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Good evening, Elle!
A fine evening here!
You appear to have enjoyed your outing today!
I am sure your husband was doing a grand job spring cleaning until you returned!
I have had a busy day with wee jobs.
I managed to see a bit of the cycling this morning, though.
The Tour de Yorkshire!
Both my sons have been to see me today and I liked that!

Hi, Rusty!
It sounds as though you have had both a successful day job -wise..... and a pleasant day in spending time with your two sons.
I had forgotten that it was Thursday and your younger son would also be visiting you!
I have just been watching an earlier recording of "Eggheads"" and have just learnt where Demerara sugar comes from.......
The Challengers were given a choice of Jamaica; Guyana; and a third option, the name of which I have forgotten...........
It seems that there is a Demerara River in Guyana....
I did not know that!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I had a good day!
I did not know about the Demerara River.
I know there is Demerara rum, though.
Did you know there is a Moscow in Ayrshire?
And the Volga Burn flows through it.
It's near Kilmarnock.
Seems a bit cooler tonight!

Hi, Rusty!
No, I didn't know about there being a Moscow in East Ayrshire, not a river called the Volga Burn.
There must be some interesting history behind this apparent "Russian" theme?
Do you know how it all came about?
I had a go at today's crossword when I came home........very late in the day for my attempt.
I found it hard?
There were five clues for which I couldn't even provide answers, let alone parse!
I think I'd best draw a line under it.....and hope I do better with tomorrow's puzzle!

Good morning, Elle!
Fine day here!
Now, Moscow may or may not have something to do with Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, according to Wiki.
But is Wikipedia a trusted source? I have my doubts.
We also have a California near Falkirk!
Yesterday's puzzle was fairly tough, I agree.
Hope today's is, too!

Demerara was once part of British Guiana (there were two other regions), originally owned by the Dutch who planted sugar cane with slave labour. While doing research for a sea captian, I found he had been an apprentice on a ship which plied between Port Glasow and Demerara. People referred to it as if it were a country then- for example in a will, a man is left a share of an estate (but is a cooper in Demerara). The apprentice was left behind sick one voyage- aged 15!
The attrition rate of the white settlers was about 7% a year, half from disease (malaria, yellow fever) and half from alcoholism (rum being produced there as you say, rusty). There was a revolt of more than ten thousand slaves in 1823 (the trade may have been abolished but not slavery itself in the British Commonwealth until 1833). Between 100-250 slaves were killed and 27 executed afterwards. A missionary, John Smith, was held to have incited this riot and condemned to death. He died before he could be executed but is still revered in Guyana.
End of lecture!

A Very Good morning to you, Rusty!
A lovely day here, too!
A very pleasant walk this morning.
A tad shorter than usual, as we have an appointment at 10.30am at the vets.
The usual anal gland check for the dog.......
There are very many English place names in the United States - as a result of settlers I think?
I cannot join you in hoping that the crossword will be as hard as yesterday's ......that would put it somewhat outside my limited capabilities!
Anything nice planned for today?



Hello, Ros!
Thank you for the information.
Very interesting!

Good morning, Elle!
Good luck at the vet's!
Puzzle is a good one.
Several tricky ones.
I had 1d misspelt for a while which did not help!
No plans today.
I am watching the women's Tour de Yorkshire just now.
Then the Giro d'Italia starts today, from Jerusalem.
Hope Tom Dumoulin goes well.
Anybody but Froome and Team Sky!

Hi, Rusty!
Back from the vets!
Dog's anal glands duly expressed.... all okay in that respect.
She does have to go in next Wednesday. though, to have her teeth cleaned.
I do brush her teeth every day, but there is a slight build up of tartar, and so the vet thinks it best to give them a good professional clean now, before any problems arise.
This makes good sense because, even with modern procedures, giving anaesthetic to an animal is always a risk.
I would rather it be done now, before she gets any older.
She was 10 on Tuesday........and still hasn't slowed down at all!
Your idea of the crossword being "a bit tricky" probably means that I shan't be able to do it!!

Hello, Elle!
Good news about doggie!
You will be fine at the puzzle!
Just wondering if you would be familiar with the answer in 4d?
Anne B knows it, though!
It is a user name on a racing forum I visit, so it came to me quite quickly.
20d is a new word to me.
And I liked 12a!
Good luck!