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Hello Elle,

I am translating (for pleasure) an article about 'The Agricultural
Gangs' in Victorian days. I do not think we had an equivalent
in France.

Weather so-so; we are promised better weather next week; at
present, it is more like Autumn!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, just see what your comments on "tweets" brought forth..........!
But that is all to the good!
No, do not keep these interesting and thought-provoking titbits to yourself !
Your remarks caused a lot of lively discussion - that is a very worthwhile outcome!
( A pity you were out at the time)
I have never come across "wreck havoc" ?
But I've seen "wreak havoc" in use......and, like you, would say this myself?
Yes, I am in the "wreak "camp!
I checked in Chambers..."wreak havoc" is in there.
Nothing on it in my Brewers.
You sound as though you need a strong coffee to "steady your nerves" after your hectic drive with Miss O!
Did you make it to the Pine Cone in the end?

Hello, Elle!
Anything about "wrought" havoc?
The Internet is full of debates on wreck/wreak but whose opinion do you choose?
There is a suggestion that both words come from "reck".
Anyways, that is me done with words today you'll be pleased to know!
Yes, we made it to Pine Cone.
Was fairly busy which was good to see!
It is not on the beaten track.
I am back again on Saturday with Miss La Bamba who is a cannier driver than her big sister!

Hi, Rusty!
I have found '"wroke" havoc'?
"Wroke" being a past tense of "wreak".
I like these discussions!
They exercise the "little grey cells", as Hercule Poirot would say.
Re driving... one of my sons-in-law drives very fast -- he drives "as if there were no tomorrow".......
And the way that he drives, I sometimes fear there might not be!
Have you done today's 15 x 15 yet?
I have one or two queries/ comments......
Btw, you won't like 23 across!

Hello, Elle!
"Wroke"?
Maybe I imagined "wrought"!
Seeing as you are fond of grammar etc it may be an idea for you to explore "Oxford Dictionaries" website.
Click on "English" and that takes you into the main part of the site which has a section devoted to "grammar" plus lots of other "stuff" and a blog etc.
Worth a wee look.
They tweet to me/everyone several times each day.
I have finished the puzzle, yes, but it has been recycled.
Is 23 the alleged homophone?
If so, it is not a homophone to me!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes , I was referring to the concept that "ova" sounds like "over".
It certainly doesn't the way that I pronounce the two words!
I had a bit of trouble at first with 1d.....
"Stood in tempest without raincoat at first, and suffered (9)
I have "stomached" for the answer but thought "suffered" would be the definition......before realising that it had to be "stood" , in order to fit in with the rest of the parsing!
So....
stomached = stood (def)
sto (r) m - tempest , minus "r" (raincoat)
ached - suffered
I expect you saw the correct parsing straight off?
Now, I cannot parse 27a : Touring eastern part of Commonwealth, children showing excitement (6)
I have "frenzy" = definition "excitement"
But that is as far as I can go?
I shall check out that Oxford Dictionaries website that you recommend!
Your son will be coning to visit you soon?

Typo in last line...coMing!

Hello, Elle!
No, my son is not visiting me this night.
He has been invited to fish a beat on the River Esk this evening.
May see him tomorrow or over the weekend.
Ova/over will sound the same to many, I suppose, but not this lad!
It was "opuses" that tricked me.
I was thinking East London/South Africa, then I twigged it was a " 'arry from 'ackney" type clue!
27, Eastern part of Commonwealth is "E NZ" (New Zealand).
The children appear to be "fry", as in "small fry"?
Chambers has "small fry" for children, I see.
There is quite a bit to browse through on the Oxford site, Elle.
I would be surprised if there was nothing to interest you.
I noticed "dangling participles" as I was passing through!

Hi, Rusty!
You will miss of course seeing your son.......but the fishing sounds a good opportunity for him.
I only hope that your weather is better than ours, as it absolutely "bucketing down" here!
We have torrential rain!
Now.....I made an error with the clue numbers...it was 23a that I meant to draw to your attention - and then I got side tracked by the homophone , which was no 8a.
I figured that " 'ouses " would have you screaming at the paper!
Thank you for the parsing for 27a - I couldn't get that at all!
I rather think that a "dangling participle" is something we are taught to avoid - it doesn't match up with the subject noun of the sentence?
I am very unsure about this...I shall look up your recommended site after dinner!

Hello, Elle!
It is a lovely evening here.
Not great fishing weather!
The salmon do not like bright weather.
I am very good at avoiding dangling participles for I have little notion of what they are!
There is a wealth of info on the site I mentioned.
I just had a quick look through it.
Apparently there is a link between tightrope walking and ambulances!
They send out several Tweets each day and I "follow" them.