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Morning Everyone,

I have been following the latest 'going on' on the radio : from 4am this morning till about half an hour ago, there was a police/raid going on in St. Denis (not far from Stade de France); five terrorists in all were in a flat and were apparently preparing an attack on La Defense business centre. One woman exploded herself after having used up all her amunitions firing at the raid, another terrorist man died of his injuries and three were arrested.

Unfortunately there are also victims among the police/raid forces - not quite sure how many (including a Raid dog) - no civilians hurt.

There may be one important suspect still on the run though.

I admire the Forces for their good work, but it is not very reassuring to know that another attach was being planned - so soon after Friday!

Good morning. Pigale!
It is on our 24 hour news TV stations.
It is a very scary situation for the people of Paris!
Saying 7 people arrested, 5 policemen injured, and a police dog killed.
Let us hope the police and security services bring this to a speedy and safe conclusion.

Rusty, I am now convinced that there are several other terrorists groups elsewhere in Paris or around just waiting to take over !!! They are so indoctrinated, and there are so many of them that we will never be certain to have eradicated the danger.

The guy who put the flat at the terrorists' disposal because 'a friend had asked to help his own friends, claims he knew nothing; Well he is either very stupid or , more probably, a liar - at least that's what I think. It certainly is not the time to allow anyone you don't know personally in your property !

Pigale, let us hope that only one group is plotting mayhem in Paris, or anywhere!
One thing that has always puzzled me.
"What kind of mindset volunteers to become a suicide bomber?"

As I say Rusty, they are fanatics, totally indoctrinated and viewing themselves as martyrs (and wanting to be remembered as such), all this because 'Allah has told them to do so' - or so a terrorist leader has told them - total indoctrination, usually not very old people, vulnerable, having perhaps lost a member of their family in raids in Syria or elsewhere - iraq, afganistan, etc etc.

That's the way I understand it.

Good Afternoon, Rusty!
Our 'storm' blew itself out half way through the night, only for the wind to return in full force whilst I was standing on a railway platform awaiting the Kent train to return home this afternoon!
I nearly had to throw my arms around a lamp post (there being no handsome men in the vicinity!) in order not to be blown off the platform and under a train!!!
The school visited warranted a placement of third on our list of (so -far) four!
Children from Year 6 were involved in the procedure, but only as accompaniment rather than as guides - they were not as impressive as those from the last school, being less articulate and self -possessed.
It is going to be a very difficult decision, I think, as one has to take into account not only the suitability of the school, but also its location and whether one stands a chance of one's child being admitted because of the distance restriction.
(I'm glad I am only a grandparent!)
I didn't manage to finish yesterday's 15 x 15 - I was stuck on 1D, 13A, and 16D and couldn't parse 18A! I had 'Et cetera'?
I did get "Tea for Two" though, but only because I knew it was a song (number!)
Have you braved the elements and been out for a dander?

Hello, Elle!
You are home safe from the clutches of Barney and that is the main thing!
No, last weeks's school sounded better, I think.
We had a lot of rain in the morning and a reasonable afternoon.
16D. Malone and me had a chat about that one earlier today. Look back a bit?
I had "et cetera", though I have forgotten the clue. 1d, was "statant", a term in heraldry.
I think fact was stat, and ant was a creature? Dec did not get a mention. I no longer have the crossword, so what I offer is not gospel!
I was out in the rain looking for Christmas cards
I really, really, should not go on my own.
I asked the man in the wee card shop if he had a card with
"to Son and Wife" on it. He was away looking for a minute and came back and asked me "Should it not be Son and Daughter-in-Law?"
We agreed that that was MUCH better, and he found some!
That is one task for Christmas done and dusted, thankfully!
PS. Who is after Barney?

Hi Elle,

Sorry to hear that there was no young handsome man to hold onto....:) but glad that you did not end up under the train !

You still have 3 schools to visit, so there is still hope for one almost as good as the one last week. But it all sounds like a headache to me!

No wind here today, not much sun, no rain either, in fact a 'not much of anything sort of day!'

Rosalind, did you see what 2 down in The Times crossword today, is?
Talk about coincidence!

Hi, Rusty!
You have done well to buy your family Christmas cards already! Although I have bought my Charity cards for general distribution, I have yet to choose personal family ones......
..........Just as I have yet to start my present buying.......are you going with your gifts of money again this year?
I've told the girls this time that if they would rather have money so that they can choose something for their homes, then it will be all right, although we insist that the children always have a gift that can be delivered into their "sticky little mitts" on Christmas morning!
Where does that quotation come from, do you know?
Now, I still cannot parse 'et cetera" from yesterday - I shall put it out on the forum after I've written this! Thank you for the other two answers.
I haven't had time yet to look at today's offering.
I believe that Barney's successors will be Clodagh, Desmond, and, I think, Eva?
I hadn't realised that these "storm" names were being chosen by the British Public?
I'd assumed that they were the choice of the Met Office.