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Hi, Rusty!
Yes, stay home now, and keep warm and safe!
It does not sound good around your way, from what I have just been reading on the computer News.
It is good that your son can help by doing jobs for you.
Yes, today's crossword is difficult, although strangely enough I am not struggling with this as much as I was with yesterday's puzzle!
I guessed at some of the answers, and then checked to see if they parsed correctly.
I have a few still to do, but I doubt that I shall get any forrader.
I think I have shot my bolt!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, my son was fixing door and window to make them wind and water tight as much as possible.
At the Championship, 90 competitors tackled this puzzle and 41 solved it correctly.
New words for me are 5d, 19d, and 24d.
It is a tough puzzle for me!

Hi, Rusty!
It is a good job that your son is managing to wind and water proof your doors and windows for you before the Winter gets a real hold.
Are they double-glazed?
I honestly do not know how these Championship competitors do so well in their solving.......and all without any reference aids!
Obviously they are remarkably clever people!
And all done in a very short time!
It takes me ages - sometimes on and off all day - and even then I cannot usually finish.......
And that with the aid of dictionaries, atlases, and the Internet etc., all to hand for me to look things up!
I doubt I could even start without Google!
I haven't managed to do either 5d or 19d!
I did 22d from the parsing, but had to check the definition of "shaw" as "wood" in Chambers.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, double glazed.
He adjusted a few bolts and screws and replaced weatherseals on a window.
Seems better now.
The Championship challengers are a breed apart I think.
What you are describing, "sometimes on and off all day", to me, is the best way of doing the puzzle.
A good challenge, and fun, and why rush!
There was no Google when I started out, though I quickly realised I would need a first class dictionary, and I had never heard of Anne Bradford (who is a tremendous help) back then, either.
The only tip I can pass on regarding 5d, is you are looking for a plural of a unit in the Indian numbering system, (sounds like "wanting).
The other one, you need a word for "enjoyment" plus a word for "ends", to give an abbreviated word for "strict believers".
That meaning of "shaw" was new to me, though very gettable with the clue.

I think "shaw" for woods is probably one of those Norse hangovers. It's not uncommon in placenames in Yorkshire.

See this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beckwithshaw

Weren't there "trollshaws" in The hobbit? Tolkien would know his languages!

Good evening, Rusty!
It is good that you are now all set up for the colder weather!
Well done to your son!
My daughter had to replace some of her double- glazed windows ... I think because the vacuum was broken?
Would this be a similar thing to what your son has now fixed?
Now...... the puzzle.....
5d: "lakhs" sounds like "lacks"!
19d: I can get "fun dies" from your hint....
Not a word I have ever come across.
Something to do with "Fundamantalists"?
As for "shaw"......Chris mentions "The Hobbit".
I came across my copy of that when I was "sorting".
I have, of course, kept it, but cannot tell you where it is right now!
I obviously need to read it again!



Hello, Chris!
I did not know about "shaw" in relation to Yorkshire names.
Thank you for that info.
And it is very many years since I read "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".....
"Trollshaws Forest"?
I have the books somewhere.
A friend called his two Weimaraners "Frodo" and "Gandalf"!

Hello, Elle!
No, it was the seals on the window frames, Elle.
There were little gaps appearing and letting in air.
The units themselves are in good nick.
And he changed hinges on a door.
Just ordinary maintenance.
Yes, it appears as if "fundies" are "fundamentalists".
New to me!
I know tattie "shaws" are the bit of the plant above ground.
Never heard of "lakh", at all!

Hi, Rusty!
I do not know "tattie shaws", Rusty?
Our erstwhile friend, Mr M, was the subject of a question on "Fifteen to One" today.
The answer was "The Tales of the South Pacific".
The contestant did not know it!
It is still raining here.....


P.S More store fronts!!!!

Hello, Elle!
The "shaw" is the part of the potato plant that is left after the potatos have been gathered.
"Tales" was a very good book!
Some great characters in it.
I liked Aggie Grey.
That's where the musical "South Pacific" came from.
Was it who wrote "Tales of the South Pacific"?
I bet Kevin would know it?