Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Elle!
Yes, it could be that it is only the athletics the Russians are banned.
I saw them topping the medal table and wrongly presumed that was for medals won in athletics.
I believe Lynsey Sharp was well beaten again.
And no Semanya or the Africans to blame this time!
I have not read Anne Frank's book.
There are thousands visit her home every day.

Hi, Rusty!
I'm hoping to catch up with the tail end of the Athletics Championships over the weekend.
I've not seen as much as I would have liked so far!
Tomorrow will be a quiet day for us.......
I am not sure whether we are meeting up with our daughter and family this Sunday.
They will only just have arrived home from their holiday in Wassenaar......and she will have a lot to do before going back to work on Monday.
( Not least, trying to sort out their porch door!)
Have you got anything in particular planned?

Gppd morning, Elle!
A bit cloudy here, so far.
There has been a hint of Autumn these last few mornings.
No plans for the weekend for me.
Just taking things easy!
I may see my granddaughter/s tomorrow but all quiet on that front just now!

Good morning, Rusty!
You were up very early this morning!
A lovely day here, blue skies and sunshine, although happily a tad cooler than of late.... a very pleasant 19C!
We are just back from our morning walk.
Daughter texted me whilst I was out, to say that they have arrived home safely.
All is well (she didn't mention the door!)
Now for coffee, apple and cheese.......and the crossword...!
I also think there is Athletics?
I shall go check.......

Hello, Elle!
I am usually up with the lark!
Beautiful morning so far.
Good news about your daughter and family.
Did you alert her regarding the door?
I have finished my puzzle.
I may need your expertise with 9a! (No rush!)
I have an answer which I think is correct but the parse eludes me.
I suspect it may be to do with chess?
But I know little about chess!

Hi, Rusty!
Oh yes, I phoned my son- in-law about the door when it fell out......
It was he who suggested asking the very kind man next door for his help!
We had never even met him before!
(I don't think he will forget us in a hurry! The door took an hour to put back in place!)
I also warned the family to be very careful when opening said (faulty) door!
I am afraid that I cannot help you with your errant clue?
I have "annotate" = "comment " (def)
That make sense, and fits with my crossers...…..
But I cannot parse it any further, either, as yet.
I am also watching the Men's and the Women's Race Walks!

Good Morning - re parsing of 9 ac:
(m)an not (m)ate
John

Good morning, JohnMac.
I pondered your solution earlier..
I can not see that parse from the clue, though?
What am I missing?

Hello, Elle!
No word on the door?
Maybe the neighbour fixed it?
The race walking is a strange sport!
I shall wait until the evening events at the stadium.
Got a text earlier from Miss La Bamba suggesting a bacon roll tomorrow!
So, that will be fine.
Hope there are no wasps as LB and wasps are not a match made in Heaven!

Hi, Rusty!
Wasps and I are not exactly compatible either!
I have every sympathy for Miss L-B!
Now......9a.......
I am still not understanding the parsing of this clue, despite John Mac's kindly intervention?
I can see that if one writes it out as John Mac describes, "annotate" is 'hidden', but there is no indication to do this......or any instruction to remove the two superfluous letter "m"s?
Am I being obtuse here?
I also cannot parse 12d?
I have "dating agency" = "union organiser" as definition.
But cannot see the rest of the parsing?
I liked 2d; 4d; 8d; and 22a.
"Carding" in 15a was a new word for me, in the context in which it was used!