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Good morning Elle and Rusty!

A slightly grey morning but sun due to reappear this afternoon
and remain for at least 14 days, so not so bad!

I did buy "Testament of Youth" in DVD form and watched sometime
last week. Of course I never read the book so can't compare the two
versions, but I thought the film very powerful, quite poignant
and certainly one of the best films made on the subject of WWI
consequences.

I hope you will not be disappointed Elle, and I would be curious
to know what you make of it.

How are you both? Have you been up to anything of interest
recently?

Going to see new GP tomorrow - Will see if I take to him ............

Hello, Pigale!
It is nice to "see" you!
I have read both "Testament of Youth" and its sequel "Testament of Experience" and greatly enjoyed them both!
Usually I am then reluctant to watch a film made from the book, as often I am disappointed by finding changes have been made to the storyline, which for me spoils it.
However , it is so very long ago since I read either book, that I thought I would risk it and in this instance watch the film!
Yes, I will report back when I finally get around to viewing!
Good luck with the new GP tomorrow!

Good day, Elle!
Fine day here, too, and frosty!
I was at my dentist earlier and got on well.
But....my bank card would not work there, so I paid cash and never got to ask about cash back!
I went on to my bank branch and explained my situation to the lady there.
She tried my card and told me there were two things not working on my card.
A magnetic strip, and I have forgotten the other thing!
She gave me cash though.
So, I am solvent now until my new card turns up!
And I came home and fell asleep!

Hello again Elle,

Quite frankly, I am dreading (well, perhaps this is too strong a word,
but you will know what I mean) this change of GP! I had been with
the previous one for some 30 years plus, ever since we came back
to France in fact! This seems like a life time!
On top of this, I knew him particularly well as I helped his eldest
son improve his level of English for college, and I also gave his
his wife some lessons when she wanted to brush up on the language
for an exam. So to me, he was almost a friend and I totally trusted
him - he had the reputation of being the best Doctor in the village
even in the days when we had four GPs!

Do you always see the same GP when you go to your local practice?
I really do believe that continuity is important in the Doctor-patient
relationship, don't you?

Good day, Pigale!
Nice to hear from you!
Your weather forecast sounds very promising.
I think mine is good, too!
"Testament of Youth" was a fine book, indeed.
I hope you "take" to your new GP!
I think it is important to have a good rapport with your doctor.
I'm sure you will get on fine!
I was at my dentist today, and we get on well.
He is a young man from County Tyrone and we have quite a bit in common!

and Good day to you Rusty!

I get on very well with my dentist, but I don't need to see him very
often any more.
My GP I need to see very regularly for different reasons, and in
France, you need to be 'registered" with one Doctor, so that if
you go and see a specialist for any reason, this specialist will send
a report to your GP.
Having said that, there is nothing to stop you changing GP should
you be unhappy with your present one - you just need to let
Social Security know about the change so that it shows on the details
contained on your card - (health care card which you need for
any medical transaction, pharmacist, Doctors etc........) It contains
all your personal medical information

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, it sounds as though today we have similar weather.....
I am glad all went well at the dentist.
Now remember to stay away from the polo mints......!
I suspected that your card would fail to work there, too.
But at least your bank rose to the occasion, and gave you cash.......after all, the card is their responsibility.
You must indeed have been tired, if you fell asleep in the middle of the day!
I sometimes do this late in the evening, when reading my book...... and then wake up to find it's bedtime!
Have you had time to do the crossword puzzle?



Hello, Pigale!
We, too , have to be registered with one 'named' doctor in the medical practice, but this is just for administerial purposes, and in theory does not preclude us from seeing another doctor of one's choice.
Yes, I do think continuity of medical care is important, but all too often it hasn't happened in the past at our particular practice.
I remarked at the last public meeting we had, that I considered that my dog and my cat got better care from the vet, than I did from my (previous, now retired) GP!
But things do seem to be looking up since then , and under the new regime!

Hello, Elle!
I have not bought Polo Mints for a couple of weeks, now!
What about Fruit Gums, d'ye think?
I did a bit of investigating when I got home and I discovered I have a "contactless" bank card, but I have never used it that way, just for getting cash at ATM.
The bank lady gave me a funny look when I explained my problem to her (but I did not respond because she is a redhead and I am a bit wary of them!).
She tried two separate methods on the card but neither worked.
But she was very reassuring and helpful. 10 out of 10!
I was up and doing very early this morning and finished the puzzle before I left home.
And, I will say this, it is a very good puzzle indeed today.
Quite hard, from a very good setter!
2d, 3d, are new to me, and the word for "fine" in 26a is new to me, too.
I liked 16d, that was my favourite!

HI, Rusty!
I think you should stay well away from sweets altogether!
Now, about the redhead in the bank......
They say "It takes one to know one" ?
I thought that the crossword puzzle today was quite a nice one - for me, anyway!
I must just have been on the right wavelength!
I know that you like them to be "hard"!
12a put me in mind of Bing, singing "The Three Cabelleros" with the Andrews sisters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2aghIn3qr8
I hope this works!
There is only one clue that I cannot do....
24a: Say, T E again in a desert (7)
A?A?I?T
I presume that TE is Lawrence of Arabia?
So maybe "Arabist"?
But I cannot see the parsing?
I did not know that "eric" meant "fine", either......but fortunately Anne B did !
I am just popping out with the dog.....

Don't know the answer to your clue, elle, but you have reminded me of a story. I have a friend who collects "overhearings", and this was his favourite.
A middle-aged lady and an elderly lady were in a department store.
"Look" said the elderly lady "There' Lawrence!"
"No, mother, that's not Lawrence, it's Keith"
"Oh well, I knew it was something of Arabia"