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Possibly wildcats there at one time?
Or feral ones?

Hi, Rusty!
We are back home now.
The babysitting went well.
Both the boys were very well- behaved and Baby settled nicely, despite never having been left without his mum or dad before!
He eventually fell asleep on my knee!
The Parents' Evening went well - the teacher was very pleased with BB and said that he was a delight to teach!
As a reward for his progress, he now gets to bring TWO reading books home!
Yes, I had to look up "gruntled " in Chambers!
I knew a "clowder of cats" - but did you know that an alternative grouping is a "glaring of cats"?
How about that one?!
Thank you for the parsing of the ones that I was unable to work out!
"Designer" really had me beat!
And I didn't know that "syrup of figs" meant wig - or wigs???
Your explanations saved my sanity!!!
I have seen the Royal barge "Gloriana" - it (should that be 'she'?) is moored in the marina at St Katherine's Docks ( near the Tower of London).

Hello, Elle!
Well done on the babysitting!
I have never seen a sentence with "gruntled" in it, or "kempt".
I did not know "glaring".
Nor has Anne Bradford.
Does for deer pops up regularly in crosswords.
Apparently, a wig is a syrup!
I have seen Gloriana on television.
I cannot remember the occasion though.
//I shall just "nip" out to the shop.//
Why "nip"?
I liked today's setter.
He was a bit different anyway!

The Guardian did a prize crossword a while back which had a theme of "missing opposites" (like "gruntled"). I'm reminded of the phrase "if not inert, not exactly ert".

I've had a quick search, but not found it so far.

Hi, Rusty!
Oops! So sorry..........I have been asleep!
I would still be in that state now had the dog not awakened me, deeming it time for her 'bedtime' biscuit!
I must remember, should I ever possess one........to call my wig, my syrup!
We once had a cat whom we called "Nipper" because he was very small......up north a small boy was always referred to as a "nipper"!
But that doesn't really answer your question??
I think "nip" means to go quickly ...or nimbly....?
And I am going to " nip" up to bed....before I go to sleep on the sofa again........
'Night...talk tomorrow.........

Hello, Elle!
This babysitting must have tired you out?
I know what "nip" means, but wondered at the origin of the meaning.
Probably from the same stable as "pop" out to the shop?
"Nip" and "pop" appear to be synonyms.
Wonder what Brewers has to say about it?
I have given up on 84, Charing Cross Road.
Not for me!

Hello, Elle,
Brewers was no help at all.
But, in Chambers I discovered the word "Nippie", which was/is a term used for a waitress, especially in a Lyons teashop.
Brewers says, about Nippies, they were so known from their nimbleness and adroitness as they sped from table to table.
Could "nip" come from there, or the other way round?
No progress with "pop", although a "pop-visit", is to visit at an odd time, or a casual visit.

Good morning, Rusty!
Dreich here when I went out for a walk.
I bought the paper en route for home!
I am recovered this morning................
The trouble with playing with the little ones is that a lot of the activity is on the floor!
(With the older boys, it is board games - and sitting down!)
If I am remembering rightly from what you told me, "84, Charing Cross Road" is the one where the author (Helen Hanff?) had a correspondence with the owner of a bookshop?
Why didn't you like the book?
The 'correspondence theme' usually works well? (as do diaires!)
With "The Fatal Englishman", I am now reading about the third man.......the spy, Jeremy Wolfenden.
Do you anything planned for today?

Good morning, Elle!
Dreich here too.
84?
After twenty or so pages it is very "samey".
Helene Hanff was very good to the folks at "84".
She sent food parcels from New York to them during the very strict "rationing" years after the war.
She mentioned a publication I nearly bought in a book shop in St Andrews a few years ago.
"The Shorter Oxford Dictionary".
It came in two volumes and was expensive.
I do not know if it is still published.
When I talked myself into buying it, I returned to St Andy's but it had been sold!
I have been out walking in the dreichness and that may be me home for the day!

Hi, Rusty!
What a shame about "84" - it sounded as though it would be good!
Maybe you could pass it on to someone who might enjoy it?
I believe that "The Shorter Oxford Dictionary" is an abridgement of a series of many volumes (is it 20?) of the Oxford English Dictionary?
Goodness know what that might cost?
I have a " country cousin" - the Concise Oxford English Dictionary!
I have finished the Times QC and have just started the Times 15 x15........
Only got as far as the top left hand corner so far........
I thought 1a was a plane?
but I like 4a!
Onwards and upwards.......and maybe a coffee?