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Hi, Rusty!
Yes, the sun still shines,,,,,
I, too, have finished my crossword.....bar one!
I cannot do the Irish one at 11a : Left French department carrying note for Irish town. (10)
P?R?L?O?S? = Irish town (def)
port- left ?
But I'm stuck on the rest?
You obviously will know this?
In fact, you are being favoured today.....you even have your own homophone in 16a!
What are you looking for/ planning to buy / in Currys?

Hello, Elle!
It is "Portlaoise".
it is in County Laios.
It is known for the prison there.
"Port" is left.
The French region is "Oise"
And, I suppose the note is "La"?
16a took me ages to get!
I may buy a clothes washing machine at Currys.
Will have a look, today or tomorrow.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Ah, thank you for that......
I knew neither the French department nor the Irish town!
Regarding 16a ... I knew the term "rusticate" for being sent down from Uni (no, it didn't happen to me!) and so could work out "rusty Kate" afterwards.
However, I didn't know that "magazine" means "organ" - see 23d - I had to check that with Anne B.
I liked 20a: Elia; 21a: Pirandello......and I had a chuckle at "I'm a Tory" for "amatory"!
I've just has the Insurance company on the phone about our flood.
Impasse......
The plumbing co say they won't realise their report to us......but will only give it directly to the Insurance company.
Whereas the Insurance folk tell us that the report MUST come from us!
Now tell me, why does that matter...so long as the Insurance company gets it?
I could bang their heads together.....
Re a washing machine...for what it's worth, my latest one is a Samsung Diamond.
I'm very pleased with it.......good value.
But I know you usually consult "Which", so I am sure you are all genned up.
Happy hunting!
I am now going out for a walk.....

Good afternoon, Elle!
Portlaoise Gaol is well known.
A top security prison.
The Irish Army have a presence there.
I knew the meaning of "rusticate" when I finally twigged what the answer was.
Yes, "amatory" is good.
An "organ" can be a newspaper, and a magazine, apparently.
I would suggest to your insurance company that they sort it out.
You pay them for a service, surely!
I have been sidetracked, so Currys is another day.
My own clothes washer is a Bosch make and it has been first class.
Had it for a few years now.
But this Curry's machine is not for me.
It will be a gift.
I am just checking out prices etc.

Update, Elle!
I meant to say that I like Samsung products.
I have had several Samsung 'phones, and my TV is a Samsung, and I think I have a Samsung vacuum cleaner.
A good company, I think.

Hi, Rusty!
Home again now... a very pleasant walk.
I thought the Insurance whatsit was going too smoothly!
I concede that the emergency action was great.........I was very impressed with the speed and the helpfulness of the workmen.
But when it comes time to paying out ........ obstacles are obviously looming!
Is this par for the course?
I have never needed to have dealings with Insurance companies previously?
Yes, I told them to sort it all out between themselves!
That is very kind and generous of you to buy a present of a washing machine.
My pal Richard recommended the Samsung Diamond - he used to work for Bosch, incidentally.
Until he retired, and moved to the coast , he did all our washing machine repairs for years!
Oops! it's raining... we got our walk in, in good time.

Hello, Elle!
My view is there should not be obstacles.
That is what you pay insurance companies to sort out for you if you have a claim.
The ideal would be for it all to run smoothly.
I just looked at Currys online.
They have loads of machines!
I think my one came from AO, I think it was, or perhaps Boots.
It was some time ago!
No rain here.
It has been a fine day!

Hi, Rusty!
I had wondered whether, when it came to compensation time, the Insurance company perhaps tried to get out of paying?
As I said, I am new to all this!
Well, we shall see what happens......
The main thing, though, as far as I am concerned, is not the monetary aspect, but getting all the repairs effected, and life back to normal.
Fortunately, that part seems to be going smoothly....
(Well....so far, anyway..... let's not tempt providence!)

Good evening, Elle!
But, surely once the quotes are accepted, the insurance company will give the go ahead for the work to be done, and pay the contractors when it is finished?
Why not ask them?
Do they have a Customer Services department?

Hi, Rusty!
I think the confusion is arising from the fact that the cause of the flood was the erosion of the flexible hoses (underneath the bath) that were attached to the bath taps.
Seemingly, "flexible hoses" are not covered by insurance, although we are assured that the other damage, such as to the ceiling, is.
So to get the leak itself "fixed", we had to pay the plumbing firm outright.
It is this report that is becoming a bone of contention.
But I have now received an email to say the report is, in fact, being forwarded for consideration.
We have been allotted what one mighty call a "family liaison officer", who will act as an intermediary between us and the Insurance company, if necessary.
I might see what she has to say on the entire matter, tomorrow.
Some "guidelines" would certainly be helpful.