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Hi, Rusty!
So will it be takeaway meals for your grandson and his girlfriend for a while?
Unless they have a microwave, which of course could function anywhere?
I am sure they are very excited ..and will have a whale of a time "setting up house"!
Ear drops? Why did you buy ear-drops from Amazon?
You could surely get them "free" from your GP?
Now...I have finally got around to doing today's crossword, and have finished all bar one clue....which has completely stumped me!
7d: To seize area, have encountered violence (5)
A?A?N
I am assuming that one of the "A"s comes from "area", but cannot get beyond that?
What am I not seeing here, please?
I loved "little green men " in 3d!

Hello, Elle!
I have no idea what they will do.
They may have a microwave or a hotplate or something.
Eardrops are much cheaper on Amazon.
GP will only prescribe them if I need them, and I don't.
Now, 7d is a new word to me!
Been a lot of new words this week!
"Amain"
It looks like "am in", taking in "a" for area.
"Amain" can mean violently or with force.
I have heard of "might and main".
You have the clue wrong.
It is "entered" not "encountered".
"Entered" is "am in".

And you missed "with" from the clue.
"With" is needed for the clue to make sense.

Hi, Rusty!
I have never heard of "amain" ?
It is a completely new word to me!
And it obviously did not help that I had - somehow or other - read the clue wrongly!
I don't know how I managed to do that!
Thank you for your assistance, and setting me straight!
My favourite clues, apart from the green aliens(!), were 10a: gigot; 20a: flying buttress; 25a: ergo; and 9d: Stamford Bridge
I am wondering why you want to buy ear drops that you say you do not need.......!
Time for a coffee.......and maybe a scone?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, it is good to see new words in the puzzle!
I think I only know a tiny fraction of words that are in the dictionary.
Dictionaries are a must for me!
I did not know "largess(e)" spelling, but the setter did!
I'll rephrase it, "My GP does not think I need a prescription for eardrops", but said I could use eardrops of almond oil or olive oil if I wanted.
It appears I have a throat infection which may be causing my ear to ache from time to time.
So, I have ordered drops from Amazon.

HI, Rusty!
I, too, did not expect "largesse" to be spelt without the "e" at the end......and had to check it out in Chambers!
Yes, we need our dictionaries!
When BB was five (two years ago now), he asked me to buy him a dictionary, because he said he liked to look up words he didn't know!
I was very impressed!
I have just realised that there is still a clue that I have not been able to parse .....
21d: Newly- developed browser over years taken up (5)
I have "young" = "newly -developed" (def)
Why, please?
I am sorry about your throat infection...I hope it clears up soon.

Hello, Elle!
Well done BB!
I certainly need mine anyway!
The travellers have just taken off from Sanford.
Now, 21!
A browser is a "gnu", an over (in cricket) is "o", and "y" for years, reversed, gives "young".
Oh, my throat is just a bit raw, nothing to it.
Hopefully it will clear in a few days, if not, GP asked me to return to see him.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh, that sort of "browser"!
I was way off beam!
Thank you for the explanation...I wasted ages struggling with that.
I suppose you have tried gargling with warm salt water?
(This is probably superfluous advice)
I hope the travellers have a safe - and comfortable - journey.
What time do they arrive?
You will be looking forward to seeing them tomorrow!

Good morning, Elle!
It is a lovely morning here!
Still no sign of the rain and flooding that we were warned about!
I was out earlier, and now I await parcel deliveries!
The travellers are home now.
Not seen them, yet, though.
Perhaps later.

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a great day here, too.
It was lovely out walking.
I am glad that your son and daughter- in- law are now safely home.
Hopefully you will see them soon.
I have already done most of today's crossword.
Just two clues crossing clues still to solve......
I especially liked 25a; 27a; 19d; and 24d.
Have you done your puzzle yet?