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Hello, Pigale!
Good to hear you are recovering, albeit slowly.
Rest is important!
The Pine Cone has Christmas trees and Christmas decorations all year round, but much more as we get closer to Christmas.
The wind is rising here, but I think it is meant to rise around eight o'clock this evening.
THe weather is coming from the South West, probably the remnants of an Atlantic storm, but it is only going to last for a few hours....I hope!.

Good evening, Elle!
You seem to have had a grand day out!
My weather is coming from the South East now.
Wind must have changed.
I have not heard Storm Deirdre mentioned, so far.
I did my puzzle this morning.
23a was a new word to me.
But the puzzle was not too difficult today.

Thank you jigjag (re my clue for "Last"). I rarely enter these competitions now, though I used to do so twice a week.

I am without water because I asked my handyman to change a tap and he couldn't undo the old one but started a leak. Have rung plumber, so far without result. Have been painting some of 120 metal rods which will shortly be sunk at 8.5 cm intervals along my back hedge in an attempt to deter badgers. Very boring.

Hope you have some books pigale.

Hello Rosalind,

Yes, I do have about three books (perhaps one or two more) that
await to be read, but as mentioned to Rusty, tablets (morphine and
doliprane) which I so desperately need at the moment, do not
help my concentration. I make do with a DVD in the evening, but
hope to be off the tablets as soon as I ache less.
I think healing is a longer process the older one gets!

120 metal rods should keep the badgers away.....for a while at least?
They are stubborn beasts though, aren't they?

Hi, Rusty!
I have been reading on the computer that Storm Deirdre is to wreak havoc across the UK this weekend.
I think that here we are due to get the rain, but not the winds.
I hope it is not too severe up your way.
I have not made great inroads with the crossword as yet, having only just started it......
But I looked at 23a, as you had mentioned it!
My cousin had a lace jabot to wear with his kilt, although in actuality I never saw him wearing it.
He usually wore an ordinary plain tie, even on "festive" occasions.
I have still to watch today's "Eggheads " and "Fifteen to One"....I must make a coffee first.....
Speaking of 15 to1 , that same cousin once took part in the Quiz!


Hope you get your water supply back soon, Ros!

Me too, elle (water supply).
I can see reading would be tricky if woosy, pigale. Hope you have a good supply of DVDs

I think it is almost impossible to keep badgers out if they are determined. They eat any fallen fruit and put huge gouges in my lawn. They also eat any bulbs I plant. The rods are being sunk enough so they won't burrow- but they could get through my wooden fence from my neighbour's side. They love badgers. They are not gardeners. If the rods don't work I shall buy an electric fence.

Hello, Elle!
I hope Deirdre does not come this way!
Weather not too bad just now.
I had not heard of a jabot.
A plain tie looks much better, I think!
I do not think you will find much difficulty with your puzzle!
Hopefully tomorrow's will be a bit more challenging.

Hi, Rusty!
It is raining cats, dogs and pink elephants here!
I have been catching up with recorded TV programmes.....
I caught the end of "A Question of Sport" when I switched on the television.....
Linford Christie was one of the competitors!
I haven't heard anything of him for years..... not since he stopped competing in Athletics.
I wonder what he has been doing all these years?
I answered a question on 15 to1 about Donegal tweed!

Hello, Elle!
Heavy rain here!
Seems to be country wide.
I have not seen "A Question of Sport" for quite some time now.
I like the two captains!
I have not heard of Christie for years.
Last I remember he was in business with Colin Jackson, and Colin left the business.
Think there was a personality clash.
Did you get the correct answer to Donegal tweed?

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, Matt Dawson and Phil Tuffnell are excellent as Team captains in "A Question of Sport"
Tuffers is very funny!
I didn't know about Linford and Colin setting up as business partners?
What were they doing?
I wonder why they split?
I had thought that the two of them were good friends.
The quiz question was along the lines of having to say from where a particular design of tweed came ........the answer was "Donegal"!
I must see if I can persuade the dog to brave the rain, and go out in the garden before bed.......