Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hi, Rusty!
Are you home again yet?
I hope you had a good walk.
Did you make friends with the new horse?
I have been busy this morning.......
I have done the hoovering and the washing.......no Hill's Hoist today, though, because of the rain!
Also I have finished the Jumbo GK and the 15 x 15.
It is strange how I always find the Saturday puzzle easier - maybe it is always the same compiler, and I am just on his / her wavelength?
Just three still to parse.......
You have a good programme of events mapped out.
I wish that I had some Sport to watch!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I met the horse (sort of).
He was unsure of me and kept his distance between us.
Maybe another day.
Rain won't trouble the Hill's Hoist!
I have completed the crossword.
I was ages trying to solve 4d.
Was convinced Gogol was in there somewhere!
Then it dawned (a very slow dawn) on me that it was one of these dreadful homonyms!
Ortho for author!
Not spoken like that in these parts!

Hi, Rusty!
The horse may be more approachable next time he sees you!
A more familiar face?
4d is one of the three where I am unsure of the parsing?
I have "ortho" as a supposed homophone for "author" - and here I totally agree with you that the two do not sound the same , but it was obvious to me where the setter was going with it.
But "dox"?
I cannot see this?
The other two I cannot parse are 25a: modem and 12D: legal tender?
The rest I thought went well.
You are no doubt in the midst of your Sports viewing by now?
And we are about to take young "Hop-a long" here, for a short walk to see how she fares........it really is a mystery....... nothing seems to hurt her?
Catch up later........

Hello, Elle!
4, "makes short" = docks "dox".
25, "lines" = "ode", poetry lines.
Tiny distance is "mm", abbreviation for millimetre.
I cannot parse legal tender yet, but will have a think.
Yes, must give horse time to settle.
I have cycling on, but still a long way to San Remo!

Hello, Elle,
12,
I am struggling here,
Legal tender.
Tip is "end"
Reform is "alter"?
Which leaves "leg"?
"Leg" is an abbreviation of legal, legate, legato, legislation, legislative, legislature.
Is that any help?
Hope doggie gets over the ailment!

Hello, Elle!
You'll have to join Twitter.
There is a super photo of Laddie bringing twigs to the nest just posted on Twitter.
Well done, the snapper!

Hi, Rusty!
I am back home!
It remained fine whilst we were out - but very black clouds overhead now.......
Thank you for the parsing.
I did not see "dox" sounds like "docks". I was looking for "dox" to be a part of a longer word, so beginning.
Yes, I can see "modem" now that you have kindly explained it.
But 12d.... I had "end" for "tip" - but didn't see "alter" for "reform" - a nice touch, I like that!
I'm not sure about "leg" - I agree with you that it is short for all those terms but am not convinced that is what is meant?
This may be pushing it a bit, but could "leg" be a "stage"? meaning "that must be taken"? (as worded in the clue)
Probably I am barking up the wrong tree........
How is your cycling progressing?

May I see if anyone is interested in discussing rugby? Who do you think should be the British Lions captain?

I think it's a difficult one. If you work on the principle that the captain should be first choice in his position, none of the home country captains makes it.

Best and Hartley are behind Jamie George and Ken Owens; Alun Wyn Jones would be behind all four of the English second rows and probably both of the Scots; Greg Laidlaw wouldn't be in the first three at scrum-half.

How about Maro Itoje or Owen Farrell?

Rory Best, or, as an outsider, Farrell......

Hello, Elle,
Cycling just finished,
Peto Sagan just pipped on the line!
Beaten a tyre's width by a "Team Mystery Package" rider.
Great race though.
I am puzzled by "leg", but not beaten.
I'll have a go later.
A leg is a stage, but...?
Wonder if Anne Bradford can shine a light on it.
It has been dull here all day.