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Hi Ros,

I used to like sewing, but more for clothes for myself! I would never
have ventured on making such costumes! I admire you and I love
the idea of zipped udders, out of which could drop a 'tin of milk' !

What did you do with the costumes afterwards? gave them away?

Thanks, Pigale

I gave the costumes to the school, along with the Father Christmas one I made later. I sourced all the fabrics (except Father Christmas) from charity shops- they were mostly white cotton sheets which I dyed. One cow was white with large black splodges. The heads were a problem. I've never sewn clothes for myself, I think that's very clever. I do for my granddaughter, just summer dresses.

Last year I offered to get a suit for my grandson who was a TV style host. I bought one from eBay, not realising the "trousers" were actually shorts! I suppose their original owner must have gone to an expensive prep school. The jacket was lovely, though and he wore it with his school trousers. He was only 6 then and had to learn 38 speeches.

The snow and ice has nearly all gone now

Hi, Rusty!
I had forgotten about the dissatisfaction I experienced over "crosscut"!
I got the answer easily enough from the parsing...but could not find any reference anywhere to its meaning "tunnel"?
Chambers has "crosscut" as a short distance from one place to another.......
No mention of that distance as being underground!
Tomorrow I am planning to finish (hopefully) the remainder of my present buying!
I have had some inspirations as to what to get for the few remaining gifts......
Now I just have to "find" what I want!
Cold here , too!
The temperature seems to be dropping rather drastically.




Hello, Pigale!
No, the Christmas card holder is a decorative piece of card , about three foot long by six inches wide, hung on a nail on the wall, and one slots THIS year's cards into it as they arrive!
We have three of them - it is necessary to slightly overlap the cards as we have so many of them, but they do look attractive and it is a tidy way to display one's cards.
The family cards,though, stand in glory on the piano!



I am useless at sewing, Ros!
I found it a nightmare when we were expected to produce costumes for children's plays!
Luckily there was usually some kind mum on hand to help out us cack -handed mothers!

Hello, Elle!
I can go no further with "crosscut",
I looked to see how the reigning champ got it.
It was Mark's last one in and he did not explain it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hou8sjFhOyM

So, a mystery!
It is freezing here.
The gritters are out!
I am going to visit son and daughter-in-law tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately Miss O'Hara will be at school.

Hi elle

I'm inclined to think about sewing as I do about cooking i.e.anyone who can read can cook! But not everyone wants to that badly, and why should they?

My live and in a pot Christmas tree is still in the garden, where it will stay until about 2 days before Christmas. It won't like the heat inside and I want to plant it in the wood afterwards.

Gosh Ros, 38 speeches for a 6year old seem a lot - well done the
little lad! I know quite a few young teenagers who could not do it
(or rather who would not try to do it!)
And I bet that he will still remember most of those speeches
or at least in part) in his adult years! Kids are like sponges, so
why not make the most of it indeed!

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you for the link showing Mark's explanations!
I was somewhat surprised to hear his parsing of 1across though?
Mine is very different!
I think that I must have gone wrong, but my "version" is much simpler?
1a: Poor quality business, fellow having a bit of money invested (6)
cheapo = poor quality (def)
co -business
he - fellow
a p - a bit of money
Is this wrong, then?
How did you parse that clue?
It is a pity you will miss seeing Miss O'H tomorrow, when you visit.
When does she break up?
I think our local schools finish next Wednesday (the 20th)
No gritters about here!
I don't even know what one looks like!

Hello, Elle!
I parsed it the same as you, but... I suspect Mark is correct!
I am not sure when the schools come off here.
On a lighter note, I have been browsing through my YouTube History and I watched one of my very favourite acts.
I am not sure you have seen them?
Have a look at Ashleigh and Pudsey!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv_gOBi8Wpk

Thank you Rusty - A brilliant routine dance act to dream about as I am dropping off.... in not too long now!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just been watching Ashleigh and Pudsey.
No, I had never seen them......only heard about them from you!
It was long before I ever watched BGT.
What a clever and adorable dog!
I am not surprised that they won!
I am not convinced about that parsing...I know Mark is an expert, but I cannot see why our version is wrong?
I shall listen again - more carefully - to Mark tomorrow!
Now...I am going to bed!
Talk tomorrow.......