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Hi, Rusty!
As you feel so strongly about "Londonisms", why don't you write to the editor of The Times, and put forward your point of view?
Nothing will be achieved unless you fight your corner!
You have a very good case, so why not try to to remedy matters?
Do you remember I was telling you about the play I was hoping to go and see, based on the book "The Perfect Murder" by Peter James?
Well, I am at the moment reading a book of short stories by Jeffrey Archer ( I do like Jeffrey Archer!) and - guess what? - one of his stories is called "The Perfect Murder"!
I don't know which story came first? but is that allowed? Wouldn't it be a question of "copyright"?
What time are your visitors coming?

Hello, Elle!
I would not be surprised if that book title had been used many times in the past.
The Times Crossword got a new editor in the late fifties and told the setters that there would no more crosswords which required a Classics education to solve.
He wanted a broader church to do his crosswords.
The bus driver, typist, insurance salesman etc.
Up to then the crosswords were all about Greek and Latin poets, and Shakespeare etc.
Dreadful tedious things.
That has changed.
But they use setters now who are not cosmopolitan enough.
I am close to giving up on the Times.
And I suspect quite a few will think like me.
A new broom is required.
Miss Orlando and Miss La Bamba are at a local production of Sleeping Beauty with their Mum!

Hi, Rusty!
But don't just give up! Tell the editor how you feel!
This is a bit on the lines of it only take a good man to do nothing for evil to be wrought ? Not that this is 'evil' but similar thing?
Hang on ......“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke
That's it!
So did you have the menfolk visiting you whilst Miss O and Miss L-B were at Sleeping Beauty with their mum?
I am having trouble keeping awake........time for a bedtime drink........then maybe I can make it to bed this side of midnight (for a change?)
A "free" day tomorrow..........

Hello, Elle!
I have been exploring!
I have discovered that The Times crossword has a newish editor since 2014. Richard Browne has retired and the new man is Richard Rogan (arch or daring).
Anyway, there was a piece on the web about him and he was giving his thoughts on cryptic clues and the example he used was, "Flower of London" (6)
And the answer is obviously "Thames".
Now, how could I ever get through to an editor like that and tell him to go easy on London clues/answers when he is using one as an example?
It would be like swimming through mince!
Have you any more bright ideas?
What about this free day of yours tomorrow?
You could nip up to the Times office and tell Mr Rogan I am getting annoyed with his thoughtless crosswords?
Just one son visited this evening and we had the golf on TV while we were chatting. It was from Bahamas.
Grand weather there!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a beautiful day here, with a lovely blue sky! Decidedly chilly, but, hey, who cares when the sun is shining brightly!
It was great to be out!
I was puzzled by the "arch or daring " in brackets after the Crossword editor's name, until I realised that it is an anagram of "Richard Rogan"!
Yes, I do have another bright idea! and I have already put it into practice!
I have sent Mr. Rogan an email letter to the Editorial department of The Times!
(I thought it quicker than popping over there this morning!)
It will be interesting to see if I receive any reply.
Incidentally, did you realise that Richard Rogan is a compatriot of yours from Norn Iron?

Hi Elle and everyone,

Have just googled The Times UK and read that The Times and The Sunday Times do not share the same editorial staff. They are owned by the same person but the name of The Times' editor is not Richard Rogan - (can't remember his name but he has been the editor since 2013)

Hi, Pigale!
We are talking of the Crossword editor here? - I googled it, too, and came up with the same info as did Rusty.

Hello, Elle!
Fine day turning cloudy with me!
I know Mr Rogan is from Norn Iron, but I am from Donegal.
Donegal is the Northernmost county, but is in the Republic.
Apparently he lives and works in Cheltenham, so no point in going to Times HQ to see him!
He used to set (maybe still does) Listener puzzles as Aragon.
His duties include solving all the submitted crosswords and editing them if there is something he feels is not right.
Great job that! Solving crosswords and being paid for it!
I know the Times has rules about what is not allowed.
The only one I can remember is, you cannot have the name of a living person in it, excepting I think, Her Majesty, who often appears as ER.
So, Winston Churchill is acceptable, David Cameron would not be.

Good morning, Pigale!
Hope your weather is fine?
I am thinking of investing in a new dictionary.
My Chambers is falling to bits.
I am a bit miffed with Chambers not replying to any of its disappointed customers (usually a loyal band!) when it was discovered a section was missing from the new edition.
Pondering jumping ship to Collins.
Not sure how it would compare to Chambers though?

Hi, Rusty!
Well, you know me and Geography.....!
How was I to know where Donegal is?
You talk of friends in Belfast so I assumed - in my abysmal ignorance (yes, I'll admit to it!) that Donegal and Belfast were near to each other , and both in Northern Ireland.
I didn't realise that Donegal is in the Republic. Having just looked it up, I see too that they are on opposite coastlines.
(Do you know Dundalk? - my friend Pat comes from there)
Apologies........but you should know by now that I'll not know where anywhere is unless you tell me outright!!! (I need all the i's dotting and the t's crossed!)
I've just read what you've put about possibly changing dictionary makes......I did have a Collins ( it's temporarily vanished) and I also have an Oxford - but neither are as good as the Chambers from a Crossword solving point of view - although I guess perfectly adequate for most other reference needs.
That is why I decided to buy the ill-fated 13th edition of Chambers when I did. I grew tired of being told that the answer to whatever I'd asked was in Chambers!
So if I were you, I'd stick to Chambers!