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Good day, Elle!
Great day here, too, and hard white frost!
I have missed the curling!
But the final is next Saturday, so...!
No, Michener being the man he is, has started the first chapter with his US Navy service!
I am sure he will get around to his childhood eventually, but at present he is heading for Bora Bora!
He first met Aggie as a young lieutenant in the Navy, but he had heard of her, previously.
Aggie's mother was named "Pele".
Pele is the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire.
Just as an aside, you know how he has lived in many different places?
His favourite place to live was Afghanistan.
He lived there when researching for "Caravans".
Seems to be an unusual method of scoring in the tennis tournament?

Hi, Rusty!
Yes , we had frost too...but only on the pavements, roofs and cars.
The grass - and mud - remained soft and unaffected ...... we had a very dirty dog on our return home!
However did you come to miss the curling? You had mentioned yesterday that you intended to watch it?
What do you mean about the tennis scoring? Are you referring to the Round Robin system?
I think the principle is that it gives all contestants the same opportunities and prevents one bad game from eliminating a player (especially early on)
With the Round Robin, a player could lose a first round match......and yet still win the tournament.
Novak is keen for the system to be applied to other tournaments - such as the Olympics and the Davis cup.
Right....I think I shall go now and heat up some (home-made) soup for our lunch......
We have some lovely fresh crispy rolls, too!

Hello, Elle!
I was reading my paper and when I put Eurosport on, they were showing snooker from Norn Iron!
So, I missed Eve and her rink.
My "default" TV station is Sky News.
I know it is an unusual scoring system at the tennis, that's all.
That is the crossword done.
One bugged me for a while and I am not fully understanding the parse, but it shall do!
Hot soup is needed on these frosty days!
I have a venison sausage casserole in the slow cooker.
Wish it was tea time!

Hi, Rusty!
Goodness, this tennis match is exhausting!
I am all played out!
Andy has just levelled it at one set all, but Raonic very nearly beat him, as they are only playing three set matches.
Maybe this is what you were meaning?
Since 2008 (?) all the Masters series have been the best of three sets.
Anyway...even stevens now...one set to go and all to play for......
I have finished the Times 15 x 15 too - I magically always seem to manage this on a Saturday!
But I have struggled more than you, as I still have four to parse.
24a; and 18d; 19d; and 22d.
Was any of these the one you had trouble with?
Venison sausage casserole sounds delicious!
What time's tea?
Back to the tennis.......

Hello, Elle,
I do not know what I was meaning.
I only know it was not usual tennis they were at.
No, I had bother with 25a.
But it is correct.
Just a vague parse, I think.
I have ate my tea and there is plenty left for tomorrow!
The frost has not lifted here!

Hi, Rusty!
The match is finally over!
Andy won!
The third set was won on a tie-breaker ......
But what a fight........
Did you see it?
Neither player deserved to lose.
Tim Henman commented on the fact that Judy started out with a plastic cup (of coffee?) and ended up with a wine -glass!
Fantastic tennis!
But if Novak wins his Semi tonight.....and then beats Andy tomorrow.......he will become World Number One again!
The stakes are high!
Unfortunately the BBC are not showing the other Semi-final.......which starts at 8pm.
I must organise dinner......

Hello, Elle.
No, I did not see it.
Tennis is not one of my sports.
Maybe the other game could be on Red Button?
Stay vigilant, Elle!

Hi, Rusty!
No, I cannot find anywhere to watch the second ATP semi -final unless I am prepared to fork out money to subscribe to a new TV package.
The match is only showing live on Sky Sports 3HD, and is also on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra - according to Google.
I shall just have to be patient and await the result!
At least I can watch the Final tomorrow! That will be shown on BBC 2 at 6pm
I have already set the recorder..........just in case......
I am reading "Hawaii " instead.
We are just setting out for the leper colony.......
Oh, I forgot to ask...how are the puppy and the cat getting along?

Hello, Elle!
I was reading earlier that Sky will be showing less sport in the years ahead. A lot of competition coming.
What about BBC website for tennis?
It will be getting streamed somewhere if you go online.
Google it and you may find a site showing it?
I forgot about the lepers.
I have just watched Emmylou singing "Child of Mine" to her daughters.
Then she sang "Emmett Till". Well done, Emmylou.
Well the pup is doing away fine, not heard about the cat, but I'll text later to see how things are.
Hearing Miss ATW keeps making detours when she is out driving, so she can pop in to see the pup!

Hi, Rusty!
I had already tried googling the match - that was how I found the references that I mentioned to you!
I can listen to it on BBC Sport online, but not watch it.
Instead, I have been reading about Storm Angus.......
Gale force winds of 80 mph are already hitting the coastal districts of SE England apparently, and will be reaching SE London - so we are told - with winds of 55 mph early tomorrow morning.
We already have heavy rain!
The storm is expected, though, to move off quickly into the North Sea around midday tomorrow .
Northern districts will become very cold, and there may be some snow, especially in the Pennines, Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales
"Sheltered areas" of Scotland may reach minus 10C overnight .
Brrrh!
(It doesn't specify whereabouts in Scotland? I hope that doesn't mean you!)
Yes, the leper colony was a truly dreadful place to begin with....but law and order are gradually being brought about.......