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Good evening, Elle!
I was going to go for a 'flu jab, too, but when I 'phoned, my surgery had run out of them.
I've to 'phone later in the month (if I remember!).
Yes, £12 was the cheapest I saw, same on eBay.
It sounds reasonable for a book that was flying high in the best sellers charts until fairly recently.
I don't think I would pay that for it, though, but wait for a bit until it is reduced a bit more.
But, if you have money in your account (me too!) why not!
I am only at page 39 and Michelle is still a little girl, but I find the book very readable and interesting.
(And I know she won't be telling wee fibs like Miss Peckwitt did!)
Wonder where "fib" came from?
"Fabrication", perhaps? I shall find out!
I did not find the puzzle terribly difficult?
Have a break from it for a while?

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, best to get your flu jab done as soon as the new supplies come in.
I was surprised when, this year, our surgery contacted us about my husband going for his jab , as more usually I ring them!
But the practice nurse phoned us just before we went to Swanage, so I made an appointment for him for when we returned.
At least it is done now!
Uhm...maybe I'll give it a week or so then, and keep an eye on Amazon to see if the price of Michelle's book drops.... but then I shall order it anyway, I think!
Now.....I looked up the origin of "fib"......
All I found from various sources was ' Fib: Meaning: "a lie," especially a little one, "a white lie," 1610s, of uncertain origin, perhaps from "fibble-fable" meaning "nonsense" '!
I rather thought that your idea of its coming from "fabrication" was a good one?
Did you find any other explanation?
I'm stuck "good and proper" on this crossword, Rusty!

Hello, Elle!
I got a letter from NHS Scotland telling me to get in touch with GP for my 'flu jab.
"Becoming" is a very good book, and I think you will like it.
Did you like the reviews?
I am waiting on a book arriving,
"The Teapots are Out", by John B. Keane.
Hope it is good!
I saw "fable" as a possible origin of "fib", but I don't think anyone really knows.
Do they use "fib" in America, I wonder?
There are dozens of words in our everyday conversations that we use without thinking about their origin.
It's a wonderful language!
If you want a helping hand with your puzzle, just post the clue and I'll help?

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I thought the reviews of "Becoming" were excellent!
I shall definitely buy it...it is now just a question of "when".....
I haven't heard of "The Teapots are Out", or its author, John B. Keane?
What is the book about?
Have you read previous books by this author?
How did you come to hear of it.....or him?
Okay, thank you, I will post three clues and see if that will help me with the others.
I do not want to take up the rest of your evening with all eight of the clues that I cannot do!!
We shall see how I go with just a few first.....
4a: Baggage southern type brought back to Scotland (9)
A?????O??
14a: Man needs good drink going for broke at casino? (10)
M?R?I?G???
5d: City lives taken in horror with 2 in flow (10)
??A?I?????
For 2, I have "magma"?
I think all the letters are correct?

Hello, Elle!
John B. is an Irish author, well known for short stories.
I like him.
I first heard of him many years ago.
I watched a film called "The Field", starring Richard Harris and John Hurt, and it was taken from a John B. Keane book.
And I found out a little bit about him (no laptop in those days!) and liked his stuff.
4a, Baggage can be an "albatross" around your neck.
Scotland is "Alba", "s" for southern, type is "sort", reversed onto Alba.
14, was a new meaning to me.
The man is "Martin", "g" for good, and "ale" for drink.
"Martingale" is a system of betting in which you double your stake every time you lose.
5, The horror is a "brat", lives is "is", with "lava" which may be "magma".
"Bratislava" is the city.
How's that ?

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, thank you for your help!
I would never have gotten there unaided .....
I did not know that "Alba" meant Scotland, and "martingale" is a new word for me!
Yes, I have followed the parsing of "Bratislava".
Some of the other remaining unsolved clues have now fallen into place, with the additional letters.
Just 20a to check.....
Officer shortly brought in to transform meeting (10)
?O?V?R?E?T
Is it "convergent"?
Although I would have thought "convergence " would more likely have fit "meeting"?
This crossword was a real stinker for me!

Hello, Elle!
Our Gaelic TV station here is BBC Alba.
It is a Gaelic word for Scotland.
But, obviously "Alba" is much easier for us North of the border to get, than you folks in the South.
I knew martingale as a strap on a horse's reins.
And speaking of horses, Enable is staying in training next year!
There was an announcement today.
I think convergent is fine.
Gen(eral) is the officer shortly, in "convert"/transform.
If two things were meeting they could be said to be convergent.
Looks bang on to me?
I thought it was a fine puzzle today.
Some days are a bit of a struggle though, but I don't mind that.

A Very Good morning to you, Rusty!
We have yet another wet start to the day here.
You will be pleased by the news of Enable's remaining in training next year.
Now....
My computer announced last night that it was going to do a "massive" update......so to leave it on overnight!
It tells me this morning that it has now installed the MAY 2019 update!??!!
Why May? Isn't that a tad out of date?
And further more, the computer does not seem to be acknowledging my printer any more?
And consequently I cannot print out the crosswords!
Oh dear!
I shall have a "fiddle" and see if I can find out what is wrong......
How about you?
Any plans for today?

Good morning, Elle!
I went out earlier and there was a blue sky above, yet it was raining!
It is dull, now.
I know little about your updates, unfortunately.
Who is updating?
I have it in the back of my head that these things are rolled out gradually.
So, perhaps they are only getting round to your update now?
But that's only a guess!
My Chromebook updates take several seconds to do.
A pity about your printer, though I imagine the printer is fine, it will be the update that may be the problem.
Have you switched everything off at the plug for a minute, to see if that helps when you restart?
You can always go back to a previous date if it still plays up?

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, you are indeed right about the "roll-out" effect!
My Update was from Windows....and yes, it was the May 2109 version.
Seemingly this is being gradually installed ......whether one wants it or not......
See this link.....
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3199077/windows-10-a-guide-to-the-updates.html
However, Google tells me it is causing a lot of problems!
Especially with Microsoft Edge and with the Start Menu.....
I could well do without the (potential) hassle!
However, at least the immediate printing problem has been resolved...
An apology appeared on the page, saying there appeared to be a fault but to try again later...
I did.....and it is now working.
Oh dear! I now need a strong coffee!!