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Hi, Rusty!
Ah, but we don't have any local florists!
In fact, I do not know of any flower shop at all within a reasonable distance.
Such times as I have to order flowers for funerals or similar, I phone an Interflora agent.
Aldi didn't have any wreaths either.....
I shall try Homebase tomorrow, as they have a biggish garden section.
I couldn't do 3d , so presumably the phrase is new to me, too?
Yes, I have set the puzzle aside...I may get chance to look at it later this evening after the grandchildren have gone home.
I must go and sort out food for tea.......the young ones will be hungry when they get here.

Hello, Elle!
My florist was not local, too.
A ten minute drive away.
But well worth it.
Nice wreaths, reasonably priced, and friendly folk there.
I will certainly give them any future custom.
3d, is "Alla breve", a phrase to do with music, it seems.
"A" in clue, with "ever"/always and "ball"/delivery in cricket, I think, reversed.
That should help you get going.
Yes, you make a fuss of the young ones.
Hope they like the tree!

hello elle

You can make one yourself! Get your husband to make a ring from one of those wire coat hangers that you never seem to get these days. Rake some moss out of your lawn, squeeze it and roll into a sausage and bind it on to the ring with green string or ribbon. Then add anything you can lay your hands on- snippings of evergreen, pine cones (best wired), sprayed or not, fabric poinsetias (got mine from an old set of lights!) small baubles (use fuse wire to add them), cinnamon sticks, fresh ivy. Ribbon bows, orange slices dried in the microwave, decorations from old crackers (I bought some with silvery beads one year).

It's fun and can cost nothing! I bet you don't do it, though!

Hi, Rusty!
The family arrived at a quarter past four..... and have just left for home.
We have all had a great time!
Yes, the tree was a huge success, especially with our two year old grandson!
The dog got more attention than did his Grandma and Gramps though!
Our granddaughter is fast growing up.......nine next month.
Thank you for "Alla Breve"..... I have never heard of it!
I shall put it in and see if it helps me with the rest of that corner.



Hello, Ros!
I am grateful for the time and effort you took to instruct me on making a wreath...
But you know me too well......
Of course I shan't do it!

Good evening, Elle!
Sounds as if the visit went very well!
You can't beat family!
"Alla Breve" was unknown to me, too.
I thought the puzzle was on the tricky side today.
Maybe for the Christmas run up?
I have several things to do tomorrow and that will be more or less me sorted for Christmas.
"Pa rum pum pum pum!"

Hi, Rusty!
I still have a load of presents to wrap......
And tomorrow afternoon- cum-evening. we are babysitting for our younger daughter and her husband.
Both have their office parties at the same time - and will need to put in at least a brief appearance - so we are in charge of the boys.
We need to be over there by 5 pm. to give them their tea and put them to bed.
That should be fun!
Now, "alla breve" helped me with "Toxteth" but I still have three left.
I concede defeat!
I am tired...a coffee needed, and I shall watch "Eggheads"!

Hello, Elle!
I think you will like the baby sitting!
I think I got "Toxteth" very early on.
I suspect you may not have the American word at 11a.
Busy "bee" is the worker, "w" for with, and "d" for daughter, bowled over, gives "dweeb", for a "jerk".
Not a word I've ever heard used, and it's American slang, but the setter knows it!

Hi, Rusty!
No, you are quite right in assuming I didn't have "dweeb"!
I have never heard of it.
And the other two I couldn't do are
7d: A?O?E?N
21a: O?I?L?M?E
I did better at answering the Eggheads' questions!

Hello, Elle!
I have only seen "dweeb" written, not heard it said.
7d, is "apogean". A vessel is "a pan", "I" appears to be "ego" reversed inside "a pan".
21, is "oriflamme". "O" type blood, a short distance is "a mm"/millimetre", and the "arm" is "rifle".
I think an oriflamme is a flag or something like that.
I have not checked Dictionary.

Oriflamme- once the King of France's standard.
A banner
A rallying point.