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Hello, Elle!
Looks like you were sent chancers by Thames Water.
They were possibly sub-contracted to do the work, and were not actually employees of Thames Water?
But, things seem to be progressing now.

Hi, Rusty!
I am exhausted!
You would need to be here to understand just how utterly ridiculous all this has been!
The two man replacement team was brilliant, nice and friendly , very polite, ......filled in the holes, re - laid the earth, took away all surplus soil etc., leaving it all clean and tidy for the re- laying of the shingle path.
Two more men appeared ...they had come to lay down the shingle....
They half completed the path , up to one of the gates, then said they were not required to do the remainder.........and went!
I have since spoken to the TW office , who - to give them their due - apologised profusely, and are going to send out yet another team to complete the job!
They may come today........or possibly tomorrow.......
I may leave home in the meantime!
Whilst I was holding on to be transferred from department to department , I finished the crossword!
A nice one today!

Hello, Elle!
You appear to be scaring folk away!
What on earth do you say to them?
At least you have finished your puzzle!
I did it earlier today.
Weather is grand here!

How stupid is that, elle? That's at least 4 man trips going to be wasted. No wonder the bills are so high. Let's hope they manage to do your meter better.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Hey, where is my tea and sympathy?
I am in need of support here.....
Indeed, I am very nice to the TW employees.........I ply them with tea or coffee , biscuits or madeira cake.....
But at the same time, I do expect to have my jobs completed satisfactorily.
That is fair enough surely?
I have one outstanding clue I couldn't explain?
4a: Spooner's fault opening package for Christmas? (8)
I have "giftwrap" - which I thought should perhaps be hyphenated?
I cannot see where the Spoonerism comes in?
What have you been up to so far today?



It's been a nightmare, Ros!
And still only half the path re-laid.....

As it's been a little while...
Elle, Rift Gap, fault +opening, is the Spoonerism.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I am sure you are very attentive to the Thames Water lads!
They do not seem very well organised, at all.
Or the lads instructions are not covering the required tasks?
And Madeira as well!
Very nice!
Any more word when the final squad will arrive?
Malone has kindly explained the Spoonerism.
"Giftwrap/rift gap"
I can not be doing with Spoonerism clues, but they do pop up regularly so I have to lump it!
I have had a lazy day, but tomorrow could be different.
What did you think of Ken on the red squirrel clip I posted?
He explained things well, I thought.

Hi, Rusty!
I was told that the last (hopefully) of the TW gang would arrive this afternoon or sometime tomorrow to finish the path.
So far no one else has come.......
If the job hasn't been completed by tomorrow tea-time, I guess I shall have to phone again.....at least I now have a direct number to call, and do not need to go through various departments.
But let us hope that is not required.
I have had enough!
I enjoyed the Red squirrel talk.
Ken did well!
And the baby squirrel scampering in the back ground was really cute.
I knew a little about squirrel pox but it was good to learn more about it.
I didn't know that the grey squirrels were carriers of the disease and couldn't catch it themselves though.
Or that it manifested itself in a nasty skin disease over the red squirrel's face and neck , spreading downwards.
How terrible to take two week to die of hunger as a result.
I would never have got that Spoonerism....I arrived at the answer partly from the crossers.




Thank you, Malone.
I am not good at Spoonerisms!

Elle, I really dislike Spoonerisms and ignore them if I can. I'd done this crossword earlier but didn't attempt the Spoonerism until you mentioned it!

Hello, Elle!
Lovely evening here!
Fingers crossed your job is complete tomorrow!
It was a good clip about the red squirrels.
Ken explained things well.
The sanctuary is not far from the Pine Cone.
I have to rack my brain at the Spoonerisms!
Not fond of them at all!