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Good afternoon, Rusty!
Still wet and cold...with attempted sleet.
I am not going out again!
I have been having discussions with elder daughter as to whether they should still come down for her dad's birthday party.
All four are in varying stages of colds and coughs - and their village is snowed under!
And I am not happy about their driving so far, in these adverse weather conditions.
We have to come to a reluctant agreement that they will postpone their visit till, hopefully, the following weekend.
This means a few less at the party, but another get-together in a week's time!
"Every cloud........." as the saying goes!
I've done the crossword, and I think all are parsed satisfactorily.
A couple of words that I had to look up.
I liked 5d, 9a, 13d and 18d in particular.

Hello, Elle!
May be wise for elder daughter not to travel South?
She and family are safe at home and another week should not matter?
I am just finished the puzzle, too.
I did NOT like 5a!
And what, in the name of the wee man, is a "long ton"?
I did not know there was a word "chivalric", and was trying to make a case for "chevalier", in vain!
A good puzzle, though, Elle!

Hi rusty

A long ton is British, 2240 lbs
a short ton is a US term, 2000 lbs

Both are 20 hundredweight, but that measure is defined differently in the two countries- 112lbs or 100 lbs.
There is also a metric ton, or tonne

What a pain!!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, those were my thoughts entirely.....so they are staying put!
Apart from the advisability of "containing" the coughs and colds, we should have worried had they attempted to drive in snow or ice.
Another week's time might be completely different!
Ah, I had forgotten about 5a...or I would have warned you!
"Mince pies" is Cockney slang for "eyes"....."of eyes" is "ocular"......
Never mind, you will know for next time!
Like Rosalind, I knew about a 'long ton', so no problem there.
I hadn't previously heard the expression "out at the elbow" though......had you?
Yes, a good puzzle!

Hello, Rosalind!
Thank you for the heads up on the weights!
I knew there was a Longton somewhere, but not a long ton!

Hello, Elle!
The coughing and spluttering are all very well, but dodgy driving conditions are to be avoided!
5a, For a time I wondered if "mince" was an anagram indicator!
Silly me!
These Cockneyisms make me think!
Yes, I knew "out at the elbow" but it would not be a phrase I would use.
No, I confess "long ton" had never reached my knowing!
My kettle has sprung a leak, so best have a look for one in ASDA tomorrow.
This leaking one is a Tesco own brand and it has given grand service for many years.

Hi, Rusty!
I see that you might well be troubled by Storm Dylan?
Apparently he is expected to pass over Ireland and Norn Iron tomorrow night, and arrive in Scotland on Sunday, New Year's Eve.
With 80 mph winds. amid heavy rain downpours.
(The Irish Met Office has issued an orange weather warning)
These storms are becoming very frequent, aren't they?
And my daughter says they have had even more snow in their village!
Yes, they will be well advised to stay put this weekend.
What a Winter this is turning out to be!
Now, Tesco is near to you, isn't it?
Why not buy your replacement kettle from there, if the Tesco own brand one gave you such good service?

Hello, Elle.
I know they are expecting bad weather in Donegal and the North.
Donegal is a windy county at the best of times!
Hopefully it will have abated by the time it crosses the sea!
It is foggy here now. Quite unusual for here.
Tesco is an eight minute walk.
My plan is to have a look at what kettles ASDA have, then go to Tesco, then on to my daughter-in-law's.
One ASDA own brand is a Best Buy in Which magazine.
The Tesco one has been great.
Must have had it at least 8 years, I'd say, and it would have been less than £10.

Hi, Rusty!
Funnily enough , our kettle leaked recently....but we already had another in reserve, because we'd bought it in a Sale!
I don't think our previous kettle had lasted anywhere near as long as did yours though!
Still, you seem to have a good plan in hand for tomorrow morning.....
Which daughter- in -law are you visiting?
I'm thinking you kind of have three?
Our "daughter-in -law -who-isn't" is coming to the party with our granddaughter and honorary grandson on New Year's Day!
So we shall still have four grandchildren here, even though two are marooned up in The Midlands!
It will be good fun - with a repeat prospect the following weekend!
I am now rethinking the food.... with four fewer people here, I can now sit everyone at the dining table, so I think we shall have a sit -down meal instead of the buffet I was planning?

Hello, Elle!
I have two daughters-in-law.
Going to visit Miss O'Hara's Mum. (Only if the roads are OK)
You should have a good time with your family.
Let's hope the weather is kind to the travellers.
You should set a place at the table for Mr Jingles, too?
A square of chocolate and he will be over the Moon!

Hi, Rusty!
No, there will be no travellers, at least only relatively local ones.
With the Midlands contingent remaining up there, at least for another week, we no longer will have any one staying with us!
Everyone else lives near enough to "come and go" with reasonable ease.
Mr J has not been seen - thankfully - for a few months!
I had thought that the cold weather might have brought him indoors, but no!
My daughter's cat has recently caught - and killed - two mice, though!
It is said that there is not a single house in London that does not have mice!
Although our "visitor" is a field mouse!
Btw, mice apparently do not like dark chocolate, although otherwise can be regarded as chocoholics!