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I know, malone!

My greatest bete noire is "epicentre". It is used incorrectly by pretentious pr**s for whom the correct "centre" isn't polysyllabic enough. I once heard a BBC (!) report on an earthquake where the reporter said "the epicentre was 5 kilometres below the surface"!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just looked up "kettle"....
Now my "flawed" 13th edition of Chambers gives me exactly the same definition as does your tenth edition of Chambers.......
But interestingly , Brewers offers a totally new slant on the word!
Brewers says...
"As well as meaning the vessel used for boiling water and cooking, the word is old thieves' slang for a watch.
A tin kettle is a silver watch, a red kettle is a gold one"
Now I 'll bet you didn't know that?

I didn't know that a tombola involved a drum.......
My only experience with the word has been at school fairs where one buys a ticket in the "tombola" ( it is simply handed to you on receipt of the money) and then the number is matched to an item on the table!
Obviously a misnomer!

Hello, Elle!
No, I did not know about "watch/kettle".
I shall add that to my list of "ten million things that I do not know!"
I looked up "tombola" on my Chambers app.
The word comes from the Italian "tombolare, meaning to tumble".

Hi, Rusty!
I forgot to tell you that I finally found my missing (so far unread) book "This Mum Runs" by Jo Pavey, whilst I was sorting out one of my many bookshelves today!
Also discovered was "Walkabout" by Bill Bryson, which I hadn't been able to find.
So some good came of the chaos I caused!

Hello, Elle!
That's good you found Jo Pavey!
Don't put it in a cardboard box!
Walkabout is a favourite of mine.
I like Bill Bryson.

Good morning, Rusty!
A pleasant morning, with a slight autumnal tinge to the air.
Good to be out and about!
I see there is the Birmingham Grand Prix at 1.15pm on BBC1 this afternoon.....the Athletics 12th Diamond League.
It is being shown in its entirety , I think, instead of the usual rushed Highlights, so that will be good.
What are you up to today?

Good morning, Elle!
Fine morning here, too!
I am on plan B today.
Was meant to go for a visit, but got a text message saying to cancel it as the person I was for visiting is not feeling very good today.
So....
Puzzle is finished and pretty much parsed, I think.

Hi, Rusty!
That is a shame that your friend is not feeling well...….
"The best laid schemes of mice and men.... ", eh?
Never mind, hopefully your visit can be rescheduled for another day?
Yes, I have finished my crossword, too...well, barring five parses.
I shall work on those.....
My favourite clues were 1d; 13d; and 17d.
5a was a new word for me.
I usually like Saturday's puzzle!

Hello, Elle!
I had my heating on earlier.
It was chilly!
I knew 5a. Came across it before.
Was a good puzzle today.
I liked 18a, but was not sure if the answer was a city or not.
I have an answer for 8d and am presuming it is part of London!
I do not know!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, there is a definite chill to the early mornings now.
But it has reached 23C here now..... and is becoming humid.
Yes, Chichester is a city in West Sussex.
I think it was a settlement from Roman times?
We have friends moved to live there, but have not yet visited them.
Stepney is (I think) in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Somewhere else I have never been!
I am just about to make a coffee......and settle down to watch the Athletics!
Are you going to watch?