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Hello, Elle!
Yes, I have several "engagements" from tomorrow!
It is dry so far, but cold.
I have tried American puzzles in their newspapers but I prefer the cryptics that we have here.
Each to their own!
I think Mr R did well, too.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I think , just to see what it is like, I shall try out an American crossword if /when I can find one!
Rosalind said that the ones proffered by Syzygy are from the States ...........
Have you ever looked at / attempted solving those?
I shall take a look next time but expect them to be well over my head.
Your Norn Iron friends will be coming to visit their relative in the Care Home?
How is she doing ?.
Not an easy situation being so far from each other; although your friends are very diligent in coming over to Scotland to visit her.
i am halfway through today's puzzle ...I made a good start, but have been constantly- and pleasantly - interrupted by first one person and then another this morning.
A good time!




Hello, Ros!
I shall certainly take a look at Syzygy's puzzles , Ros.....I've tended to avoid them, as I expected they would be too difficult!
Now it is a pity that you do not like dogs, Ros......
When you mentioned not hearing a human voice, I just did a quick reckon up of how many people I might speak to in the morning when dog-walking.
I reckon between ten and twenty?
Either a quick word of greeting or a "proper" conversation!
"Borrow" a dog, and take him/her for a walk for a neighbour?
( I'm going to hide under the desk now, because I know what you'll say.....!)

Ros, I only hear a human voice either when I walk down town - no
more than once or twice a week, or when I speak to my British friend on Skype every other day or so.

Being alone does not bother me anymore now - but It did and I
know it can become depressing at times.
Admittedly, the cats prove great company even though they don't
talk.

I don't enjoy going for a walk on my own, so have bought a
treadmill machine (via ebay), to make up for lack of exercise!

Hello, Elle!
Not tried Syzygy's puzzles.
I find one puzzle a day is plenty for me.
So I restrict myself to The Times puzzle.
I do not know how my pal's Mum is.
I'll hear all about it on Monday!
Yes, they are over here often.
They got the 7.30 sailing from Belfast yesterday and reached here in early afternoon.
They said the boat was packed!
The puzzle is on the easier side, today, I found.
And Mr Rogan said there will be a Jumbo in Monday's paper.
You do that one, don't you?

No need to hide, elle!
No-one who owns a dog would lend it to me if they had any sense. A great friend of mine once said "You're not the sort of person who should keep animals" and he was right. Actually the only person I know round here who has a dog has two and many a time I've watched them pulling her along and barking.
I went for my daily walk at about 7 am today and didn't see a single dog walker or anyone else (it was wet and miserable), except a jogger, I think we did exchange nods! Jogging uphill is inclined to take your breath away.
I know what you and pigale (and others) are saying, but for someone like me who truly dislikes/is frightened of almost all animals (so you may well ask, why did I study zoology), the whole idea of owning or walking one is an anathema. I have fed neighbour's cats in the past, even though they mess in my asparagus bed, but that was only because the cats kept well away from me.
However, I do like (some) humans (!) and had an unexpected phone call from a friend asking me to collect something for him, which I did.
Has anyone else read "The Book of Dust"? It's one of my Book Club reads. I find myself puzzled and annoyed. Can anyone make sense of, for example "the child was destined to bring an end to destiny". I don't like to write what I think of that.
elle, maybe good to do a Harpers or WSJ together?

Hi, Rusty!
We have had heavy rain!
I had a feeling it was on its way!
I have done today's puzzle now.......
Yes, quite a nice one.
Mind you, Saturday's are nearly always easier, don't you think?
I usually find them so.
I especially liked 14a and 17a.
I still have about four to parse though........but too soon to ask for help.
I shall mediate off and on...!
I wonder what will be the nature of Monday's Jumbo?
I do the GK Jumbo...I am not clever enough to tackle a Cryptic big one.
I am away to wash my hair......

Okay Ros, I'll play your 'silly' game: Why on earth did you study
zoology?

I can understand your dislike of animals now that you have
explained that you were frightened of most animals. I think that
they (the animals) probably feel it too, and thus will tend not
to have a friendly attitude towards you.


I don't know what to make of such sentence!

Pigale. Was always interested in how animals work- their physiology, behaviour etc. I had a microscope, used to keep brine shrimps, dissected a rat at home (provided by the school! Poor mother), kept diaries of our garden pond, that kind of thing. Not too much scope my war-torn town, though. I've no idea where the interest came from- all the rest of the family love(d) dogs and those alive still do. It's as well we're all different.

Quite - Life would be rather boring were we all alike!

I understand your interest in zoology though - but perhaps just
as well you were not a vet!

Hello, Rosalind!
I am sorry to take so long to reply, Ros.
My post to Rusty and yours to me obviously crossed!
And I have only just spotted your message since coming back to he computer just now.
No, I do understand your position regarding animals
I was certainly not expecting you to agree to walking a dog.
I DO know frightened you are!
I was just remarking that it is usually is a very good way to make contact with people.....and hopefully make some new friends..
I've thought before that you would have made a better researcher than a zoologist!
You are very talented in finding out info and researching family histories.
And this would perhaps have been an interesting and challenging career choice, retrospectively?
I thought your book was brilliant!



Hello, Pigale!
My daughter has a running machine!
But she has decided to sell it......and instead to rejoin a local gym!
She feels there is more motivation in company.