusty!
No, I didn't know that "cabbage hats" was a term of reference for the Royal Marines.........
But I am guessing that this is to do with their green berets?
I think I am sometimes guilty of looking for nuances that are not necessarily there, when trying to solve cryptic clues......
I wonder is it better to over think than under think....?
Uhm........
A coffee and another chapter of my book before bed!



Hello, Ros!
The question mark was just meant to indicate my general dissatisfaction with my thought processes!
I finished the Ian Rankin some time ago....I am about three books further on , now!
I'm reading a PD James - "Death in Holy Orders" - that I hadn't come across before.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, the green berets are the cabbage hats.
It's a term used mainly by the Paras and other regiments, and it is not said in an endearing fashion!
When you were asking about "informer" I wondered if you had thought that "OR" (other ranks) was the serving men, but no, you had twigged it was "RM".
A straightforward clue, Elle, but you may have overthought it, just a wee bit!
You are going the right way, though!
Was a good puzzle, I thought!
And I liked the new words (to me!)
The Friday puzzle is usually fairly tricky.
Hope so!

ChrisE, Royal Marines = 'Jollies" as in 'Jolly Sailor'?

Elle, I've read "Death in Holy Orders", excellent author.
Am now reading next Book Club one , Stef Penney's "Under a Pole Star", nearly 600 pages! So far, so good.

Good morning, Rusty!
A glorious day here - blue sky, bright sunshine.
Frosty and bitterly cold (2C)...... but no matter....I can wrap up!
I like it like this!
What is like up your way?
Do you have any particular plans for the day?
I shall take just it as it comes.........
I am seated at the computer....coffee made, crosswords ready to be printed out.....
Let battle commence!



Hello, Ros!
Yes, I have always liked PD James, but it is a long time since I have read one of her books.
This is one I must have bought a while back - and it got "shelved"!
Didn't PD James die a few years ago?

I liked the early P D James stories better. Her later ones got longer and more wordy - I think she thought she was writing "literature".

Good morning, Elle!
A cold frosty morning, with a beautiful blue sky!
Just one plan today.
Collecting La Bamba from work, taking her to her dentist, and returning her to work.
She is top priority today!
Good luck with your puzzle!