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Malone,
I actually knew that one!
Maybe the Cockneys are getting through to me!
Yes, fair play to the setter, though "once" is inaccurate.
Tayside Region still exists.
I get the odd bill with that heading!

Rusty, I couldn't Adam and Eve it when I saw Tayside had been consigned to history. Accuracy's lacking at times!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I will have you know that our trams are quite "State of the Art"!
Very posh and fully enclosed! Google "Croydon Trams" and you will see some images.
We had a very nice lunch and a good (lengthy!) chat in a quite delightful little restaurant in a wood.

I did the Times 15 x 15 clue - anagram of "i stayed" - but was confused by the comments made about Tayside, so I looked it up on Wikipaedia.
According to that reference, Tayside was a local government region of Scotland from 15th May 1975 until 31st March '96. Following the Local Government Act in 1994, it was then divided into Angus, City of Dundee, and Perth and Kinross.
Hence the "once" in the clue?
But I have heard people referring to "Tayside" still?
Is this a bit like "Middlesex ", do you suppose?

I was a bit confused over the other clue......
I'm assuming "credit" = believe = "Adam and Eve it" but not sure I would have got it if it weren't for Malone's actually using the expression!

Did you manage to contact Miss La Bamba?

Hello, Elle!
I will look at the Croydon trams when I get a minute, so I will.
A "posh" tram? Must investigate!
Seems a rather swish neighbourhood where you hang your hat!
Glad you enjoyed your lunch and blether.
Elle, I can assure you that Tayside Region exists.
The thing about Wikipedia is that anyone can put any old havers in there.
Quotes from Wiki would not stand up in court.
I had heard someone say "Adam and Eve" for believe one time, and remembered it.
Yes, Miss La Bamba texted. But never mentioned going out.
Swimming through mince is a doddle compared to communicating with teenage granddaughters!

Hi, Rusty!
"Swish"? No, we live in a "common or garden" old neighbourhood! Nothing to distinguish it from any other average village on the outskirts of London/ Kent.
Where we went to eat today was a bit upmarket though! A drive out from the other side of South Croydon. Relatively rural, very pleasant surroundings.
Excellent food! I would eat there again!
I love the expression "swimming through mince"! Very descriptive!
I haven't heard it said before? did you "coin" it?
I wonder where "coin the phrase/ expression" comes from ?

Hello, Elle,
No, I have no claim to be the originator of "swimming through mince". It means something is " hard work".
It has been used in these parts for yonks.
Your Croydon trams look very smart!
To "coin" means to create, I think.
That is an awful tragedy in the French Alps.
Schoolchildren avalanched. Dreadful.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, indeed, a terrible tragedy about the French schoolchildren and the Ukrainian adult.
How do you notify the parents about something like this?
At this stage, it sounds as though the group was skiing on a forbidden - closed because of the potential danger - part of the piste.
I read that there will be an investigation as to whether the warning signs were placed correctly.
But wherever - and on whomever - the blame lies, it will not alter matters or bring back the lost - and other endangered - lives.
A very sad affair about which we shall be hearing more.....
There seem to be an increasing number of school trips where children are hurt or lose their lives.....?
Yes, the trams are great, aren't they?!
Very different from those on which we travelled when we were young!

Good evening, Elle!
Yes, it is a terrible thing to happen.
Poor young folk.
Mountains can be very dangerous places.
The last tram in my town ran in the sixties!
They were very basic!
I do not think they got held up in the snow as much as the buses used to do.
We had snow earlier. Seems to have passed.
I am reading The Last Wolf.
Quite good.

Hi Elle and Rusty

It is a terrible thing indeed but there is no doubt in my mind that the teachers are responsible; there has been warnings for high risks of avalanche in the Alps in every single weather forecast for about a week. The parents should sue the teachers/school for not enquiring enough before venturing on the slop - whether warnings were well placed or not; they had the responsibility of those young lives.

Hi, Pigale!
As I said in my earlier post, there do seem to be an increasing number of accidents where children are hurt or killed whilst on school trips? Even trips not involving a sport.
I am glad that I am not a (modern day) parent having to decide whether or not to let my child take part in such an enterprise.
I only ever went on one school trip as my parents couldn't afford such luxuries, but I do remember the care that was taken then (in those days!) by the staff accompanying us.
Incidentally, I went to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau - brilliant!
All in German , of course1 but we were learning that at school.
(It did seem a little strange - out of character - though to see "Jesus" coming out of the village pub in the evenings!)