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Hi, Rusty!
I don't understand "empower"?
I'm presuming it is the definition "permit"? but how else does it work?
Thank you for the offer of further help ---but please save it till tomorrow, I may need it then!
I have long given up on today's puzzle!
I wonder why only Commercial properties in Scotland have water meters?
I am tending towards thinking that their purpose is to be restrictive......through thrift? or maybe because of guilt at water- wastage?
What do you think?
You will be becoming a fixture at the Pine Cone!

Hello, Elle!
I do not know how "empower" works either!
That's the one I told you was baffling me!
I think I'll have another look at it.
As regards water meters up here, I have no idea.
We have a lot more water available to us up here than you do, but I honestly have no idea why only commercial properties.
I just never think about water as we seem to have so much of it with the rivers and lochs.
Yes, I can see me being entitled to a free Christmas tree from the Pine Cone!

Hello, Elle!
"empower".
I think it is to do with MP being in the clue.
So, "M" is "em", and "P" is the abbreviation for "power".
That's my hard won take on it, and if anyone argues about it, I shall suggest "pistols at dawn"!

I think you will probably still pay less for water than you do now. In any case, as you said, metering is compulsory where you are and everyone can decide for themselves to carry on as before and pay more or use less and pay less. Sounds fair to me!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just been watching the last episode of "Cold Feet" in the present series.
Friday nights will not be the same without it!
I really do enjoy it!
Your parsing of "empower" sounds good to me....although I would never have thought of that for myself........
I suspect that must be what the setter meant?
I think you may be saved from the dawn duel!
We are meeting up with younger daughter and family on Sunday......and then elder daughter and the boys arrive on Monday!
A busy week ahead!




Ros, I have just checked on last year's out take in water expenses!
It was far more expensive than was your son's......probably because of "London" rates...... but we were charged in excess of £500 p.a.
I am about to join the great unwashed.......

Hello, Elle!
"Pistols at dawn... on the morrow !"
Has a nice ring to it!
But, if the parse is correct, not a great clue!
20d, is a Swedish word, but quite gettable, I think.
I do not know about Cold Feet, I'm afraid.
There is lots I do not watch.
I like the News and some of the sports programmes.

A Very good morning to you, Rusty!
It was wet when I got up...but the sun is coming out now and the sky is now cloudless!
Cold though.
We shall go out for a walk later......
What is the weather like in your neck of the woods?
You and Miss O are away out to the Pine Cone this morning....
What time is she coming to pick you up?
At present, I am drinking coffee and printing out the crosswords.......
Let us hope today's puzzle is more "approachable" than yesterday's!

Good morning, Elle!
Bit dreich but windy here!
Think you are due strong winds from Storm Brian!
11.00 for Miss O.
I suspect La Bamba will be with her.
No show without Punch!
I am just home from ASDA.
No Times 2 in with my paper today.
I suspect someone at ASDA thought Times 2 was a separate paper!
I was watching the golf earlier.
An "unknown to me" South Korean lady is leading by several shots at the Swinging Skirts tournament.
You'll be fine with the puzzle!

Both my water butts are full!

Hi, Rusty!
We are forecast rain later, again, with strong winds....but so far all is peaceful, with not even a breeze to ruffle the trees.
We have been having some freak rainfalls.......often it will rain in our front street, and be bone dry in the back garden!
(No wonder it takes a long time for our rain barrel to fill!)
We sometimes find that parts of the Sunday Times are missing.
If we buy the paper from Sainsburys, there is no problem, as it all comes wrapped in polythene and so is "complete"...
But if we buy it from the "corner shop", the polythene has always been removed and Supplements might well be missing.
It is necessary to do a 'head count' before paying for one's paper....!
I have made a start on the crossword..........
I hope you enjoy your outing with the girls!