Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hi, Rusty!
We are home again!
We made good time on the roads as there was virtually no traffic.
We have had a great day with the family.
The lunch cooked by our son-in-law was superb!
And we all had a good time talking, and playing with the children.
How was your day?
I hope you have enjoyed it?



Hello, Pigale!
Merry Christmas to you, too!
I hope you have had a good day?

Good evening, Elle!
I had a nice time with my granddaughters!
Lots of frivolity and laughter!
And my steak pie was very good, too.
So a successful day!
You would have been pleased with the quiet roads.
Much better for driving.
The temperature has shot up here.
Around 8C now.
All the frost has gone.

Hi, Rusty!
I am glad that you have had a lovely day with Misses O and L-B.
I know that you always give money as Christmas presents - - and the girls will greatly enjoy spending that! - - but what did they give you?
And of course you have treated yourself to some books!
( What are you reading at present?)
BB and YB got a Nintendo Switch gaming console between them from their parents, as their main present, and, at their mum's instigation, we bought them a game each for it, at the appropriate age levels.
They also had lots of Lego and various sets of books.
Father Christmas did a great job!
BB tells me that they left out specially bought "reindeer food"?
Whatever happened to the proverbial carrot?

Hello, Elle!
Well, what happens is I get several presents from the girls and their Mum and Dad, and the dog.
So, I don't know who gave me what.
But, I received a new walking jacket, a boombox, and a calendar with their photographs on it, and 6 packets of crisps.
And I am very pleased!

Hi, Rusty!
It sounds as though you have done very well and have received some lovely presents!
A new walking jacket will be very useful (what colour is it?)
And I'm presuming a "boombox" is similar to what we used to call a "ghettoblaster"?
You will be able to play all your favourite CDs on it.
We have all had some very thoughtful gifts, too.
I like Christmas, when we give our families and friends things we know they will enjoy!

Hello, Elle!
My new jacket is very light, it's down filled, and it is warm.
It is a nice shade of dark black.
My son got himself an identical one.
My boombox is for my CD's, yes.
I get my CD's on eBay and Amazon.
Often get CD'S from World of Books.
As you know, they are a good company to deal with.
I got no Amazon vouchers this year, so will have to spend me own money if I buy anything!

Good morning, Rusty!
A damp , slightly foggy, but mild, morning.
I am just home from my walk.
Very quiet everywhere this morning.
I think folk must be recovering from the excesses of yesterday!
Your new coats sounds the bees' knees!
I too have a down padded coat and it is the warmest coat I possess!
Wonderfully waterproof, as well.
I didn't know that the World of Books provided secondhand CDs?
I have always bought mine new.
I must look into this........
But first, a coffee......

Good morning, Elle!
Lovely morning here and it is mild.
Me and my new coat were at ASDA earlier.
It is grand!
My son tells me his local Tesco is closed, not opening today at all.
World of Books has CDs and DVDs as well as books.
Have a look on their website, or look for a CD on Amazon or eBay.
All my CDs are "pre-owned"!
Today's puzzle is tough, for me, anyway!

Hi, Rusty!
So your new jacket has been on its first outing!
I use my down coat mainly for dog walking as it is far superior in warmth to any of my other padded coats.
The only down side (sorry about the pun....groan!) to the "down" is the washing process...or rather the "drying" part....
The coat has to be machine washed (not dry-cleaned) and then dried in the tumbler -drier ( not air-dried) with rotating balls in the drying machine to break up the down.... and prevent if from flocking.
Ever so often, one has to stop the drier and shake out the coat.
Quite a performance!
But probably you have had down coats before, and you know all this?
It was "new" to me!
Yes, a difficult crossword!
I am stuck on the bottom third........

Hello, Elle!
I do not know "flocking"?
I do not think I have had down coats before, that I know of.
I have several walking jackets, one of them I have had for 26 years, but it is fairly heavy, and will last forever.
And it is bright yellow, easily seen in dark or murky weather.
21, is an anagram, but it is a new word to me.
15d is a new word to me, as well.
And 23! A composer, that thankfully Anne Bradford knew!
And 12a is new to me, too.
It is a toughie!