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Good morning, Rusty!
A beautiful day! but minus 2C!
Frozen lakes , slippery pavements and park paths, and hard frosty grass!
However on the plus side, frozen mud , so a very clean dog!
How about in your neck of the woods? Is it still warmer than here?
Now.....oyster cards?
This is a plastic card on which you put money for travelling costs.
It can hold Pay- As- You- Go credit, Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes.
You can use an Oyster card to travel on buses, trams, the DLR, the Tube, the London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, River Bus services and most National Rail services in London.
If you have both Pay As You Go credit and a Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass on your Oyster card at the same time, it will work out which one to use to make sure you never pay more than you need.
You check in and out by holding your Oyster card against a Yellow card reader..
The procedure varies for mode of transport.........
If travelling by Tube, Mainline Rail or DLR, you touch in at the start of your journey and out at the end, in order to pay the correct fare.
But if going by bus or tram, you only touch the Yellow card reader at the start of your journey.
(So you do need to be aware of the "Rules"!)
It is considerably cheaper to use an Oyster card than pay on the spot for an individual journey, but the the option to pay without a card no longer exists on our buses.
You cannot board a bus without possessing an Oyster card - the driver is no longer allowed to accept cash!
I must add here that I have never had to use this Oyster card payment system!
If over 60 and living in London, we are granted a "Freedom Pass", which enables us to free travel on all of the above travel systems
The Freedom Pass is also an oyster card though, in that it works by laying it against the Yellow card reader, thus enabling us onto buses etc., and it opens train barriers etc. just as a Paid- up Oyster card does.
I hope this has helped explain the system a little ?
Incidentally, I am very glad that I do not have to pay for my travel, as London fares are extortionate!
Btw, our Freedom Pass also entitles us to free bus travel all over the UK.
Whew.....I need another coffee after all that explanation.....!

All over the UK, elle? Lucky you. my bus pass does notwork in NorthernIreland or Wales, asI've tried.
In Wales I asked the bus driver if he was going to Penygroes, which is where I wanted to go, he said yes, took my money and it turned out he wasn't going there. I had to get off in the middle of nowhere to grins and sniggers of the Welsh people on board. I' sure it was very funny to them but it certainly wasn't to me. As I got off I told them I agreed with Anne Robinson!

Good morning, Elle!
It is overcast here and slightly colder than it has been this week.
About 5 degrees, I think.
That is an excellent explanation to the "Oyster" card system.
Is there a reason for calling it "Oyster"?
Or "arster" as they do on the Chesapeake.
The purchaser of this house on "Homes" saw the Oyster system a big plus for her anyway.
It seemed to me that the next stop up the line was outwith the Oyster system and not as attractive to her.
So, thank you for all the info and to reciprocate, if you ever want to know about volcanos, I'm your man!
You must be knackered after all that typing!

Hello, Ros!
Perhaps I am incorrect then in saying that I can use my Freedom Pass on buses all over the UK?
Maybe it is only for all over England?
I am sure Google would know!
I don't travel on buses (I get sick!) so really cannot say with any authority!
My Scots cousin, though, used her Scottish bus pass down here with no problem!
but there again.....maybe she just had a nice friendly bus driver?!

Hi, Rusty!
No problem at all, Rusty.......I am happy to help....... but when I am feeling evil-minded, I shall ask you all about "volcanoes"!
I don't know why the term "Oyster"?
Maybe because of the saying "The world is your oyster"?
(and travel is unlimited?)
And I shall toss that right back at you by wondering how that saying originated?
Just as an added titbit to the Freedom Pass info.............
We are given a map with the "free" travel limitations marked...........anything after that, we simply pay an extension fee. from there to the destination
So it really does save a lot of money!

Update!
I have just heard that Novak Djokovic went out of the Aussie Open in the second round!
I am desolated!

Hello, Elle!
It is a tad colder here, now.
But, the days are stretching!
Yes, I gathered there were "limitations" on the Oyster card, from Homes under the Hammer.
I had not heard tell of Oyster cards before.
The crossword is easyish today?
I am about to watch Mr Trump being inaugurated.

Hi, Rusty!
It has been cold here all the day!
We went out for a late walk........ possible now that it is staying lighter longer........ and the lakes in the park had remained frozen throughout!
Brrrh!
How did you enjoy Mr Trump's Inauguration?
I didn't feel strong enough to watch!
I pity America!
I have been very busy today...I only got as far as the QC, which I found about average?
I have talked a lot on the phone today!

Hello, Elle!
You have a lot colder weather than me, this week.
It is noticeable, too, that the days are stretching.
i watched the inauguration.
I think Trump will make a poor President, but let's give him a chance.
A pity Michelle Obama did not run against him, or Joe Biden.
But that did not happen and this is where we are.
Is your TV table to your taste now?

Hi elle
"I pity America"? You're putting America first, just like him. I pity the world!

Just joking (I hope!)