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Hi, Rusty!
I am wondering whether you have returned home?
Most probably you are still out at the Pine Cone......
I have finished - bar three parsings - today's Cryptic!
As usual with whomever is Saturday's setter, I found it a good puzzle.
I won't go into detail in case you have not had the time to finish yours, with going out.........but I especially liked 1d, 10a, 13d and 21a
I shall struggle on for a while - off and on! - with the three that I cannot parse!
I mustn't give in too easily!
Time to do the Jumbo GK..........
Beautiful here now....deep blue sky, bright sunshine..... and feels as though the temperature is not much short of 20C.......

Hello, Elle!
Just a few minutes home.
Had a nice time!
Well done, with your puzzle!
I have finished mine, too.
Take a wee break from your parsing, then go back.
Took me a while to nail the parse on 13d!
Some very good clues today, I think.
Great day here, but not warm, so it's not!

Hi, Rusty!
I'm glad that you enjoyed your outing!
Was the cafe very busy?
Presumably in the run up to Christmas, when folk are buying their Christmas trees and decorations, it will become even busier?
They must do a roaring trade!
(Why "roaring", do you know?)
Yes, great clues today!
I didn't have any trouble in parsing 13d.......leastwise, that is if I have done it correctly......
I have "thatcherite" = someone very different! (def)
that - not this
Che - Marxist
rite - tradition
Is this what you have?
The ones I cannot parse are 14a :"Tasmanian devil" ( a marsupial);
27a: Everest; and 15d: drop scone
I cannot see why?

Hello, Elle!
I do not know why "roaring".
Curling is the "roaring" game, too.
Yes, Thatcherite is parsed the way have done it.
Once I got "not this", I was away.
14, Is anagram of "I'm Satan" with "and evil" for "fiendishly".
OK? (fiendishly/and evil). Tasmani and evil.
27, Is, "most difficult" is "severest".
Not starting out is (s)Everest" for "peak".
15, Drop scone.
A taste is a "drop".
"s"mall "c"ake for starters is "sc"
With "one" which is in the clue.
OK?

Hello Elle,
Yes, the cafe was quite busy.
It will be very busy on the run too Christmas.
Lots of folk buying trees, logs and kindling for fires.
They make fire lighters too, I think from wood soaked in some kind of oil to get a blaze going.
Plus all the bonnie knick-knacks inside on the shelves

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you for the parsings.......
I was very nearly there with "tasmanian devil"...
I did attempt various anagrams but couldn't select the right words.
I was trying to fit in "devil" rather than "evil"
All done and dusted now, thanks to your additional help!
I am rather disappointed with my Bill Bryson omnibus volume.
It was classified as in "very good" condition, and, indeed, on receipt, looked a very smart, barely used hardback book.
Until I began to read it.......
And the pages started falling out!
Several pages...and the more I read...the more isolated pages come cleanly away!
I have never had this happen before.
It is very disconcerting.... rather like a snowfall.......!
It would be too much trouble - and probably impossible, to sellotape them all back in!
I shall contact Amazon to complain.......the book came from Bahamut Media Group.
Do you know it?
It is readable, yes, but not "keepable"!

Hello, Chris!
I am sorry...I forgot to answer you yesterday!
Thank you for explaining the term "charade" as applied to a crossword clue.
The example you gave .....
Illegally take sailor over Channel (6)
abduct = illegally take (def)
ab - sailor
duct- channel
Yes, I understand....the words of the puzzle as solved in the order, line up to give the answer (just like playing "Charades)
I have solved many such clues.......but never before knew that they has a classification!

You're welcome, elle!

Hello, Elle!
I had Tasmanian Tiger for a while until I tried to parse it, then seen the error of my ways!
A good puzzle today, I think!
Now, your book!
I may have seen Bahamut Media Group, but I doubt very much if I have ever bought from them.
Yes, by all means complain, either to them, or Amazon.
If you click on your purchase in "Accounts" or "Orders", you should find how to best go about it.
I have had complaints on eBay before, and if they had no suitable replacement, I was refunded instantly.
Let us know how you go?
I tend to stick to sellers I know, like Awesome, World of Books, Alex the Fat Dawg, Tartan Frog, Britannia, Julie's Books, etc.
I have also had orders cancelled by the seller because the book was not, in their opinion, in good enough condition to sell.
I do not think you will have a problem, Elle!

Hi, Rusty!
I am sorry.......I may have given you the wrong impression there, when I asked if you knew the book company.
I myself HAVE bought from them several times before - all eminently satisfactory purchases.
I don't know what has gone amiss this time.
Maybe they just simply never opened the book!
Anyway, all duly reported.
I have sent an email , which Amazon apparently forwards to them, so that they do not learn my mail address.
I presume I shall get a response from either or both in due course.
W shall see.