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Hi, Rusty!
I have done my household jobs...and finished my crossword.....
So a good morning's achievement!
(Well... I have three clues yet to parse...but otherwise, all done!)
I am not happy with "Offa" sounding like "offer" though!
Have you done your puzzle?
Happy Birthday to Miss O !
Her bottle of Champagne will come in very handy!
Dual purpose!
I hope they enjoy their meal out.

Hello, Elle!
I did not like Offa/offer too, nor did I know Offa was a king!
I finished my puzzle earlier and I think it is all parsed correctly, though I struggled for a while with "sisterly", but nailed it eventually!
I like clues that make you think.
I am out of touch with Miss O this last day or so.
She lost her 'phone and has joined another supplier but they have made a muck of transferring her number over, so patience is required.
I do not think the Champagne will be opened.
They are all pretty much tee-total.

Hi, Rusty!
Offa was King of Mercia, an Anglo Saxon kingdom.
I have come across him before in crossword clues.
26a: answer "sisterly", is one of the clues that I still cannot parse.
I may yet have to ask for help...my brain seems to have seized up!
However, first, I am going to take your advice and put it all to one side for now.........
It is a glorious afternoon, and it is a pity to waste this lovely sunshine......
I am going out for a walk round the Nature Reserve.
Light may shine, on my return!

Hello, Elle!
A walk sounds a good idea!
"Sisterly" took me a wee while to parse, but it is relatively straightforward.
Needs broken down in two distinct parts.
Just saw Victoria Pendleton at Epsom.
She must be back from Everest now.
Miss O and family were at an Indian restaurant for their lunch.
Her 'phone is still not connected to O2.
Goodness knows why it is taking so long!

Hi, Rusty!
Home again!
It is a tad too warm for walking, but we survived!
No, I cannot see how "sisterly" parses?
Nor either of the other two clues....
11a: armature = part of motor (def)
and 3d: significant = important (def)
I can go no further with any of these.......
I must be missing something obvious?
I shall give in and ask for help, please?
An Indian restaurant for lunch sounds good!
I love Indian food!
I think, though, that we are heading to Pizza Express tomorrow........
The grandchildren were allowed to choose!

Hello, Elle!
"sisterly" is, "ship at intervals is "si", odd letters.
Keep "we" out out of "(we)sterly wind, and you have "sisterly.
3d, Tell your deputy, regarding the outgoing mail, to "sign if I can't",
"Significant".
"armature" is fully formed/"mature", after lead free vehicle "(c)ar".
OK?
The last time (many years ago) I was at an Indian restaurant, I had a mushroom omelette, and it was very nice!

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you!
I understand now! I would never have got "sisterly " though.
I like "sign if I can't" - very good!
I might have stood a chance with "armature," had I realised that "lead -free" meant removal of the "c" from "car".....
I was thinking "pb" - the chemical symbol for "lead"...…..
I was way off track!
A mushroom omelette in an Indian restaurant?
Do you not like Indian food, Rusty?
I have had stuffed peppers for dinner!
Not Indian......but very hot and spicy!

Hello, Elle!
"Sisterly" took me a while to nail, though!
I have seen "sign if I can't" before in puzzles.
A good one.
"Lead free" was a good misdirection by our setter!
He/she set a good puzzle today!
I do not know Indian food, Elle!
Hence my omelette!
I would never have been in the restaurant in the first place, but it was our works Christmas night out and someone suggested the Indian restaurant.
I do not like being hungry, but that apart, I have little interest in food.
Very happy with a bacon roll!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, sometimes one can see a solution straight away, and at other times one struggles.
It took me a while to see the anagram for "rag- and- bone man".
You could be missing out on a lot, not trying out a selection of cuisines from different countries?
You never know...you may find you enjoy "something different," if you would but try it?
I don't have a very big appetite - well, there isn't very much of me! - but I do enjoy trying different recipes- especially when dining out.......and I love spicy food!
Mind you, I enjoy a bacon roll, too!
Lovely evening here!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I know I am odd.
Most folk like going to different restaurants to eat foreign food.
But not me.
Happy with a bag of chips!
My son has just gone home.
I am glad he came to see me.