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Found it, Brendan!
That was in Saturday's puzzle!
Today's is almost identical except they have "idea" instead of "suggestion".
Must be the same setter!

I think you know them well, elle!

Here's one you might like - which British seabird has the scientific name Puffinus puffinus?

Hello, Elle!
On the RSPB site there is a "spotter" who frequently reports on the sightings of Pandion Haliaetus, or the Western Osprey!
I would have got that one!
Did the Eggheads get it?
Yes, "Hon" would appear to come from Jessica Mitford's book, but the thing is, Brendan and Ginge's clue was in Saturday's paper, and ours is in todays paper, practically identical!
A bit unusual!
And do you think it is not a terribly well known book to be alluded to in a clue?
There was a Mitford brother, too, but I think he was killed in the War.

The father of the six Mitford sisters was 2nd Baron Redesdale and all children of barons are called Hon. Even when, like Unity and Diana Mitford, they "were close to" Hitler, whatever that may mean. Unity is buried near Oxford and Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, who was the last to die, spent the last years of her life in Oxfordshire as well
I have kept a commoplace book since I was 14, elle. I write in pieces of prose and poetry that appeal to me. It's quite interesting to see how I havechanged over time. 14 year old me liked Rupert Brooke.

Hi, Rusty!
Well done!
I did not know "Pandion haliaetus", although the Eggheads did!
I learned some thing else too, this evening ......although this time from "15 to 1"
Did you know that John Wayne's nickname "Duke" came from the family's having a dog of that name?
John Wayne as a young child was apparently referred to as "Little Duke"!
There was also something else that I was going to tell you....but for the moment it is eluding me!
The thought may return.....
I had never heard of Jessica Mitford's book until you told me of it!
Yes, maybe a tad obscure for a crossword clue?



Hello, Chris!
The Manks puffin!
Aka the Manx Shearwater.
Did you see my earlier post about children's books, in reply to your own post?
(You will have to scroll back a long way now to find it!)


Hello, Ros.
The term "commonplace book" was new to me, although not the concept.
What a great idea of yours to keep such a record.... will you show it to your sons and /or grandchildren?

Hello elle
I was rather a serious teenager! I've never shown the commonplace books to anyone (they are falling apart now). If I haven't chucked them no doubt one day my sons will find them, but neither is interested in such things. Here's a couple of (recent) examples-

"Open your eyes and see what you can see with them before they close forever" (from All the Light We Cannot See, Doerr)

My tears have washed
I love you
From the blackboard of my heart (old music hall song)

Permissive Society
Wake, for the dawn has put the stars to flight,
And in my bed a stranger: so once more
What seemed to be a good idea last night
Appears this morning, sober, to be rather poor.

Connie Benley (?)

Hello, Elle!
I did not know the Western Osprey's proper name until I read the posts from the "spotter".
I forget his name, but he reports the sightings of all the ospreys flying North through France and England, on their migration.
No, did not know that about John Wayne.
The Mitford clue was not straightforward at all, but probably quite fair, I think.
Nothing wrong in having to do a bit of work to reach the solution.
It's a clue I could not solve without Google to find out about the Mitford sisters.
I knew a teeny bit about Debo, the Duchess, but almost nothing about her sisters.
And the setter gave us Hopalong Cassidy, and that made my day!
I was on YouTube, browsing.
Saw a clip of Verdi's funeral in Milan.
Enormous crowds there.

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a glorious day here - blue sky, sunshine and already a temperature of 17C!
A delightful walk in the park...the newly born goslings are coming along well!
This time it is a pair of Canada geese who are the parents.
The Egyptian geese between them have only managed to raise two offspring.
The remainder fell to park predators!
I called in at the card shop on the way home...... there are birthdays and Anniversaries coming up!
How is it at your end?
I hope the bad weather forecast proved wrong?
What time is Miss L-B collecting you?

Good morning, Elle!
Your weather sounds good!
Overcast and cool here.
No sign of the heavy rain or floods though!
Your EA are predicting flooding in the London area!
High Spring tides etc.
La Bamba is getting her nails done, then collecting me.

Hi, Rusty!
I hope you have had a good time at the Pine Cone?
It is still glorious here...
I think I shall sit out in the garden and read, once I have finished all my chores......
I have done all that I can of today's crossword ... still three clues remaining to be solved.
I especially liked 12a and 14a........
But I will say no more at this stage, in case you have not had the time to look at your own puzzle yet!