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Hello, Elle!
I simply do not know if I'll have time to fit in The Voice.
It's the womens downhill skiing at the World Champs in Are tomorrow and I want to see Lindsey Vonn's last race.
Though I am hoping for Sofia Goggia to win.
Miss O and me are going out, too.
Then there is athletics and the golf.
Sunday will be busy!
Mr Jingles is my favourite mouse.


Hello, Pigale!
Hope you are still doing the gentle exercise.
Our weather has been great for walking.
So far, it's been a great winter!

Good morning, Rusty!
We have another wet day here .....although fortunately the wind has dropped.....
Not very nice out .......a plodge rather than a walk!
You sound as though you have a very busy day ahead of you..... an outing with Miss O, plus skiing, athletics and golf.
You may have to do some prioritising?
Where are you and Miss O going?
To the Pine Cone....or are you trying out the new restaurant?
We are expecting a visit from some family members later.

Good morning, Elle!
Beautiful morning here, with hard frost.
The only clash I have is with the downhill and going out with Miss O, but she takes priority....she tells me!
But I am set to record the downhill anyway, so all is fine, and no more fog, I hope.
My choice would be the Pine Cone, but Miss O is the boss!
I know my place!
You will be looking forward to seeing your family.
Hope the road conditions are good for them travelling.
I have watched The Voice!
I liked Gabriel, and the girl who "Could Have Danced All Night".
Sorry, I did not catch her name.

Hi, Rusty!
I envy your beautiful morning!
I was a bit aghast , on looking at the Everyman this morning, to find part of a clue obviously missing (21a) and another bearing an incorrect definition ( 27a)
However, the missing part of clue 21a has now been supplied!
There are some shockingly easy (poor) clues though......it is disappointing ......I wish we had our previous setter back!
I previously enjoyed doing this crossword so much!
Yes, Gabriel was great, and well suited to being coached by Will, I thought.
There were one or two others whom I liked, but I cannot remember their names.
I hope you get to go to the Pine Cone!

Hello, Elle!
Home from Pine Cone, we had a nice time!
I only saw the clue that Brendan posted and it did not make sense at all, but apparently part of it was missing!
Gabriel had a good voice and a nice personality, I thought.
Hope he progresses!
Just finished watching the womens' downhill.
Lindsey Vonn came third, which was a wonderful achievement, given the state of her body after the crashes.
She was delighted!
Ilka Stuhec won.
Lindsey was interviewed afterwards, alongside her hero, Ingemar Stenmark, who is the greatest ever Alpine skier.
So farewell, Lindsey, the best ever woman skier.
Now, what's next!

Hello Rusty!

Sorry for delay, just only seen your latest post last night - I must have
gone to bed when you sent it!

Yes, I am indeed still doing the gentle exercise - We had a reasonable week weather wise, so I toddled down to the village four times in all.

No way am I going out today though, we are having very
strong winds and rain (up to 65miles/hour wind which is a lot for this region) - It must be the part of the same storm Elle suffered.

This coming week looks promising anyway!

Elle, I hope you have a great time with your family - thank you
for sending your stormy weather to me!

Hello, Pigale!
A pity about your weather today.
It seems you are in for a storm.
Yes, best stay indoors until it passes.
It has been a lovely day here.
Frosty earlier but it seems fairly mild now.
Take it steady with the exercise once the weather picks up!

Good evening, Rusty!
The family has just gone home.
We have all had a lovely time, but I am left exhausted!
Though happily so....!
I am glad that you had a good time with Miss O at the Pine Cone.
Yes, Lindsey did well.....and a reasonably good note on which to retire.
I am pleased to say that the recording of the Athletics on the Red Button has worked fine!
I obviously have not had a chance to watch any of the athletics' events yet, but have just had a quick look to check!
Were you successful at your end in recording the RB on Skye?
I am flabbergasted by all the remarks about the Everyman being difficult today...….some of the clues were ridiculously easy!
But not as well written as we are used to experiencing......
I missed the more smoothly dove-tailing of the previous setter's clues and answers...his were a delight in cleverness, and precision.
As you have already remarked , one clue today had a word missing....
Another gave a wrong definition.....
Rail is missing from banister (6)
"Rail" does not mean "banter", although "raillery" does!
No, I was disappointed.
Right, a coffee and the athletics......

Good evening, Elle.
A great visit from your family!
Well done!
Lindsey done brilliantly.
That is the 6th World Championships in which she has won a medal/medals.
A bronze today.
She had two ambitions when she left the gate.
Firstly, not to crash out, secondly, to lead the field for one last time in her last ever race.
And she did both!
She led until Ilka Suhec came down faster.
I managed to record the athletics, too, but not watched it yet.
I may look for Jemma Reekie's race.
So...there is a new setter doing Everyman?
I just saw the clue that was puzzling Brendan.
Apparently there was a word missing!
I know little about grammar, Elle, but could "rail" and "banter" be used as verbs and mean the same?
Just wondering!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, there is a new setter for the Everyman, and has been for the last three weeks.
The previous compiler apparently had to retire from the task , because of ill health.
I am uncertain whether this is a permanent decision, or just until his health perhaps improves?
There have been various problems with the crossword since then.
No, "rail" and "banter" do not mean the same in any context.......
Collins gives "rail" as "to complain bitterly , or vehemently", whereas "banter" is given as "to tease or speak lightly, or jokingly."
( However, "raillery" is "light-hearted satire or ridicule; banter")
An unacceptable mistake, in my book.
Jemma Reekie did well , didn't she?
She won the 1500m and now has a place on the GB team for the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
Well done, Jemma!
It is my turn to phone my cousin.......