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Hi Elle, (and Rusty and Chris!)

I have actually stopped rushing around late morning - had completed
all I wanted to do yesterday afternoon except one little chore left
for this morning.

I am now relaxing and enjoying the sun (sorry) and around 6.30 pm
my time, I'll meet ALL my friends: One coming off the bus around
that time, and the other two who will have arrived middle afternoon
and who have a house a few metres from the bus stop!

The friend who is staying with me will be here for two weeks, whereas
the others are only on a 'flying' visit.

Yes, we shall all have a great time together!

Anything exciting for you?

Hope all is Okay with you Rusty and Chris!

elle

I enjoyed it today as well. I also liked whimsical. I did not understand Ghent - I have been there - lovely cathedral and triptych - but what was the good news from Aix?

hi jigjag et al
we too went to ghent to see the van eyck altarpiece. did you know that john of gaunt was so-called because he was born in ghent?

Hello, Elle!
I thought it a less difficult puzzle today compared to Monday and Tuesday?
I know "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was an old film and Audrey Hepburn was in it.
I know no more!
I've only read one book of Capote's, "In Cold Blood".
I read too, that he was a very unpleasant man.
Still a great day here.
How's you and the rain getting on?

Hello, Pigale!
Nice to hear from you!
Hope you enjoy your friends company!
And the fine weather.
It is lovely here, but an autumnal chill in the air!

chriseE - glad you saw it - I dont know anyone else who has, everybody seems to go to Bruges.

We had a lovely lunch on the Scheldt after visiting cathedral. I love Belgium and go every 2 or 3 years to visit friends there.

Interesting, I did not know John of Gaunt was born there. I suppose Gaunt is a version of Gent/Ghent.

Hello, Jigjag!
I'll answer the question about the clue first as that is much easier!
22a: Ghent = source of good news brought to Aix
gent- bloke
h- hotel
But as for Paul Revere...it is all very complicated.... and further so because there are two poems!
Longfellow wrote "The Ride of Paul Revere".
His poem is not accurate historically, but apparently his "errors" were made deliberately to create a poetic effect.
See the biography of Paul Revere.
https://www.biography.com/news/paul-reveres-ride-facts
Robert Browning wrote "How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix"......
But what that good news actually was, was never revealed in the poem!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/poems/how_they_brought_the_good_news_from_ghent_to_aix.shtml
I hope the links work!

Hi again, jigjag
We had a multi-centre holiday there when our daughter was studying history of art - Brussels (from where we went to Ghent), Bruges, Antwerp and Aachen.
The highlight was in Antwerp. We turned up at the Plantin-Moraeus print museum at about 11.30 and discussed whether to have lunch first or go straight in.
We went in. When we came out at about 4.30, we were a bit pushed to find somewhere for lunch! However a restaurant in a modern building right on the Scheldt was one of those pleasant surprises where the food was far better than it needed to be, given the superb location!

elle

thanks very much - that is interesting. I knew about the Longfellow poem but not the Browning one. I will research it via your link. I am sure it will work.

Cheers

chrisE

That sound a wonderful holiday. Antwerp is where my friend lives and I too have had some nice meals there. Pubs are good too - Den Engel (Angel) in the main square is my favourite - very English.

Did you learn any Flemish - I have picked up a bit.

Groetjes!