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Good morning, Rusty!
A dull morning here... with a slightly lower temperature than yesterday, which made walking pleasanter....and more energetic!
A tad suspicious that Paddy Power should think the top two acts would be Lost Voice Guy and the comic Robert White?
I didn't think there had been any previous suggestion / likelihood that either of these was rated that highly, especially the latter?
I had thought the judge line -up worked well?
I think rapport between the judges plays a large part in the show....but David Walliams by all accounts does cross the line on occasions.
There is no call for that.
One of the reasons that I enjoy "The Voice:UK" so much is the good relationship that the judges have with - and the respect they show to - each other.
The friendly banter adds to the show.
Right, coffee and crossword time......

Hello, Elle!
Much cooler here today, but dry.
Yes, Paddy P was on the ball!
Obviously money from somewhere made Lost Voice and Robert White favourites.
I would prefer Piers Morgan or Louis Walsh to David Walliams.
I am surprised Simon Cowell tolerates Walliams antics.
The two women are not too bad, but a fresh face or two would be welcome.
Anyway, all over for another year!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Yes, best put the vagaries of BGT behind us!
It would not be the first time there has been some skulduggery involved in the programme!
Remember "Jules and Matisse" and her other "secret" dogs?
I did enjoy (on the surface) the Semis and Final of this year's BGT, though.
Take it as it comes!
I struggled with today's crossword puzzle.... I definitely am not on the same wavelength as today's setter.
I have one to do and two to parse.
Still working (off and on) on those.
And I cannot understand 22d where the answer is "squid"= "seafood" (definition)
A quid is a pound (£1), not a guinea (21s)?
What am I not seeing here, please?
Definitely cooler today!

Hello, Elle!
I have not looked at the puzzle yet.
But I had a look at 22 for you.
It looks to me as if "s" for one shilling comes first, then twenty shillings (quid), giving "squid".
What do you reckon?
I'll tackle the puzzle later.

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you, that was kind of you to take a look at the relevant clue.
But I still don't understand?
Leastways, I see what you are saying.......but cannot see that in the clue, from either the wording or punctuation?
Perhaps it is just me.......?
I am away out with the dog......she is getting a tad restless.
I had got caught up with something, and had not noticed how the time had passed!
May we talk about "quids" again, when I come back?!
Bye for now.....

Hello, Elle!
I shall attempt "squid" again!!!
"twenty one shillings" is in your clue.
Change it to the old fashioned way of saying it.
"One and twenty shillings". OK?
So, one shilling symbol is "s",
twenty shiliings are in one pound, or a "quid", in slang.
Join them and you have "squid" for "seafood".
I think that is as near as I can nail it, Elle!
But, on your walk, the fresh air shall clear your head and you may think of a more acceptable parse?
We shall see!

Update, Elle!
Just had an email from Ranger Emma, saying they do not expect the third egg to hatch now.
But they do not know why.
She expects Lassie to bury the egg deeper into the nest at some point.
They are very pleased with the two chicks and how they are growing etc.

Hi, Rusty!
I am home again.
As I walked there and back, I added two miles to my walk!
Thereby doing about five miles in all, this afternoon.
I shall either keep fit....or wear myself out!
I am understanding your parsing.......thank you for your efforts.......but, none- the- less, I think it a poorly written clue?
I liked 2a: instituted, and 16d: amendment."
It is a shame about the third egg.
Only two chicks hatched last year, too.
Still, at least the two existing chicks are flourishing, under the attentive care of their parents!
Right......I'd better go feed the dog!

Hello, Elle!
Five miles is a fair old walk! Well done!
I take your point about the clue possibly being poorly written, but remember, my parsing may not be on the same wavelength as the setter!
The setter is an expert, and I am not!
My thought process was, it was similar to "four and twenty blackbirds", rather than "twenty four" blackbirds.
Which I turned into "one and twenty shillings" for "squid".
It seems plausible to me...?
I'll have another look later on to see if I can come up with something better.
The two chicks are doing great!
It's very common for the third egg not to hatch, I think.

Update, Elle!
I have been exploring!
I found Times champion, Mark Goodliffe's, explanation of "squid".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7dmKGJeFeQ
Hope you like it!