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Hello, Elle!
Still raining here!
Had a visit from my son, who did a couple of wee jobs when he was here.
He and his wife are going to Belfast for the weekend, so I was being questioned about where to go and what to see etc.
Any sign of your plumber?

Hi, Rusty!
It has been raining on and off here, all day.
The dog and I are recently home from a (very wet) walk.
It was quite a social event, as I met up with some more idiots also walking in the rain!
That was nice to have a visit from your son - and for him to do some jobs for you, whilst there.
They will enjoy a trip to Belfast.
Do they stay with family? or friends?
No, no word from the plumber, but I do not know how the situation was left?
If he doesn't appear tomorrow, I will ring him.
I'm struggling over my last two interconnecting crossword clues!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, fine seeing my son.
They are staying at a hotel in Belfast.
It's a new one to me.
No family or friends, they just want to see Belfast.
I've given them several suggestions for when they are there.
Maybe your plumber will come tomorrow.
I thought it a fine puzzle today, though I have yet to convince myself I have the correct parse for 11d!

Good evening, Rusty!
I hope your son and his wife have a good time when they visit Belfast, at the weekend.
My daughter and family are going to Ireland at the beginning of October for a wedding, but that is down in Waterford, where some of my son-in-law's family live,
I have told her about The Wild, Atlantic Way..... and they hope to return another time to travel along the trail!
Now 11d: Take care of male relative as an afterthought, perhaps?
I parsed this as follows:
parenthesis = as an afterthought, perhaps (def)
parent (as a verb) - take care of
he - male
sis - relative
Is this what you thought?
The two I cannot do are ......
1d: Carry vessel upside down (3)
B??
9a: Position of diamonds in one item of clothing and another (9)
??O?T?T?P
I am completely stuck on these, if you can help me with them, please?

Hello, Elle!
My son and daughter-in-law are busy making plans for their trip.
Your parse for parenthesis is the same as mine.
I did not know the afterthought meaning, though, but I found it in Collins.
Now, 1d is sub/vessel reversed, "bus"/carry.
9, Diamonds is a reference to a baseball pitch, and the answer is a position on the field, "shortstop".
Two items of clothing "shorts" and "top".
A good puzzle today!

Hi, Rusty!
I am still not understanding1d?
I can see "sub"(vessel) reversed, becomes "bus"......
But how can "bus " mean "carry"?
I have never heard this.....
Thank you for explaining the other clue , 9a.....
New term for me, I would never have got that!
Now, update!
Just after I'd previously posted to you, the plumber phoned!
He is coming round on Friday......I am unsure what he plans to do.......
But we shall leave it in his hands!
The rain has finally stopped!

Hi elle
"To bus" became a rather notorious verb in the USA in the 1960s, when children were taken to schools outside the area where they lived in an attempt to promote racial intergration. Hence "bus" can mean " carry".

(At least, I think that's the explanation!)

Hello, Elle!
"Bus" can be a verb, too. (Have a look in Collins)
Example (the children were bussed to school)
it's a sound clue, for me.
You would need a little bit of baseball knowledge for the other one.
Well, at least you are up to speed with the plumber!

Hi, Rusty!
I had looked in my Collins...and my Thesaurus ….. and Bradfords…..
I didn't see any reference to "bus" as a verb?
But then again, perhaps I didn't look carefully enough.
That is entirely possible.....
And sometimes a thing can be right under one's nose and one doesn't see it!
I think I need a strong coffee!




Thanks Chris!
I supposedly looked to see if "bus" could be a verb,,,,,,

Hello, Elle!
"Bus" is in my Chambers, and my Collins.
"To travel or transport by bus".
It can be a verb.
I think you need a strong coffee, too!