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Hope all will be well with your health. Two friends have been through the tests and subsequent operation/treatment lately and both have come out fine. Another friend had the scare and was ok without treatment. They all had excellent care under the NHS. This probably sounds trite but all three have been so positive about it all and they really are ok now. Sincerely hope it's just a scare, but, if not, I hope you fare as well as my mates. One old gal to another.
Not clever enuf to help you with clues without giving them away completely- I might get told off if I do that1

Thanks Murphy and Pipesmoker - have the answers now and am pleased to say guessed 8a myself just after posting! Thanks for your good wishes - I will be more positive tomorrow, just indulging in a little bit of self pity this evening! Will set my upper lip to stiffen mode......

old gal

Just been through something similar.

Do not fret, the health service nowadays seems to work in "mysterious ways".

Bad communication does not always mean Bad news.

Big huggles...that my daughters word for hugs and cuddles, which we all need.

Take care

p@ x

Well Good Morning Everybody and Greetings to you all. Charlie and I don't always post but we do read the thread each week and love it. Last week we were feeling nostalgic about the trips we've made to the Islands over the years, starting when CalMac was just MacBrayne and we were off on an Adventure. In fact, all the talk of Calmac made us think we should get up to dear old Oban at once and go on a trip. However we had to make do with Bognor this week, and without wishing to offend, we thought we wouldn't do that again..... As for the Crossword, well we think we may be about to cheat because we can't seem to finish it ourselves. And as Charlie says, we wouldn't know a Faux Pas in a snowstorm in any case. Incidentally, all of you who need help from the N.H.S., we think of you particularly because we did, but now we are absolutely fantastic and better than before. [That's the Royal 'We' of course.] Happy Easter, One and All, from Him and me.

We cheated and I have to say, we wouldn't have finished without it because we would never have got 10a. Didn't anyone else find that one difficult? [Maybe we are gaga after all, but how would we know?]

HI, CH. Good to hear from you. Yes, Oban is a wonderful place. It is the gateway to so many islands.

Did you see the recent tv series, An Island Parish, about the young priest's first year on Barra? I had a holiday there once, but I prefer Mull and Colonsay. The best time to visit an island is well away from the tourist season. This is particularly the case in the small island where I live.

10 across. No, I had never heard of the place, but the word play was relatively straight forward, so when I had worked it out, I checked my dictionary and was pleased with myself.

Woke up the other morning to the sound of bones being crunched, and the almost simultaneous vomiting of the remains. Didn't help matters when I stood on the lot in my bare feet. Miss Bubbles was totally unrepentant.

Happy Easter to you and to all who celebrate the event. Happy Easter to those who don't.

P

OK - I am down to two unsolved now. 10a - have tried googling old cities but feel I am missing something - more help please. Also 5d - head still not in right place in spite of previous assistance. Thanks for your comments Pastille - have a good easter holiday everyone and enjoy the sun!

Hi, old gal. For 10 across consider a word for longing. In this instance, it can also mean pain. Put that word into the indefinite article and you have a place. Incidentally, the first and second letters are the same.

5 down. This answer is held within the words of the clue.

Hope this helps.

P

Went on hols to outer and inner Hebrides a few years ago. Long to go back. My Nan was a Mckenzie - I was told I was welcome on Mull. I thought the Mckenzies were a warlike lot, but apparently not always. My Nan was pretty scary. Here I am stuck in the Midlands. Where else should we explore? Scotland and the islands are the most beautiful places I have ever been - rating up with the west coast of Ireland. We used to go abroad quite a bit, but have been exploring more of Britain lately. What a country!

Hi, Murphy, Have you tried Lewis and Harris. I might be wrong, but I think you can now get a Sunday paper on a Sunday. In our bedroom in Stornoway, the landlady had a notice up saying that since it was not their custom to watch television on the Sabbath, guests should not do so either. Very well worth a visit, though.

When on Mull, did you go across to Iona? John Smith, the late Labour leader lies there in a very simply marked grave. I had an interview on Iona once, and got storm bound. Bliss.

On the mainland, try Wester Ross. Beautiful. Or Caithness and Sutherland. Bleak but beautiful.

On the other hand, there is Morocco. I came back smelling like an olive, since everything seems to be cooked in olive oil. I'll stick to UK in future.

Best wishes.
P