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Hello, Elle!
That is exactly what I twigged...the pencil!
I have always used a pen.
My favourite pens are Papermates!
I won't use anything else.
The crab scene was a link to his illness, I think.
There were books of his puzzles on sale, not sure about now.
I am not certain I am going out.
The weather has turned wild, here.
I have put to Miss O that we could leave it today and what does she think, but no reply...yet!

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, obviously you are very confident about your answers!
I use a pencil so I can rub out my mistakes!!
I hate to stress this...and crow.....but I will!
It is absolutely beautiful here......the sun is shining, the sky is blue...!
No, seriously, I am very sorry about the sudden deterioration in your weather and hope it doesn't stop you all going out?
What does Miss O think?

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Home again!
What a wonderful day it has been!
The temperature even reached the lower twenties, according to our car!
We are indeed being very fortunate.
The "picnic" was a huge success! and we got in quite a long walk.
YB at two and a half does very well!
What happened about your own plans?
Were you able to go ahead, and go to the Pine Cone, as originally intended?

Good evening, Elle!
Well done on your outing!
A picnic in late October is indeed a success!
We stayed home due to wild weather.
The access road to Pine Cone is narrow and prone to water lying, so we are going next week instead.

Hi, Rusty!
That is indeed a shame that you couldn't meet up as planned, and drive out to the Pine Cone.
( I was but joking, when I pretended to "crow" about our good weather ......I feel terrible now!)
But it is certainly best not to take unnecessary risks in stormy weather.
And at least you will all have a treat ahead for next week!
I came across a new word for me, in the Sunday Times Cryptic........
"Sesquipedalian".........
Have you ever heard of it?

Hello, Elle!
Ach well, these things happen with weather, I suppose.
I don't take risks in unclement weather, nor would I suggest it to the young ones.
Only thing is, La Bamba probably won't manage to go at weekends in future.
She starts a new job next weekend, and there's no show without Punch!
I may have just possibly came across "sesquipedalian" before, but no idea what it means.
Looks a bit Latin to me?
I don't suppose it means an "ancient cyclist"?

Update, Elle!
I don't think "unclement" is a word!
How about "inclement"?

Hi, Rusty!
I think you are right with "inclement"!
Mmm, I love the idea of a "sequipedalian" riding along ...maybe on the pavements for safety?
But the word actually means
------- (of a word) polysyllabic; long.
------- characterized by long words; long-winded.
The clue is :Very long joke in an idealess novel (14)
I had to look it up to check its meaning.
Is this a weekend job for Miss L-B whilst she is at University?

Hello, Elle!
You did very well to crack the clue.
Don't think I'd have got there.
So it's not to do with cycling!
I don't know what times the young one will be working other than she starts next weekend.
Yes, it's part time while she is at Uni.
She had a good job at the hospital but left it to go to Uni.

Hi, Rusty!
Both our daughters worked part-time whilst at Uni, but of course tuition fees are very expensive down here...and accommodation is not cheap either!
By the time our grandkids get to that stage , they will probably spend the rest of their lives paying back their student loans!
Our elder daughter was in the last yearly intake that received a grant.
You are fortunate in Scotland that the Uni tuition is free.
I have just been speaking to my cousin.
All are well, but they are having shocking weather.......foggy and wet over the weekend.
She could not believe that we had been having a picnic!