Crossword Help Forum
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Qops!
A double salutation.......the wording had apparently disappeared, so I typed it again!

Hello, Elle!
It's a great day here, but cold.
It is Eve's first major competition since her surgery in the Spring.
She had the same hip damage as Andy Murray had, and arthritis, too.
She has been in pain for several years.
I think she has a new lead in her team.
Anna Sloan has left or retired, but I'm not sure which.
Eve writes a column in my local paper every week.
She is an excellent golfer, too.
Hope you like the tennis!

Hello Pigale

They are on the table in the dining-room. 4 just fit on a plastic cover over the table, a good surface for working on. We never use the room for eating except Christmas Day, so I am under pressure to finish them in the next few weeks. A couple are very tricky though.

I like 3D as you do. I also have done Big Ben and some English football stadiums. The problem with liking jigsaws is that friends give you difficult ones and expect you to do them quickly. A dear friend gave me a 2000 piece Van Gogh one - Cafe Terrace at Night, The problem is that is almost all yellow and black and even 1000 piece ones take too long. She keeps asking if I have done it. I cant tell her I have no intention of doing it. I need to be tactful but how?

I dont like 2-sided ones - have you done any?

Yes, I know the Van Gogh painting to which you are referring - and I
can imagine it would be a nightmare to do as a jigsaw! Quite a few
Van Gogh would be difficult to do too I imagine - as much as I like
him as a painter, I have never attempted (and never will attempt) to
do any of his paintings as jigsaws!

Difficult situation if you don't want to upset your friend! Unless you
are prepared to admit defeat because of eye-sight problem with
those intermingling colours........
I am seldom given any, but am rather the one giving some to a English friend who does them herself and then gives them to a charity.

I have never tried 2-sided ones - in fact I am not sure I know what
they are or how they work!

I had a quick look on the web at what is supposed to be one of The most difficult puzzles, just hundreds of smileys! My eye-sight
could not cope with that! Have you seen it?

Sorry, meant to say 'Hello Jigjag'!

and now I am going to have to wait a minute before sending this
small post!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, it is cold here, too, Rusty.
I was well wrapped up when I went out!
I have been talking to BB...he has booked himself a visit next Sunday!
It is great that he loves coming to see us.
He has been making a Christmas Wish list for Santa.......
I am running out of original ideas for presents for friends.
We try to think of something inexpensive ( we have a "set" low ceiling!) and attractive and unusual within the "budget".
It can try one's ingenuity!
Buying for family members is somewhat easier as we are all asked to proffer "suggestions"!
( I shall buy myself some more books!)

Good evening, Elle!
I give folk money at Christmas.
The young ones told me that is far and away the best way for them.
And it suits me, too. No shopping to do!
I have my own wee lists of books!
Sweden beat Scotland at the curling.
Eve looks a wee bit rusty but she is just back and Sweden are the Olympic champs, so not too bad.
Hopefully she can pick up results as the week goes on.

Hello Pigale

I looked up the Smiley one and that is a 2- sided one - very difficult and not for me. The ones I have done have the same picure on both sides but rotated through 90 degrees. I have done them with interesting pictures but the Smiley seems very hard.

I did Van Gogh's Wheatfield with Crows. That was interesting as it is my favourite painting of his. Did you see the film last year made entirely of paintings- a great concept but I did not think it told his story very well.

Actually you have given me an idea. I could wait until my friend goes on holiday, then I give the jigsaw to a Charity Shop! I will tell her I did it then had to clear it to make room for others. This might work.

Hello Jigjag,

Hey hey, great idea! and this way no one will feel upset, and some
folk will be delighted with the puzzle.

I saw a great exhibition of Van Gogh works at the Musée du Quai
d'Orsay in the late 1980s when in Paris for a family reunion. They had not been opened as a Museum for long then.

I like most of Van Goth paintings but my preference goes to his various portraits, either the self-ones or those of other people. I like
the works he has put into giving them a usually tormented
expression.

I do not think the 2-sided puzzles are for me, but I wish I could
find some new 3Ds - I have done so many, (Sagrada Familia in
Barcelona was fun to make) and I prefer the most
complicated ones - Perhaps they have new ones on offer - forgot
to look yesterday.

Anyway, the two ordered will suffice me for the present I think

Hello Elle and Rusty!

Cold here too - barely zero at present, with some North- North East
wind which increases the rather fresh feeling!

We are promised some snow on Tuesday - but whether it will happen
or not remains to be seen. Rather early for us here though.

How has your week-end been? As you can gather, mine has been
quiet, except for yesterday afternoon with all this shopping, bank,etc
with my local friends. I was very tired after all this getting in and out
of the car etc... But it had to be done, and I had to be there myself.

Talking of Christmas presents (already!) - it is all very simple for
me - no family, just my British friends and a couple of local friends
and that's it. We don't really bother much! No children around,
so it is not quite the same. In fact, it is not my favourite time of the
year, but I try not to spoil it for other people.

Ros, if you read this, I wonder how your badgers are faring? Any
sign of them, or have you found the 'miracle' solution?