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Hello Rosalind,

Thanks for enquiring - yes, pretty unlucky indeed, but yet most
'accidents are! Those two long muscles on either side of the spine
must have taken the brunt of the fall and seemingly they control
all other muscles as well, so it's like a knock-on effect - or so they
tried to explain at the hospital in a simplistic way!

We could do with some serious rain here too - so very dry - no proper
lasting rain for weeks and weeks!
Does not stop weeds from growing though!

In France, your previous chimney sweepers would have been held
responsible for your fire! They issue an official certificate which
you need to get any claim from your insurance company in case
of fire damage.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I am home again now for the rest of the day!
The rain was late in coming....with abysmal timing, I had just left the hairdressers when the heavens opened!
My goodness, did it rain there !
But on reaching home....I found it was still dry here!
This often happens , we seem to live in a somewhat rain -free "pocket"!
It is wet now though...and play is also rained off at Eastbourne!
The BBC are showing replays.......
Speaking of lightbulbs....... have you ever been to Ikea?
I find the electrical department there totally incomprehensible!
And I'll swear that the assistants are not much wiser...I am convinced that they go and hide whenever someone is seeking help!
Well, no tennis...so I shall make a start on the crosswords.
What are you up to?
Ooops! we have (very loud) thunder....!

Hello, Elle!
Still incessant rain here.
Some flooding on the roads.
The nearest Ikea to me is South of Edinburgh.
Over an hour away by road.
I was there once a lot of years ago.
But not for lightbulbs.
My puzzle was not too bad.
There was a Midlands town I had never heard of, but getting it was straightforward enough.
A fine change from stations on the Victoria line!

Hi, Rusty!
We are having a few intermittent very heavy showers...... although it virtually dries up in between them.
The BBC seems to be getting desperate, due to play at Eastbourne being impossible because of the rain........
They are ranging from showing footage of Arthur Ashe forty years ago, receiving the Wimbledon Cup, to a very young Andy Murray being interviewed .
I am sitting at the computer, with the TV on (at the other end of the room) without sound.
"Just in case" any tennis play resumes.......
Yes, I thought both yesterday's and today's 15 x 15 were more straightforward than usual.
I finished both the larger puzzle and the QC quite quickly ( for me!)
I didn't know of "Sandwell" either!
( I wonder if Mr R put in 16d with regard for my big toe? )

Hello, Elle!
16d was almost my last.
I could not get "vagabond" away from my head.
Yes, Mr R may have been thinking of your poor toe!
Now, 26a.
The setter is using "wd" as an abbreviation for "word".
Is that allowed?
I have not seen it before and my Chambers 11th Ed does not have it.
Has your big toe mended yet?

Hi, Rusty!
It is now raining steadily - and with serious intent!
That is good - the garden needs it!
I don't know about using "wd" as an abbreviation for "word"...it came to me quite naturally to use it?
Ah , my toe......I'm drinking plenty of tonic water - as advised - for the quinine content!
I think there is some improvement?
( I am "hobbling" more efficiently!)
Thank you for enquiring!
Going to watch "Eggheads" very shortly.

Eggheads was very surprising, wasn't it?

It has been raining oh so gently here- I want some proper rain! Come on, chuck it down!

Hello, Elle!
Maybe an age thing?
I see "wd" as War Department.
I think they renamed themselves the War Office, and then the Ministry of Defence some time ago.
If you go to the loch website and type "unhatched eggs" in the search box, you will find some info and good articles.
I had my heating on earlier!

Rosalind, you are welcome to my rain.
It has never let up all day.
Quite heavy, too!
I have been out twice and got drookit twice.
Hoping for a drier day tomorrow!

Hey, Rusty!
I don' t know....?
If I were asked to abbreviate "crossword", I would put "xwd"?
Now, I couldn't type anything into the Loch of Lowes "Search" box......when I clicked on it, I got rows and rows of noughts?
In fact, a whole page of them!
Goodness knows what I am doing wrong?
It must be very cold up your way if you needed your C/ Heating on?
I think it is supposed to be 15C here this evening.
Mind you, I am wearing a cardigan for the first time in several weeks!
Still raining......
Eastbourne - the Aegon International - will be very behind with their schedule!