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Hello, Elle!
Just finished Times crossword.
Not too bad, though 6a was a head scratcher!
We are lucky with the weather here.
A fine bright day!
Not heard from any of the young ones so far.
But I am hot to trot, as they say!

Hi, Rusty!
I've only got as far as doing seven clues...I am working down systematically as usual!
Obviously I am very much slower than you!
I didn't have any problem with 6a though!
I guess that comes with my being "in the trade"!
( I never expected to find my being a haematologist helped with solving crosswords!)
Cannot parse 4d?

Hello, Elle,
4d
A march can be a "demo"
November is "N"
Demon is a spirit.
See you later!

Hello elle

Mystic bio-form? (9)
This is an &lit clue

It is ananagram of mystic and bio, with form as the anagram indicator. But the words are also the (literal) definition. The answer is symbiotic, certainly a bioform and possibly mystic as well, since it is an alga and a fungus living together in a mutually dependant way. Interesting how that could have come about.

I was babysitting last night until midnight. getting home in the fog was rather nasty. However, I made itasyou can see.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Are you home again now?
I hope you enjoyed your lunch with Miss L-B and whomever else turned up?
Where did you go?
We have only just come in.
It is very nasty out.......the fog hasn't lifted and it was even thicker at the park than it is here.
The dog wore her high-viz coat!
Thank you for parsing 4d.
I had "demon" from "spirit" and from the crossers - I didn't associate "March" with either walking or a demo. I lumped it with November as a month!
I did all the rest of the clues , the parsing too, without a problem
I had a slight hold- up with 21d....at first I wanted to fit in "rows" for "arguments" so toyed with "reavows" (altho couldn't parse the "eav") but then realised it was "reasons"! (anagram of "are" and "sons"- issue; I think?)
So all done!
I have also hand -delivered my local Christmas cards!



Hello, Ros!
Thank you. I have followed your given example and can see what you mean in this instance .
But I still have trouble accepting those clues that are sometimes explained as "& lit" clues - and I cannot see why!
Is it simply that there is no 'separate' definition, but that the entire clue is the meaning?

As far as I know, the entire clue is the definition and contains the cryptic bits. No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

Hello, Elle!
Pity about your fog.
Been fine here.
Yes, I am in now.
Just La Bamba and me at the bacon roll shop!
I agree with "reasons"!
A stiffish test today, and you managed.
Well done!

Hello Elle, Rusty and Ros!

Re. the &lit, Ros, the way you explained it is the way I understand it - but there again that means little......

Elle, it is not foggy here - it is just thick pea-soup! and has been all day; It was even difficult to see trees just 50 metres from me! and it IS cold with this dampness.

Rusty, glad you enjoyed good weather and nice outing!

Hello, Elle!
I read about your fog on the BBC News text service.
They say it is affecting the London airports.
Not so good!
We never had it at all, though it was a bit colder than it has been.
We went to Pine Cone.
Was less busy than I thought it would be, today.
No complaints about that, though!



Hello, Pigale!
I see you have thick fog, too!
Seems to be fairly widespread.
Let us hope it clears soon!

Hi, Rusty!
I hadn't appreciated that our fog was so widespread as to be affecting our airports.
I haven't listed to the News and just thought that the fog was local!
It is still here...and the temperature is definitely dropping.
I recently let the dog out into the garden, and opening the door just enough to let her pass through was a distinct shock to the system!
Brrrh! It is freezing!
I have finished "Tales of the South Pacific."
I am trying to recall the story as told in the film.... there are distinct differences.
A slightly nicer, more refined and less (racial) prejudicial touch is applied to the film characters and plot!
Especially with relevance to the two love stories.
But then, I suppose what else could one expect if the film was to draw in widespread audiences?
A romantic gloss over the actual real -life drama and misery?
I shall start on "Return to Paradise" next!
What can I expect there?



Hello, Pigale!
Our fog is a lot worse than I had realised.
It is a good job that my daughter flew home from Berlin yesterday, and didn't have to travel today!
I hope it improves soon where you are!
and it is cold here, too!