Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hi elle
I believe most kormas made in England have coconut milk in them. Good ones have almonds or cashews (ground with water) as well, none of which is apparently authentic. Korma comes from a word meaning "braise". I think the essentials of the liquid are yoghurt and/or cream. However, it's like so much else, people swear that so-and-so is authentic or not. I did some research and found an old on-line article from the Guardian and, having read it all, followed her recipe and everyone loved it (even the fussy 7 year old) so I will make it again. I did reduce the number of cinnamon sticks from 4 to 1, though.
While I was in India, I never once had a hot curry and the best food I ate there was some stuffed peppers which were street food, pronounced OK by our guide. Whatever was inside was delicious. I think they cost 70p each (2003).

Hi, Rusty!
I am rather surprised that my (younger) daughter has bought another French car...... our mechanic friend is not very keen on them.
He says that they are great whilst all goes well, but very difficult - and ultra expensive - to repair once something goes wrong .....
I think it is all to do with the electrics?
I do know that we ran into constant problems with our Renault Megane Dynamique..........
Like you with your Rover, we eventually gave it away!
We are much happier back with a Volvo!
Your Jazz sounds good? Is it Japanese?
Other daughter used to have a Mazda.
(I am not well up on cars)
Speaking of other daughter.......she has phoned to say that she reached home safely, and was just off to school to collect the boys.
So all is well!
Have you finished all your jobs?
How is your crossword going?



Hello, Ros!
I think you are a much better cook than I am!
I am most ready to admit that my husband also cooks more adventurously than do I!
I am a more boring "we have to eat to survive" cook!
But we do eat stuffed peppers!
(perhaps not to your specifications , though!)

Hello, Elle!
Your mechanic friend says what many folk say about French cars.
I have never owned one, so I can't say.
But I am a fan of Japanese cars.
Best car I ever had was a Nissan Almera.
Had it for 9 years and it never ever let me down.
Just a simple ordinary car it was, and ultra reliable.
The Jazz is Japanese and so far I have found it to be just perfect.
But, other folk speak highly of German or Swedish cars like yours.
There are plenty to choose from!
Puzzle complete!
10a is new to me, and I had a guess at 29a, not certain my answer is correct as it appears to be French.
A good puzzle!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just been talking to younger daughter about her new car!
She usually phones me every day on her way home from work.
She seems very pleased with its potential.
And I have seen a photograph!
My puzzle is still incomplete - not because I have found it particularly difficult, but because I have only had the odd few minutes here and there to take a look at it.
I didn't know "doobrie" either.
I arrived at the answer via the parsing...and then had to look up the definition.
I gather it is a "thingummy"! or maybe a "whatsit"?
29a is "pas de deux" - a ballet sequence for two people.
I cannot do 4d: What propels black sheep to swap places (6)
R?M?E?
I have no ideas?
I may finish the rest of the crossword later on.....perhaps after "Eggheads"....... and dinner!

Hello, Elle!
4d, is "ram jet". Jet is black, ram can be a sheep.
It is part of an engine or something, I think.
I am sure your daughter's new car will be fine!
Yes, "doobrie"! I did not look to see where it came from.
Aussie word, maybe?
Yes, I have "pas de deux" too, and hoped it was correct!

I never knew Doobrie was a proper word! I heard someone use it and thought they''d made it up

Chambers says "doobrie" is military slang, origin unknown.

Thank you rusty. Someone probably did make it up for something that didn't have a name, or they forgot the name! I think it's useful for senior moments!

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you..."ramjet" is another new word for me!
Perhaps we should write down all the new words we learn in a week, and then see if we can compose a sentence using them all?
That would be an interesting challenge!
I have just been talking to my cousin tonight, instead of yesterday, as daughter was here then.
She has had a nasty fall in Tesco's garage, resulting in a visit to A & E, but fortunately - apart from eventual bruising - all was well after a check up and several precautionary Xrays.
The fall happened because, as she was putting petrol in her car, she stepped back and fell over some protuberance.
An unknown gentleman came to her assistance , and, whilst Tesco staff took her into their office, he continued filling up her car with £20 worth of petrol.
She discovered later that he had very kindly paid for the petrol, too, and gone on his way without waiting to be repaid!
Now, wasn't that a kindly act?
I still haven't watched "Eggheads"!

Hello, Elle!
It was fairly straightforward getting "ramjet", but, mind you, I had heard of it before, so not so hard.
Your poor cousin!
Good she is only bruised though.
And great that she happened upon a "Knight of the Road".
Well done, Sir, whoever you are!
Will she try and find him?
And just what kind of "protuberance" are TESCO tripping their customers up with?
I use a TESCO filling station and all seems in order and shipshape any time I visit.
Still mildish here.