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Hello, Elle!
The marines are serving their country, same as all the armed forces.
The setter could have used RM/Royal Mail or another meaning, but chose to use the Marines.
Seems fine!
Well, I am up on you here!
I knew "oeniphile" and "ley".
Well done on your new curtains!

HI, Rusty!
I think I am over thinking the clue........looking for something that isn't there.........
No matter!
It is hard to believe it is Friday tomorrow?
This week seems to have whizzed by.......
And I haven't had chance at all to watch any of the tennis....I have been otherwise occupied!
I need a coffee.......

I apologise if you know this already, elle, but you have a question mark after informer-person shopping. In this case shopping means what we used to call "telling on" as kids.
How's the Ian Rankin?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, it is a fairly simple clue.
The setter could have used other meanings of "rm" but went for the most obvious, in my mind.
Did you know a nickname for the Marines, in the forces, is the "cabbage hats"?
Anyway, congrats on finishing it.
You have done well!
Friday's is usually a tricky one.
I hope so!

The Royal Marines are also known as "jollies" (no idea why) - could the setter have use this, perhaps?

Hi, Rusty!
No, I didn't know that "cabbage hats" was a term of reference for the Royal Marines.........
But I am guessing that this is to do with their green berets?
I think I am sometimes guilty of looking for nuances that are not necessarily there, when trying to solve cryptic clues......
I wonder is it better to over think than under think....?
Uhm........
A coffee and another chapter of my book before bed!



Hello, Ros!
The question mark was just meant to indicate my general dissatisfaction with my thought processes!
I finished the Ian Rankin some time ago....I am about three books further on , now!
I'm reading a PD James - "Death in Holy Orders" - that I hadn't come across before.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, the green berets are the cabbage hats.
It's a term used mainly by the Paras and other regiments, and it is not said in an endearing fashion!
When you were asking about "informer" I wondered if you had thought that "OR" (other ranks) was the serving men, but no, you had twigged it was "RM".
A straightforward clue, Elle, but you may have overthought it, just a wee bit!
You are going the right way, though!
Was a good puzzle, I thought!
And I liked the new words (to me!)
The Friday puzzle is usually fairly tricky.
Hope so!

ChrisE, Royal Marines = 'Jollies" as in 'Jolly Sailor'?

Elle, I've read "Death in Holy Orders", excellent author.
Am now reading next Book Club one , Stef Penney's "Under a Pole Star", nearly 600 pages! So far, so good.

Good morning, Rusty!
A glorious day here - blue sky, bright sunshine.
Frosty and bitterly cold (2C)...... but no matter....I can wrap up!
I like it like this!
What is like up your way?
Do you have any particular plans for the day?
I shall take just it as it comes.........
I am seated at the computer....coffee made, crosswords ready to be printed out.....
Let battle commence!



Hello, Ros!
Yes, I have always liked PD James, but it is a long time since I have read one of her books.
This is one I must have bought a while back - and it got "shelved"!
Didn't PD James die a few years ago?