Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Elle!
I delete unwatched programmes quite often, too.
I still have one about the Last Day of the War, 11/11/1918.
I shall get round to seeing it one day!
My system is fine for me, I do not need any more programmes recording!
I am going to have a coffee too, and a cheese sandwich....if I've any cheese!

A Very good morning to you, Rusty!
Dull, drizzly and back to feeling chilly, here!
Not that the dog cares!
She will go forth in all Seasons!
Nothing planned for this weekend....
We shall take it as it comes.
I am about to have a coffee and take a look at the crosswords.
Probably you have already been out for your paper?
What is the weather like in your neck of the woods?

Good morning, Elle!
Fine mild morning here.
Yes, I was out earlier.
Be a bit later before I look at a puzzle today.
Just about to see the skiing.
There was Aussie tennis on Eurosport earlier.
Did you know?
Laura Muir is running for GB & NI, today.
Did you know she is not going to the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast?
This is her final year studying.
And she has placements to do, finals in May.
The Gold Coast does not fit with her plans and dreams.

Hi, Rusty!
I have finished my puzzle - quite an easy one today, I thought?
But then I always think this on Saturdays!
Just two left to parse........
That will give me something to think about!
No, I haven't checked out EP today.
But they have sent me yet another email; this time giving me schedules for the Aussie Open......surely they realise that my contract will have lapsed by then?
I am hoping they will not be able to take money from my credit card to renew the subscription automatically?
I do have an email from them acknowledging that I have terminated the contract (in disgust!)
I think Laura is a very sensible young woman...she gets the best she can from Athletics without jeopardising her main career as a vet.
When are The Commonwealth Games?
April?

Hello, Elle!
I watched the skiing (a win for Federica Brignone) then attempted the puzzle.
16a and 28a took me a bit of thinking to parse.
All done now though.
Yes, best keep an eye on your credit card balance.
EuroPlayer have proved to be a bit harum scarum!
Be good if you got the Oz Open though!
I agree with you about young Miss Muir.
She said she decided a few years ago not to go to the Gold Coast.
Her vet studies was her main goal.
Not unlike Roger Bannister, who combined medicine studies with running.
Yes, the Games start on April 4th.
Winter Olympics on February 9th.

Hi, Rusty!
I am still struggling - whenever I think about it - over 8d and 15d .
I have the answers, but not the full parsing.
I am not yet ready to give in, though!
Funny, isn't it , how we each approach a clue.......I didn't have any trouble with 16a and 28a!.
"Narghile " was a new word to me.
I have now marked off the Commonwealth Games and the Winter Olympics on my wall calendar!
Did you realise that Roger Bannister - despite his running the first under-4-minute mile - never won an Olympic medal?
He came fourth in the 1500m at the Helsinki Games, in 1952
Rather astonishing, in a way?
I am fed up with my cold!
If I'm not blowing/ mopping up my nose, then I'm wiping my eyes!
( It interferes with my reading! )

Good afternoon, Elle!
I enjoyed the cross country running.
Good idea to have them jumping over a burn!
The young American girl in the junior event was very good.
Another Mary Decker?
Probably, Bannister gave priority to his studies?
I had seen "Narghile" before, but had it in my head it was a kind of crocodile!
8d, You need a Prime Minister.
It is a fairly straightforward parse.
15d, Get the word for "always" and you will crack it!
A word used a lot up here, and poetically!

Update, Elle,
Anne Bradford has "gharial" listed under "crocodile".
Must have been what was in my mind!

Hi, Rusty!
Dash it......I forgot all about the Cross Country race!
My elder daughter rang.......we were chatting and the Athletics event went completely out of my head!
But fortunately, I do have it recorded!
I can watch it later.
Now...I'm sorry.......I mustn't have made myself clear...I do already have the answers to those clues.
I just cannot parse them!
8d "Melbourne" (Lord, William Lamb) = "PM" (def)
You say the parsing is easy....I cannot see it?
and 15d: "Ayatollah" = "Shiite leader" (def)
I have "ay" for "always"...... but could get no further than that?
I am conceding defeat!

Update, Rusty!
My goodness, but I am dim!
15d: ayatollah = Shiite leader
Ay -always
atoll- ring shaped (island )
ah - I see!