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Hello, Elle!
I agree with you.
The younger lad is much better, I think.
I just do not get the speed merchants, unless they are entering a competition.
In the Championship, I am fairly sure that each contender is given 3 puzzles to solve, and first all correct one is the winner.
Parsing not required.
My son brought me a chicken dinner!

Hey, Rusty!
My only saving grace in today's puzzle is that I found 7d: answer of "table tennis", very easy...whereas your man appeared to find it difficult!
And I was yelling "boot" at him, when he couldn't seem to recognise the relevance of "wellington" in 9d!
But seriously, in the Championships.....one would think that the parsing be important?
I am amazed that explaining how one arrived at the answer is not a part of the competition?
As far as I am concerned, I haven't "done" the crossword , unless I have parsed it correctly, as well as filled in an answer!
A chicken dinner sounds good!

Good morning, Elle!
My understanding is that each competitor is given 3 puzzles to solve.
The first all correct entry is the winner.
Just the fastest all correct entry.
No parsing required.
The 3 puzzles will eventually appear in The Times.
We should hear, probably on Monday, the result of the competition.
The Times usually has a story about it.

A Very good morning to you, Rusty!
A glorious day here!
Bright blue sky, and sunshine.
An enjoyable - cold but invigorating - walk!
I have a number of jobs to do this morning......but after I have had a coffee!
You are off out with your friends today, aren't you?
What time are they collecting you?
Have a good time!!

Good evening, Elle!
It was a nice day here, but chilly.
I met my friends and we had a nice time at Pine Cone.
When I left them they were heading to a farm shop to buy some marmalade gin, to take home with them.
Just finished my puzzle.
It was quite a good one today!

Good evening, Rusty!
I am glad that you had an enjoyable day with your friends!
Are you seeing them again tomorrow?
Or are you meeting up with your granddaughters?
We have a quiet day planned for tomorrow, but have family coming over on Sunday.
It will be good, as I have missed seeing our younger daughter every Wednesday, since she went back to work full time.
I did fit in a "Ladies Who Lunch" though this week!
Marmalade gin is a new one to me?
(but I don't like marmalade...... and have never tasted gin........)

Good evening, Elle!
I am visiting Miss O'Hara and her Mum tomorrow at 10.
Your Sunday sounds fine, with your family visiting.
I had vaguely heard of marmalade gin.
But my friends knew all about it.
It is made in Dundee.
They got several bottles to take home.
There is another local gin that is gaining in popularity, too.
"Honeyberry gin".
That is made/sold on a farm near Invergowrie.
I have not heard of a honeyberry before?
I like marmalade but I do not like gin!

Hi, Rusty!
You are having a busy time, visiting!
That is very nice though.
You will have a good time with your family tomorrow - and, of course, the dog!
I know that Dundee is well know for its marmalade - I remember the references made by Mr M in his books! - but the combination with gin sounds a little unusual?
I have tried looking up "honeyberry" in Chambers but couldn't find it?
I have been very busy today...haven't had time for even a glimpse at a crossword!
Right, I am going to make coffee........and maybe have a potato cake?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I am looking forward to seeing the dog, too.
She goes to a doggie playgroup one day a week, and there she meets up with her sister, and apparently they are inseparable!
Look up "Home of the Honeyberry" on Google.
It is about the farm where they grow them.
It's roughly a mile and a bit from me.
And there are lots of videos on YouTube about them.
I think they are closely related to honeysuckle, or are a variant of honeysuckle.

Hi, Rusty!
It is nice that your son's dog and her sister are able to meet up !
Our dog has two brothers, but they left Battersea Dogs' Home before she did, and so we never met them.
Their mum - a spaniel, and already pregnant - was found tied up on a deserted gipsy site, and was then taken to the Battersea Home.
We got our puppy at seven weeks old.
She is now eight years old.........wherever do the years go?
I have looked at the clip about honeyberries.
A honeyberry is described as a cross between a raspberry, blueberry and blackberry, perhaps with a touch of elderberry and added "zing"!
It sounds delicious!
Maybe you can buy some from the nearby farm, and try them?