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Hello, Elle!
It is a great day here, too.
Goslings should stick close to their mother.
Not looking good.
That's good to hear about Everyman.
The Sunday Times has a new setter.
They have three, but one has just retired, and a new one has taken over.
I forget their names, though.

Hi, Rusty!
It is not the fault of the babies......their parents ought to be prosecuted for negligence!
They fly away and leave the goslings unattended.
They started out with eight little ones!
The Sunday Times crossword today is by Dean Mayer?
I thought of you when doing 2d.......the answer was "earworm"!
You haven' t been affected by such, though, for a while?
I'm not liking this puzzle very much, although I have nearly finished it.

Good evening, Elle!
Very blowy up here!
Maybe that's the way of it in goose world?
The loch folk were saying on Friday, I think, there were over 100 whooper swans on the loch.
That seems to be a lot?
There are three setters for the Sunday Times.
No, no earworms lately.
Usually it is "Little Drummer Boy" but it is a shade early for that!

Good evening, Rusty!
My cousin phoned, so we have been having our usual Sunday evening chat.
Family members are all well, but my cousin is worried about one of her friends, who is seriously ill in Intensive Care.
it is not looking good.
I guess this is something we have to face more often as we grow older.
I have just realised that I didn't do the Latin clues that you sent to me......
I must copy and paste them, and print them out, so that I don't lose track of them.
Trying to solve them can be a treat for tomorrow.
Yes, I, too, like the "Little Drummer Boy."
Bing does a nice version.
I think he also sang it with David Bowie?

I don't know how big your pond is, elle, but a major predator of ducklings/goslings is pike.
I remember Bing/David Bowie singing "Little drummer boy" (unfortunately!)

There are no pike in this particular lake , Chris, but the heron is on permanent guard duty!
Is it Bing whom you don't like?
Or David Bowie?
Or maybe both?!
I don't like David Bowie, but I am a big Bing fan!

I like both, (though Bowie more than Bing), but the combination was cringeworthy.

Hello, Elle!
My smoothie maker has broken!
That's a pity about your cousin's friend.
Unfortunately these things happen, especially to the older folks.
Hope you manage the Latin clues!
Maybe you should try "O Tempora!" next week?
What does "O Tempora!" mean, do you know?
My favourite "Little Drummer Boy" song is by Boney M.
I thought Liz Mitchell was great as lead vocalist.
She is still touring.
Bing did "nice versions" of everything he sang!
A smashing singer!

Hi, Rusty!
I'm sorry about your smoothie maker.
Is it a special machine for such, or just an ordinary blender?
Maybe Asda will sell them and you can buy a new one in the morning?
I think the phrase "O Tempora! O Mores !" means "O the times! O the customs!"
I am not doing very well with the other Latin clues......I think I just had Beginner's Luck yesterday!
11d is " maestitia" - sadness
18d: "boves" - oxen
i think 21a might be "rapiunt" meaning "they seize and carry off"?
I'm not convinced that I have the right part of speech....I think I do......
Is there a crossword grid?.
I am at a disadvantage if so, as I have no crossing letters.
Yes, Bing rules supreme!

Hello, Elle!
Oh no, just a run of the mill blender.
Maybe get a replacement at ASDA tomorrow.
I'll get one of the girls to help me find one.
Yes, there is a grid for the Latin puzzle, though it is smaller than the cryptic grid.
It is on the same page as the cryptic puzzle and the quiz.
It is 13x13.
I have just looked at the "foreign phrases" in my Chambers and "O Tempora! O Mores!" is in it!
It says "occurs in Cicero's first speech against Catiline."
Now, Elle, you appear to be very good at this Latin caper.
Why did the language cease to be spoken?
Or, is it spoken anywhere?
Do you know?
May see what YouTube has to say about it.