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Hi, Rusty!
I have been out in the garden with the dog....chilly..... but great out!
I was called in by hearing the phone ringing (husband doesn't answer phones!)
It was my daughter making plans for tomorrow....
We are (weather permitting, ie not raining) meeting up in the park tomorrow for a walk.
That will be good!
How is the racing going?
Have you a favourite running?

Hello, Elle!
Hope you get fine dry weather for the park tomorrow.
I was interested in a horse that Willie Mullins brought over from Ireland, "Thomas Hobson".
He ran very well and finished second.
I was pleased for John Gosden, who trained three winners today.
I like John, an excellent trainer!
Still a fine afternoon here.

Good evening, Rusty!
Isn't Thomas Hobson he of "Hobson's Choice"?
Only I cannot remember how the phrase originated?
Do you know?
There is also a horse so called, isn't there?
Did you have a bet on "Thomas Hobson"?
I have been doing the Guardian Prize Crossword!
This is the first time I have ever attempted it ....I got sort of conned into it by first answering a clue!
I rather enjoyed it!
One clue still to solve and three parses as yet outstanding...
But not bad for a first attempt?

Hello, Elle!
I had an idea that Thomas Hobson was a painter, but could well be wrong.
Yes, I took an interest in Thomas Hobbes.
I used to do the Guardian crossword.
Saturday's was usually a good one.
I used to print it off, but no longer have a printer, and it is too fiddly to attempt to do it on screen.
Yes, you seem to be doing well for your first attempt!

Hi, Rusty!
I have looked up Thomas Hobson and found the following...…

"A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is offered
In other words, one may 'take it or leave it'.
The phrase is said to have originated with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in his stall nearest to the door or taking none at all."

There is apparently a portrait of Thomas Hobson, in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.
I shall have to look for it when next I visit the Gallery!

Hello, Elle!
I looked up Thomas Hobson, too!
That story about the "take it or leave it" horse, was familiar!
May have came across it before, years ago.
The horse is owned by an American lady, Mrs Susannah Ricci.
Her husband has lots of horses in training with Willie Mullins (including Vroum Vroum Mag!).
I wonder if it was she who named the horse? And why did she choose that name?
The horse was originally trained by John Gosden, though I am not sure if Mrs Ricci owned him then.
Have you finished your puzzles?

Hi, Rusty!
I remember Vroom Vroom Mag!
Yes, I have all but finished my puzzles.
There is just one that I cannot parse in the Times Cryptic.
Perhaps you can help me, please?
21d: Least likely to work, namely after imbibing litres (6)
I have "idlest" = least likely to work (def)
l - litres
But cannot see the rest?
I have solved what I am sure are much harder clues, so am really annoyed with myself that I cannot see this!
I liked the Guardian puzzle....although I'm gathering that no one else did!

"id est" (i.e.) elle

I've put a couple of posts for you on the Guardian thread...

Hello, Elle!
Mrs Ricci is English, sorry, not American like her husband!.
They live near Sevenoaks. (Not so far from you?)
Now, Elle, you have mentioned being a Latin student before, so I thought you would see "id est"!
I don't speak Latin, but it looked very familiar!
Chambers tells me it is Latin for "that is/that is to say".
If you put "L" for litres in it, it becomes "idlest"/"least likely to work".
Yes, there are tougher clues. You should have nailed this one!
In 28a I have "estate".
I am thinking Virginia is on the eastern side of USA and it is a state.
Is that what you reckon?
Well, I used to do the Guardian puzzle.
To me, some puzzles were super, and some were much less so.
But, others may well think differently.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, Sevenoaks is not all that far away - perhaps about 15 miles or so?
I didn't see "id est" as two separate words!!!!
I kept wondering what "idest" meant!
How could I be so dim?
( Better not answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate you!)
Yes, I , too, have "estate" for 28a.
I parsed it , like you, as "estate = "country property" (def)
E (astern) state = Virginia
I am sure that we are correct!
What are you doing tomorrow?
Are you meeting up with the girls?




Hello, Chris!
Thank you! I didn't see that!
Yes, I saw your messages and answered on the other thread, earlier.