Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Good evening, Elle!
That's a pity you have to go to Phlebotomy.
Ours is done at the same time as the health checks.
I do not want to burden Sloane with my bet and maybe jinx her!
So, I'll leave it alone.
And it is difficult to follow because they play through our night.
I think Roger played at the same time as Andy Murray, on another court.
One channel showed Andy's match, and the other showed Roger's.
It was interesting to hear Novak Djokovic say he first played Andy when they were twelve years old and "Andy kicked my butt!"
My son has just left.
He was here collecting some things he may need this week.
The Tay salmon fishing season opens tomorrow and he has been lucky enough to be invited to visit/fish one of the beats, not sure which day, though

Hi, Rusty!
My goodness, I have had a response from Royal Mail re the M&S delivery!
They are sorry to hear of my problem and are investigating it
Well, that is quite a surprise!
When I sent in my Complaints form, I never expected to hear back from them.
If I only get an apology ......that will be a step in the right direction.....
That is good about your son's invitation to fish one of the beats.
So how does this work?
Is he invited because of his prowess at the sport?

Hello, Elle!
Well done, Royal Mail!
Be interesting to see what they come up with?
No, my son is fairly well known in salmon fishing circles, and that is why he was asked to fish a beat.
He just happens to know a lot of like minded folk.
The official opening takes place at Kenmore.
Kenmore is where the river leaves Loch Tay.

Hi, Rusty!
I have heard of Kenmore...it is near Aberfeldy, isn't it?
Aberfeldy is where our park dog-walking friend went to live, after inheriting her mother's property.
She seems to like living there very much, and described it as an attractive market town.
Apparently there is a poem called "The Birks of Aberfeldy" by Robert Burns.
Do you know it?
It is beginning to feel very much colder here......I opened the garden door for the dog, and felt the chill!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, Kenmore is near Aberfeldy, on the shores of Loch Tay.
The River Tay leaves the Loch at Kenmore.
It is a lovely wee village.
I remember you telling me about your friend and Aberfeldy.
Yes the Birks (birches) are quite well known.
Nice walking through the birks.
I do not like Burns or his poems, but I know the one you speak of.
I think after Wednesday the temperature up here is going to drop.
So the forecast says, anyway.
Winter is on the way!

A Very Good morning to you, Rusty!
A fine day here, and reasonably mild again.
I think our weather is due to change as from Thursday, and become very cold.
I do not mind the cold... I find it far more preferable to heat ....but would rather it did not snow!
I have a relatively free day today...leastways there is nowhere that I have to be!
And hopefully the plumber will arrive between 12 and 2 pm as promised!
How about you?
Any plans?

Good morning, Elle!
Great day here, and it is mild.
Our weather is supposed to turn much colder from Thursday, too.
I am sure there will be snow before too long.
It is the black ice I dislike!
Fingers crossed for your plumber, Elle!
No plans, I was out earlier.
I'll likely keep an eye on the skiing and the Aussie tennis.
And tackle the puzzle!

Hi, Rusty!
Good news!
The plumber arrived early, has done his small job very well, as before with the larger one, and duly departed.
He was very apologetic about his failure to materialise over the weekend, and is back on my list of "plumbers-to-go-to"!
In fact, he is going to give us a quote for putting in a bigger shower cubicle in the second bathroom.
I gave him a coffee to take away in his own thermal cup!
I am keeping an eye on the tennis scores ........ all seems to be going reasonably.... no big upsets to date.
I think Roger won last year, and the year before?

Hello, Elle!
Well done, your plumber!
That is very sensible putting him back on your "trusted tradesmen" list!
Hope you get a reasonable quote for your shower job.
Roger has won the Oz Open several times, as has Novak.
What do you make of your Collins?

Hi, Rusty!
Well, I only got my Collins mid morning yesterday, so have not had all that much time yet to "browse" through it.
But I very much like its clear format.
For instance , I looked up "land"...... the various meanings, and other words beginning with such, are set out much more clearly than they are in my Chambers.
Each word beginning a fresh line......
It is much easier to see different definitions and derivatives.
And I like its listing Proper Nouns.
I have checked several Proper Nouns in both dictionaries, but am only finding them in the Collins.
But I have only touched on the surface yet, only having owned the Collins dictionary for one day!
However, the Collins does not have "taghairm"!
Mind you , this word is not in my ill-fated 13th edition of Chambers, either (altho it is in your 12th!)
"Taghairm" is one of the listed "Missing words" from the 13th Chambers.....
The additional supplement later supplied gives it as "inspiration sought by lying in a bullock's hide behind a waterfall"
Just as we, of course, know it......
Now the Online Collins ( a newer version than our book ) has it , but simply gives it as "Scottish :
a form of divination once practised in the Highlands of Scotland "
No mention of "bullocks"...nor of "waterfall"!!!
But where would we be without a bullock hide...?