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Thanks, Rusty. The Observer people will obviously have to do something soon about the Everyman crossword. I'm sure the number of complaints has been steadily growing.

I'll check 'Taghairm' later. It's an interesting-looking word. I was surprised to see (yesterday) that Chambers has three or four varieties of 'stushie'.

Good morning, Rusty!
It is not like you to be behind times.
I hope you catch up with your tail soon!
If I am late (in my head), then I find it difficult to "adjust" all the day.
A beautiful morning here...colder, but thankfully dry and sunny!
Yes, I did consider writing to the editor of the Everyman - why not? - but couldn't find where, and to whom, to write ?
I shall search again for a contact.
What time is your golf showing today?
I hope it will not clash with any plans that you might have ?




Hello, Pigale!
I thought of you when I saw the sunshine and blue sky this morning....
hope your heavy winds have ceased, and your weather is improving now?
I am directing some sunshine your way!

Hello, Elle!
(Look down the page. There's a message from Brendan for you.)
I have caught up with myself!
Great day here, and frosty!
It should not be too difficult to find the Observer's address, and "Crossword Editor" should find the "culprit"!
I do not know what the plan for the golf is, or what the weather is like in Northern California, but they are 8 hours behind us.
So be mid afternoon here at earliest.
And Phil Mickelson looks good to win, anyway.
No plans today apart from snowdrop seeking!

Hi, Rusty!
Ah yes, thank you, I found Brendan's message; it was a follow on from yesterday's discussion
It is good that you have caught up with yourself!
I wonder where the expression "catch up with oneself" and "chasing one's tail" came from?
I might look in Brewers....
Now.....
My daughter has been setting up online the FitBit that she bought me for Christmas.....
i have been wearing it for a few days , but without being able to see what it registered.
I am confused ...first it tells me that I have walked 26 miles ...yes, very probably over the last few days.
And then it said that so far today, I had taken 10,000 steps...yes, again , likely......
But now an additional note has just come up to say that my present total of steps this morning is now 5,000 !
How can the number of steps taken be lessening?!
What am I supposedly doing...walking backwards?!
Ain't modern technology grand!

Hello Elle and Rusty!

Thank you for sending some sunshine my way..... it has not arrived
yet but at least the winds have ceased and it is not raining... yet!
Sun due to be with us from tomorrow onwards with colder
temps overnight - which is Okay; recently was damp and too mild
for the season.

So walking will wait until tomorrow, particularly since being Monday,
everything will be closed - this is the way over here, except perhaps
the bigger towns. Monday afternoon at least is closing day except
for supermarkets of course.

Are you doing anything o f interest today?

Hello, Elle!
Fitbit?
To me, that sounds like an Aberdonian choosing footwear!
I am afraid I know nothing about them, Elle.
I think Miss O has one, but what it does I have no idea.
It certainly does not make her arrive on time to pick me up, anyway!
Did you, perchance, reset it, after 10,000 steps?
Knowingly or unknowingly?
Or your daughter did?
Most technology is way beyond me.
It is not long since I put my quill and ink away and discovered the delights of a Papermate Flexigrip pen!
Much better!

Hi, Rusty!
I have a Fitbit Flex 2.
It is a small fitness tracker, whose brain is a little plastic nugget that fits into a wrist strap.
Basically , it records roughly how many steps you take each day, and how many miles you walk .
It also does other clever things, like recording high activity levels/ sleep pattern/ and how many calories you consume.
There are also other features that I have not yet got around to understanding........
The aim is to wear the FitBit all the time, day and night.......to show the results of all these possibilities on your high-tech phone, tablet or computer.
I have mine linked to my desk top, so can see a record of my "achievements" on there!I
The FitBit does not switch off, but remains active all the time....... however, it does have to be charged.
It is an interesting idea......and I do like to know how far I am walking !
I rather think there may be a risk of some folk becoming fanatical about it....
I have an urge to race round the lounge at half- hourly intervals to pump up my mileage and activity!!
So saying...it must be time to go for another (outside ) walk!
I'll be back in a bit....... must up this mileage!

Hello, Elle!
So, that's a Fitbit!
It can count calories you consume?
That seems like a neat trick.
Do you tell it what you are eating?
Say, a banana, or a chocolate cake? Or, how can it know?
Yes, walking is a healthy activity, but do we really need gadgets to count steps etc?
I think it is a bit over the top.
You seem to lead a healthy life as it is.
So, no, not for me!
Great day here, and the rest of the week should be the same.

Hi, Rusty!
Dog and I are home again now...it has just become dark.
Oh, I rather like the idea of the FitBit!
But I have only been effectively "connected" since this morning, so its possibilities are all very new to me as yet.
One can swim in it, too, at it is waterproof!
I shall explore it at leisure.....
I thought today's Times crossword was quite "doable".
Only one clue I cannot solve ....
24a: Self-educator executed turn with American car (10)
A?T?D?D?C?
I thought "auto" for American car? but cannot see anything else.....
And one I cannot parse.....
17d: Curios thus gathering round maestro? (8)
I have "virtuoso" = "maestro" (def)
"so" meaning "thus"?
But I cannot see beyond that?
Are you able to help?


Hello, Pigale!
Did you get your sunshine?
It has been a lovely day here...and had warmed up quite a bit by this afternoon.
The dog and I walked to the further away (larger) park this afternoon.....
and I staggered back!
I'll swear someone is stretching the road!

Hello, Elle!
I am a bit surprised at you taking to this new gadget.
I thought The Times was on the easy side today, too.
24, Autodidact. Car, executed, turn.
Not sure what it means though!
Chambers tells me that "virtu" can mean "fine arts", so they could be the "curios", perhaps, with "so" and "round" being "o".
Hope that's a help, Elle.
It is as good as I can do!