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Well, I prefer bacon rolls, anyway.

Hey, Rusty!
Glad you had a good time with the girls! what happened to the ice cream?!
Where did you go for your 'dander' today? No waterfalls? (remind me next time we go for a dander behind a waterfall, never to wear my ballgown again!)
Very strange.... today's Diamond League - where Laura Muir won the 1500m, and Greg Rutherford won the Long Jump - was obviously the one to which you were referring the other day- I don't know why it was so late being shown on the BBC? Anyway, at least I didn't miss it, as I'd thought.
If you watch the football, whom shall you support? divided loyalties there?
Isn't shinty something like hockey?
I've finished the Times Jumbo GK, but only done a few clues in the Cryptic as yet.... Athletics intervened!
There was another topical clue for you in the Times QC the other day...(two in one week!)
Turbulence in Tay sure to reach river mouth (7)

Pigale, I can' t stand split infinitives either! definitely my bete noir! (sorry , can't do circumflexes !)
I'm with 'Chief Inspector Morse' on this! (do you read Colin Dexter?)

Actually, the split infinitive is not as heinous as all that. OK, in many languages it is impossible to split an infinitive (e.g. "to be" is "essere" in Italian); however it is possible to do so in English if one wishes. The dislike is a relic of 19th century grammarians, who seemed to regret that we weren't still speaking Latin.

Neither "to go boldly" or "boldly to go" has quite the implication of "to boldly go". It's one of the things that makes English so flexible.

Incidentally, at the hotel where we were staying last week, there was always a "table rubbish bin" on the table at breakfast. It had an explanation of what it was for in Italian, English, French and German on it. In English this was "For a neat table". The other explanations were much longer; the German more than twice as long.

I guess it's a personal thing, Chris - it offends me! My hackles rise on hearing it!
I like your anecdote!

Sorry Elle, I must admit thrillers are not my cup of tea to read - I tend to prefer TV series for this type of entertainment.

Nonetheless, and reading between your lines, I am not surprised at Morse's attitude, Dexter might well pass a message to his readers - Google tells me that he began his career by writing text books, so I presume he must write perfectly correct language.

No ice cream, Elle!
I had a dander along Riverside. By the banks of the "Silvery Tay", to quote that maniac, McGonagall! But not out to the "estuary".
Yes, the football is tricky!
But, what I do is, support Scotland when they play Ireland at football, and support Ireland against Scotland at Rugby! The young ones all support Scotland.

Shinty is like a wild version of hockey, more like the Irish hurling. It is on BBC Alba which is a Scots Gaelic station..
You should get Eurosport and you wont have to wait on the BBC playing catch-up.

Yes, Colin Dexter is well known for his (supposedly - Chris might argue with me here?) correct usage of English.

"Incorrect" is a result of action rather than inaction, elle; Dexter refraining from using split infinitives can't be regarded as incorrect!

Chrise, I know the French language (amongst others) requires longer sentences than English, and this is why I much prefer writing a business letter in English - much simpler and very concise while remaining perfectly correct - but on the 'poubelle de table' in question, the French version could have passed with only 4 words (pour une table propre)

Sorry if I become a bore - Language is my pet subject so you will have to stop me!

Interesting about the split infinitive, even though I can't get used to it!