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Good morning, Elle!
A very bright, very blustery day here!
A lot calmer since Ali passed through!
No double deckers allowed on the bridge, so it must be windy downtown.
Huge waves in Bromley?
Jings! Best be careful!
I think La Bamba and me are going, not heard from her.
She gets out of Uni at 11, so not long now.

Hi, Rusty!
Still dull, no sign yet of this apparently mythical sunshine!
The washing is blowing about on the line.......although not as fanatically as yesterday!
No possible Mary Poppins take-off of the Hill's Hoist today!
(I still haven't come across that yet in Bill Bryson's exploits?)
How was the Pine Cone?
I hope your drive out there was uneventful? Hopefully, no trees down en route blocking the road?
How is Miss L-B enjoying her return to Uni after taking a year out?
I have had a leisurely morning, but am about to hoover round now.....
Not that I expect our son and granddaughter to notice!
But I shall know!

Good afternoon, Elle!
We were at Pine Cone.
No problems getting there. But branches down everywhere.
One tree down yesterday, quite near the cafe.
Part of the roof came off yesterday, and one window at the Dog House was blown in.
Other than that, all is well up there!
There is only a line or two about the Hill's Hoist, as I remember.
(4a, reminded me of the Hill's Hoist!)
Miss L-B says Uni is much better than working!

Update, Elle!
Here comes the snow!

https://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland-s-weather-september-snowfall-on-cairngorm-mountain-1-4802828

Hi, Rusty!
It is good that you and Miss L-B both enjoyed your morning outing at the Pine Cone!
It sounds as though your local storm damage was fairly limited, so that is a relief.
We have only suffered very minor problems here...just a few branches strewn about....very little disturbance otherwise.
I couldn't access the link that you sent?
I saw the very first picture of the snow...but I couldn't progress to read anything further, as the link would not permit me to do so...??
Our son and granddaughter have only just gone home.
We have all had a great time!
It was lovely to see them both together, as we more often see our granddaughter in the company of her mother and younger (half) brother.
I expect you are at present spending time with your son?
I am assuming he will be visiting you now, as it is Thursday.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, we had a fine time at Pine Cone.
The link was about the first snow of the year on Cairngorm.
It arrived overnight.
Our wind has diminished quite a lot, down to a brisk breeze!
My son has just gone home.
Was grand seeing him.

Hi, Rusty!
It has become chilly here ...we have just put our heating on.
The wind seems to have died down though.
I didn't even get the chance to finish the crossword today.
I am about half way through.
I had never heard of "olla podrida!"
I had to look it up!
I have finally come upon the reference to Hill's Hoist !
And learned what a Jacky Howe is......and norks!
Although that last in actually in Chambers!
Right....tine to watch my recording of "Eggheads"!

Hello, Elle!
I have my heating on for a short time in the morning.
Me too, with "olla podrida"!
You are well up on Australianese if you know about Hill's Hoists and a Jacky Howe!
Not sure about "norks"!
Have you came to the bit about discovering the "proto-ants" in the outback?
I thought that was a great story!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, we have our heating on first thing in the morning, too.......and that usually suffices.
But it had gone off again, and we were chilly.... so I switched it on for a while this evening, as well!
No point in feeling cold!
No, as yet, I know nothing at all about proto - ants...??!!
I may have to wait until tomorrow to find out...….

Good morning, Elle!
A bit breezy here!
I put my heating on earlier, but off again now!
But there is a chill in the air, outside
Heading out soon for my walk to ASDA.
The proto-ants are a great story.
Proper name "Nothomyrmecia macrops".
I'll say no more, other than it is an amazing story about them, and those who discovered them, and Bill tells it well!
I found a wee bit about them on YouTube, too.