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A Very good morning to you, Rusty!
We have a cold wet morning here!
The only plus on the horizon is that I am myself feeling a little better!
At long last!
But no thanks to the weather!!
I hope your snow has held off and that you and Miss O are all set for your outing?
I hadn't realised that the Winter Olympics were due to start so soon?
Goodness me!
Yes, it will be good if some events are covered by the Red Button!
The hoover and I now need to become reaquainted.........

Good morning, Elle!
Dreich here.
But no sign of the threatened ice and snow, yet!
Good you are on the mend!
I think BBC should offer a good coverage of the Games.
I am going to support Nigeria in the women's bob!
We have a local girl, Charlie Guest, in the Alpine skiing.
She had a bad accident a year or two back and is getting better.
She broke her back in training.
And of course there is Eve Muirhead and rink to support in the curling.
Eve lives not too far away.
And Elise Christie in the speed skating.
I am really looking forward to it!
I am off out now.
Some good racing at Leopardstown this afternoon for me.

Hi, Rusty!
I am wondering are you back home again yet?
I hope both of you enjoyed your outing and your chat!
Did Miss O have any info to tell you about her sister?
I hop Miss L-B isn't having this heavy rain where she is staying in Dublin?
It is certainly miserable weather!
I have completed the Times 15 x15 grid.......I think I have three partial parses to tidy up though......I am mulling these over.....
As usual on a Saturday, I thought it an easier puzzle?
Have you the had the time to do yours?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I am home now.
I had a mushroom and onion omelette!
No news from Dublin.
I have finished my puzzle.
A good one.
No new words today!
I am watching the skiing.
Lindsey Vonn leading just now.
One of the American girls had a bad crash though.
Not so good!

Hi, Rusty!
Still awash here.......
I wonder whether BB had to play football indoors this morning?
Or whether they braved the elements?
( Tomorrow morning, he plays tennis!)
I shall be speaking to him again later...so will hear all about it!
A mushroom omelette is quite a departure from your usual Pine Cone fare?
Or were you too late for "breakfast"?
I'm not a mushroom fan...I like cheese and onion omelettes though - very "runny" ones!
How is Lindsay doing?
Was the American girl badly hurt?
I think the Davis Cup tennis may have started...must go and investigate.......

Hello, Elle!
I usually have a bacon roll wherever I go, but decided on a change this morning.
It was fine!
Lindsey Vonn is still leading.
She was horrified at Jacqueline Wiles' crash.
She saw it on the big screens at the finish and covered her eyes.
Unfortunately, Jacqueline was screaming in pain, poor lass.
She was stabilised and eventually taken down the mountain on the rescue sledge.
All the news about her is going on line in German, so I am not sure of the extent of her injuries.
Weather is a bit brighter now!

Hi, Rusty!
Lucky you with your brighter weather........!
I have just been out in the garden with the dog - I was in wellies and a raincoat!
The fresh air was nice though!
Are you not a bit worried by the lack of news from Miss L-B?
Has she at least notified her mum and dad of her safe arrival?
( I know what I'm like when one of the flock is out of orbit!)
I still cannot fully parse 17d:
Talked of steep ditch causing furore (8)
I have brouhaha = furore (def)
ha-ha - steep ditch
I don't get the "talked of" bit?
I've puzzled and puzzled on and off all day.........?

Hello, Elle!
Of course I'm not worried about La Bamba!
She is just in Dublin for the weekend.
No news from her, but I certainly won't be troubling her.
"talked of" means sound like.
"Brou" sounds like "brew", to steep.
Anne Bradford has it, too.

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, so "ha- ha" simply means "vertical wall".... and "brou" sounds like "brew" = steep?
I have got it!
I oversimplified it in the first instance!
Lack of brain exercise over the past week?
Or sheer common- or- garden thickness?!
Never mind! Solved now!
Thank you!
I hope the skiing is going okay....
I am going to wash my hair!

Hello, Elle,
A "ha-ha" is a ditch separating one field or garden/park from another.
The ditch is chosen, rather than a fence, or wall, so it won't interrupt the view.
I first came across "ha-ha" a year or two ago, which reinforced my opinion that I needed a good dictionary!