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Hi, Rusty!
Home again!
We have left the dog at the groomers, and have to collect her from there at 12.30 pm.
It is good that Flawless did well from their audition, even though they did not win the show.
Bribery by choc ice?
Our cobblers does a good line in bag repair, too!
When I looked in on Lassie earlier, she was no longer "squatting", so I am assuming that she no longer expects the third egg to hatch.
Indeed, I could no longer see the egg, although it could well still be there in the nest.
I am rather surprised that there has been no update from the Rangers?

Good afternoon, Elle!
I do not really approve of your term "squatting" in reference to Lassie's incubating.
Not very ladylike!
The egg is still there, but if it does not hatch, it will gradually be absorbed into the nest.
The rangers have lots of other stuff to do.
Apparently the swans eggs are hatching just now, and they have the beavers and pine martens and the squirrels to keep an eye on, and the visitors!
I am just heading out for a stroll, then home.
The Oaks is being run at Epsom later today, so I shall have a look at that.

Hi, Rusty!
We are back home again with a clean and neatly trimmed dog.
For a shaggy dog, she does look very smart!
I doubt it will last long.
I have been trying to order various things online...without much success...either the item is out of stock, or the website is down.
I think it is just not meant to happen today!
Did you have a good walk?
Any betting on the horse racing?

Hello, Elle!
I had a long stroll but it was a bit too warm for comfort.
No bets today.
Just watching top class horses race.
Big crowds at Epsom.
Puzzle finished.
I liked 2d!

Hi, Rusty!
Very warm and sunny here, too, now - a tad too "close", though, for walking far.
I have finished my puzzle , too.
A much easier one today!
Yes "dog ma" is very good!
I also liked 10a: emotional; 19a: obliges; and 26a: disproportion
"Wig " appeared for "rug" again....
And "plastic surgeon" was the answer in exactly the same place in the grid, as last time it occurred recently.......
Spooky or what?
I'm not sure about 21a : pacesetter
"Pace" is part of the Latin word "pax" ......to me - and to my Latin dictionary - this means peace, not "respect"?
Am I being finicky?
I hope you are enjoying the racing!

Hello, Elle!
I would tend to agree about "pace/peace" but Anne Bradford has "pace" under "respect", so that would suggest the setter is correct?
I do not know Latin, though.
Racing is good.
Ladies Day at Epsom!

Rusty, Elle, Chambers defines 'pace' as 'with or by the leave of (expressing disagreement courteously)' so the clue seems fine.

Hello, Malone!
Yes, so it does!
I didn't twig that meaning.
Had a look, but obviously it did not register with me.
Thank you, Malone!

Hi, Rusty!
I'm afraid I just went with my Latin knowledge, and confirmation from my Latin dictionary!
It did not occur to me to check in either Bradford's or Chambers to see if there were any "modern" slants on the word.
I've been caught like this before....
I'll never learn, will I?
My daughter has just been on the phone!
We are all going out for lunch on Sunday.
That will be good!




Hello, Malone.
Ah, I did not bother to look in either Chambers or Bradford's......
Thank you for that.
I knew that "pace" came from "pax", which in my Latin dictionary gives only "peace" as its definition.

Any excuse to look in Chambers keeps me happy!

Pace, as I'm sure you know, is the ablative of 'pax' (yes, Chambers has just told me that).