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Hi, Rusty!
Our last posts must have crossed, as I did not see yours until just now!
Yes, lunch was great, thank you, and it was nice to have a chat.
Before my friend left for home, we loaded six cartons of books into her car, for her to deliver to the friend who is selling the books to raise money for her church roof!
This now makes it about eleven boxes in total that I have donated so far......
( Do you reckon I deserve a plaque on the church wall?!)
I now need more strong boxes.......
I made a start on the crossword early this morning, whilst waiting for my friend to come....
I have "lioness" for11a.
I think it comes from Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, who I think is something to do with Arthurian legend?
I didn't have time to check it out .....I will do so later, when I look at the remainder of the puzzle.
Right now, I need a coffee......
Is your son visiting you this evening?

Hello, Elle!
Well done on the book clearance!
Good of your friend to help out!
I have "lioness" too.
Not ever heard of Sir Tristram, though.
I have just watched "Great War Horses".
It was excellent!
They reckon the "Walers" were the best cavalry horses ever.
Told the story of "Bill the b" too.
And at the end they told of the fate of the Walers.
A very well told story, I think.
Yes, I think my son should visit this evening.

Good evening, Rusty!
I thought I would wait a while before replying, as I know your son will be with you.
So I have been finishing (well nearly!) the crossword!
Uhm...I have two I cannot do ...and one I cannot parse?
I'm stuck on 8a: R?S?N? / T??T
and 17D: S?C?I?T
And I cannot fully parse 14d: "abnegated" = "denied"
"gated" - "kept in"
But where does the "abne" come from ?
I do not under the "l'il cartoon hero"?
Fancy having a double homophone (Benelux) in 18d!
23a: Bedlington (terrier) took me back to my school days!
My Chemistry mistress used to have three of them, and brought them into school each day!
She used to keep them in an anteroom behind the Chemistry lab!
How is your son? I hope all is well with everyone?

Good evening, Elle!
My son has just gone home!
8a, is a new one to me, "rising trot".
I think it is something to do with horse riding?
Up and coming is "rising" with leftist, "trot".
17d, is "sacrist" which is to do with a sexton?
Bag is "sac" with "is" in clue, and qua"rt"ers, centrally.
I have heard of a cartoon character called "L'il Abne(r)" mostly.
My son and family are all well, thank you!

Hi, Rusty!
Those are new words to me......
I have heard of a "Trotskyist" or "Trotskyite" but not of a "Trot"!
The same with "sacrist" - I did not know that...although I knew that a "sacristy" is a room in a church!
As for "Li'l Abner"......!
Another character of whom I know nothing!
I hang my head in shame ......or maybe just in ignorance!
Thank you for the explanations.
My daughter phoned...all is back on track....
YB is better and back at nursery, and she is back at work!

Hey, I had to tick a box saying that I wasn't a robot before I was allowed to post!
Is this a new security measure?

And again......to send this!

Hello, Elle!
"Trot" comes up now and again in puzzles!
I vaguely knew sacrist was to do with a church.
I have heard of L'il Abner over the years but would not recognise him or know which paper he is in.
A good setter with a broad range of knowledge!
Good news about your family.
Yes, I see "I'm not a robot", too!
Maybe an anti-spam measure?

Hi, Rusty!
Well, I'm glad we are not robots!
But actually I had a lot of trouble with the second post......
With the first one, all I had to do was tick a box.....
But the second time, I had to identify how many traffic lights there were......
I am capable of counting up to two...but the "thing" didn't seem to agree with me....
It took several efforts before I was allowed to send the post!
Did that happen to you?
The Forum is going to grind to a halt if this continues!

Hello, Elle!
No traffic lights here.
Just a box to enter a tick in.
I am surprised Norah did not alert us to it?
Probably an anti-spam measure.
I should think it will be quite simple to adapt to the new posting method for us regulars, but the occasionals may have a wee problem?

Rusty, Elle, this is just a trial post by me - I'm keen to experience any new tweaks to the system...