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Hi, Rusty!
Ah, I see...
I was thinking it was a birthday celebration!
Yes, a lovely Christmas present from the girls.
We still have a voucher from our son for afternoon tea at Claridges!
Now that the evenings are becoming lighter again, I must start planning when we should go!
I think we have up till June before the voucher expires.
I am looking forward to it!
Ironically, I do not drink tea ( apparently twenty-four blends are on offer)........
But I am sure they will find me a coffee.....

When you go to Claridges, elle, make sure you are properly dressed! I expect they have similar rules to the Ritz, where gentlemen must wear ties and jackets and no-one is allowed trainers. I was on the bus when I realised I had not changed my shoes! I got off the tube at Oxford Circus, found a Clarkes Shoe shop which happened to have a sale, grabbed the first pair of size 5 and a half black heels I saw and queued up to pay. I didn't have a chance to try them on and they are the only pair of heels I've ever had that are comfortable. I changed in a shop doorway near the Ritz.

Incidentally, don't be afraid to ask for what you want (i.e.coffee!). My son requested sandwiches with no butter and extra chocolate cake as he didn't (and doesn't) like any other kind. He also asked for orange juice to drink, which they also provided. Neither son drinks hot drinks!

However, when I took him First Class on Eurostar I reminded him he did like champagne! I had some orange in my bag.

Hello, Elle!
I think the girls done great.
I am very proud of them!
I think I have heard of Claridges before.
Is it a restaurant?
Maybe best waiting until the evenings stretch a bit more.
I drink tea if I can not get coffee.
Just good old plain Nescafe for me.

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a fine day here, but becoming decidedly colder.
A good invigorating walk though!
Claridges is a big hotel up in Brook Street, in Mayfair, London.
I thought I had previously sent you the link to the afternoon tea.......but perhaps I didn't?
https://www.claridges.co.uk/restaurants-bars/afternoon-tea/
I hope it works?
I have never been to Claridges, although we had afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel on The Strand, when my husband's Retirement presentation took place there.
A very posh affair!
I watched some of the Olympic highlights yesterday..... my heart was in my mouth watching the downhill skiing!
They showed Eve 's Curling shot again, too!
What do you have planned for the day?




Hello, Ros!
Claridges states "Elegant smart casual; no shorts, vests, sportswear, flip flops, ripped jeans or baseball caps" !
(Darn it........whatever shall I wear then?)
Seemingly "designer jeans" are allowed........
Some years ago, we had afternoon tea at The Savoy Hotel on the Strand, where my husband had his Retirement presentation.
That was a lovely affair...and yes, we did have to "dress up " to some extent.
The men wore suits and, of course, ties, but the ladies were allowed to wear trouser suits /trousers if desired.
And yes, I was presented with a coffee!
The edible part of the "afternoon tea" was delicious!

Good morning, Elle!
Cold, frosty, and blue skies here!
I have heard of The Strand!
A strand is a sand beach in Donegal.
I don't like the sound of Claridges.
But they are entitled to their dress code!
The downhill racing is not for the faint hearted!
I think it is great, though!
That was a superb shot that Eve played.
She is a scratch golfer, too, and plays bagpipes to championship standard.
A talented lass is our Eve!
Unfortunately, Team GB men curlers did not get to the semis.
Eve's brothers are in that team.
Eve's vice-skip, Anna Sloan, and one of Eve's brothers are an "item"!
The girls play Sweden tomorrow at 11.00 our time.
No plans today.
I have been for my paper and a bar of black chocolate!

Hi, Rusty!
I think all the big hotels up in London are very similar in their afternoon tea menus........and their dress code!
"Elegant smart casual" is not so very restricting....and it will make a pleasant change not to wear the inevitable jeans and sweater!
(I can scrub up very nicely when necessary!)
Speaking of clothes.....and footwear....there was a question about "nubuck" on Eggheads yesterday!
I would not be without my "nubucks"!
I see that there is good coverage by the BBC of the World Indoor Championships Athletics at Birmingham next Thursday and Friday.
I shall look forward to that!

Hello, Elle!
Well, as someone who does not own a pair of jeans, maybe Claridge's would let me in!
I think it sounds a bit too posh for a lad like me, though!
I hope you got the "nubucks" question correctly answered?
It is noticeably colder today.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
It is a glorious day here........it would be spring- like were it not for the very cold temperature!
Have your son and daughter- in -law already left for Paris?
By what means are they travelling there?
I hope they have a great time!
I have done two crosswords earlier today......the 15 x15 and the QC.
Surprisingly both are finished and fully parsed!
An easier few days' settings?
I didn't know the term "road metal" in 23 across?
I had to check out the definition.......
It seems odd that it should mean broken stone/ crushed rock!"
"Plenipotentiary" was a new word for me.
The QC had one clue that I especially liked....I don't know why...it just grabbed me!
3d: One book is missing from new libraries, they protest (7)
It is my favourite clue today!
Right...I shall marshal the troops...time for a walk!

Hello, Elle!
My son and daughter-in-law are going to Paris on an aeroplane.
It has just left Edinburgh.
I have laid tons of road metal in my time!
I remember being surprised that "cattle" can mean horses or sheep, too!
My favourite clue was 4d, though it took me a few minutes to see the parse.
I like your "libraries" clue.
I watched a bit of the ice-hockey final.
Some fierce girls playing!
Was very good though!

Update for Elle, Jazzgirl, and Malone.
This was posted on Mikey's thread.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-dies-after-collapsing-city-14320836

Very sad, poor Mikey!