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Good morning, Rusty!
A glorious day here - bright blue sky and sunshine.......
But very heavy frost, slippy paths...........and bitterly cold.
Minus 1C!
We walked over the fields and through the woods.......as safer underfoot.
A very enjoyable (brisk!) walk.
I expect that you have it even colder?
I hope you haven't had snow?
Have you been out for your paper?

Good morning, Elle!
Your weather matches mine!
+1C just now, but -3C forecast for overnight.
Apart from the cold (and there are super anoraks etc these days to keep out the cold!) it is a great day!
Was some snow blowing through, but nothing really.
I was out for milk and paper earlier and am home for the day now.
My granddaughters insist I stay in out of the cold!
Just bullies!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, exceedingly cold!
But I was well wrapped up whilst I was out!
Long padded Trespass coat, woolly hat, long scarf and gloves.
Great fun, though.
I am having a good day....
I have just completed (bar three parses) today's 15 x15!
I thought it a good puzzle with some enjoyable clues.
My favourites were 1a; 5a; 9a; 20a and 11d.
But there were many good ones!
Warning, you may not like 26 across.......
Now for the Jumbo GK!

Hello, Elle!
You certainly had the right gear on for the colder weather!
I have not looked at the puzzle yet.
Been looking at books.
Even, believe it or not, a novel!
And I do not read novels.
It is by an author I do not know, who was on TV at some time.
Just awaiting my grandson visiting me!


Hello, Pigale!
I hope you are well!
I've just been watching the funeral of Johnny Hallyday.
It was quite remarkable.
Enormous crowds, and it looked like thousands of rockers on motor bikes escorting the hearse.
Very impressive indeed.
A wonderful send off from the people of France!
Well done!

Hi, Rusty!
I am well equipped for walking in all kinds of weather!
Having a dog, suitable clothing for all occasions is essential!
So who was the author, and what was the book?
I am wondering whether I have heard of him/ her .......or the novel?
"This Mum Runs" arrived this morning!
I am looking forward to reading it, when I have finished my present book.
That is now three packages, out of five ordered, that have arrived!
I expect your grandson is with you by now....have fun chatting!



Hello, Pigale!
So did you watch the funeral of Johnny Hallyday?
I was amazed by his success and popularity, when I was reading up about him.
It will be like the end of an era for you , having followed his career for so many years.
It is very cold here. Minus One this early morning!

Hello, Elle!
Are you keeping "This Mum Runs" for Christmas?
My grandson has been and gone.
The book I am pondering is "The Night He Left" by Sue Lawrence.
It gets good reviews on Amazon.
I do not know Sue Lawrence, not that that means anything!
I have done my puzzle.
9a, 19a, and 23a, are new words to me.
A good puzzle, though!

Hi, Rusty!
No, I was planning to read Jo's book next?
I am looking forward to it!
I like Jo! I think I've told you that I met her once?
Only briefly...I doubt she will remember ...but of course, I do!
I thought that Sue Lawrence was something to do with (Scottish?) cookery books?
Or have I got that wrong?
It will be a change for you to read a novel!
Generally, I do prefer fiction.
Now I came across "schwa" only recently?
But maybe it was in the QC or the Everyman if you do not remember it.
Right, the dog wants to go out.........time to dress like Michelin man again.......
Back in a bit!

Hello, Elle!
I see Jo won an award during the week.
So did Mo Farah and Laura Muir.
Yes, I think you may be correct about Sue L.
Think she has a link with cookery.
Hopefully not in this novel!
I had not heard of her until yesterday.
"Schwa" came into my life recently, too.
Though I have forgotten whatever it is already!
"Bibendum", the Michelin Man, is a lot slimmer than he used to be.
Have you noticed?

Hello Elle and Rusty!

I have been (and still am on and off) watching TV (France 2) since
11am, just as the procession was about to start on its long journey
up Avenue Foch, round the Arc de Triomphe , down the Champs,
through Place Concorde and down onto the Madeleine Church.
I also watched the Funerals inside the Madeleine, a lot of emotion
but also a lot of singing - all Johnny's musiciens did play several
of his hit along the procession as well as inside the Church!
I have never seen anything quite like it!
And like millions of French people, I too feel somewhat bewildered -
None of us expected him to leave us one day, he seemed indestructible.
There were indeed over 700 Bikers following the Hearse and family
cars, Johnny being a great biker himself, Harley-Davidson. Bikers
were his friends. In fact, all his fans were his friends, and he did
covered three generations of fans!

Laetitia, his widow, wanted such a ceremony for her husband, so
that the public could say a last farewell to their idole. She did a
very good job - and the public was very respectful during the
Church service, standing outside in the very cold weather.

Where did you watch it Rusty? Was it televised in UK/Scotland?

Hello, Pigale!
A very emotional day for France.
A legend has gone!
I saw the coverage on BBC Scotland News channel,(only a few minutes, though) but I imagine it was shown throughout the UK.
I am going to see if it has been posted on YouTube, later.
I thought the amount of motor bikes was astonishing!
And unexpected, too.
And enormous crowds lining the streets.
I have seen similar scenes on the streets of Milan, on YouTube, for Verdi's funeral.
I think somewhere in my Sky channels there is a French channel.
Possibly TV5?
But not a News channel.
A very sad day for France, Pigale!