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Good morning, Elle!
Fine frosty morning here!
I had a wee search for info about school term holidays.
No fines in Norn Iron or Scotland.
Wales allow ten days off, but I don't know about fines after that.
Mind you, this info is from a BBC site, and I don't know how accurate, or not, it may be.
Clova is staying home.
No Skye for her!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a fine morning here, too, and the sun is just taking his hat off the peg!
I think it may be a lovely day later on.
The surviving park goslings are big enough now, hopefully, to be out of danger.
I found the info about family holidays taken in term time, from a Government UK site....but I don't know how strictly the rules, and ensuing fines, are enforced by local Councils.
One would hope that the majority of parents would not wish to take their child out of school anyway.
Nothing special lined up for today...we shall take it as it comes!
First off, a coffee and the crossword!
How about you?
Any plans for your day?

Hello, Elle!
It was minus 3 when I was driving!
Beautiful day, though.
I agree about the parents not taking children away from education.
There will be one or two, though!
No plans today.
I have been out a-doing things earlier.
I finished my puzzle earlier.
On the easy side today, I think?

Hi, Rusty!
Brrh..... I shivered when I read about your minus 3 degrees!
It was cold here at plus 3C!
It is glorious now, though.
The sky is blue and the sun shining....I shall look forward to going out for another walk in a couple of hours.
The dog is always eager.
Yes, quite a straightforward puzzle today.
(It must have been easyish, because I almost finished it!)
It was such that the definitions were usually easy to see...and thus I could often parse 'after the event', so to speak!
I have done everything bar one parsing!
I cannot see the full parsing for 22a: onslaught = assault (def) ?
What am I not getting here, please?
My favourites are 1a: digress; 25a: encounter; 26a: Adonis; 10d: Kentucky Derby; and 16d; pastiche .
Did you have a favourite, or favourites?

Hello, Elle!
Your weather is like mine but a wee bit warmer!
22, is "O" for old, "n" for northern, "st" for street, and an inapt reaction to an assault would be a "laugh".
How's that?
I liked "Manhattan".
My Hudl is refusing to start.
Wonder if that is because Tesco have withdrawn their support for it?

Hi, Rusty!
Uhm...well yes, I guess an inapt response to an assault would be a laugh!
But what a strange mind the setter must have!
Yes, I understand it now, thank you!
That's all done and dusted now, and only just gone midday!
I don't think that Tesco 's having withdrawn support for the Hudl has anything to do with your problem?
I think the support was withdrawn about three or four years ago now.......yet my Hudl still works fine.
I am wondering whether you might need a new battery for yours?
If you remember, my husband very kindly surprised me by buying a new battery online for my tablet, when it ceased working?
The battery only cost about £10 (maybe less) and was easy to fix.
My Hudl has been fine since!
( The only problem is that I don't get to use it nowadays, because my husband has "taken it over" since his laptop died!)
Ebay has one for £11-99.......take a look?

Hello, Elle!
I thought "onslaught" was a fine clue.
My Hudl has sprung into life!
Battery is showing a full charge, too.
I held the starter button down for about fifteen seconds and it started up normally.
I only switch it on every few weeks, for a minute or two.
So, a bit of a mystery!
My Casio watch has arrived and has passed my counterfeit testing.
I'll check it again next week to see if it has kept good time, against my present watch, though.

Hi, Rusty!
It has gone extremely cold here.......the sun made an early disappearance, and the temperature dropped considerably.
It was decidedly nippy out!
I am glad to be back indoors.
That is good news about your Hudl!
But worth bearing in mind about a battery replacement should the need ever arise.
Also well done on your Casio watch - a good buy.
My Times' "How to Crack Cryptic Crosswords" book has also arrived!
I haven 't had chance yet, though, to look at it.
I have been talking to my daughter on her way back from work.
Today, she is going to collect the boys from "After School Club" and nursery, before she heads for home.

Good evening, Elle!
Chilly here, too. Minus 2 outside.
My verdict on the Casio is on hold.
I am checking the timekeeping.
Should have a good idea the morn if it is genuine or not.
Have you had a look at your Cryptic book yet?
My son and daughter-in-law have arrived on Skye.
I'll text them shortly!

Hi, Rusty!
We have plus 2C here, according to the online local weather forecast.
But it feels much colder than that, it was even chilly indoors today until I turned up the heating!
And it will be only 1C when I go out at 7.45 am in the morning.
I shall need my down coat, beanie, scarf and gloves!
And of course my hiking socks and trusted Nubucks!
Antarctica , here I come!
No, I haven't yet looked at the crossword book...I am keeping it to "savour" later when I am more awake!
Maybe tomorrow......
Good that your son and daughter-in -law have arrived safely.
Did they drive up, and cross by road bridge?