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Hello, Elle!
I have very vaguely heard of Benfleet.
Sounds like one of our mountains!
I hope your husband's consultation is satisfactory.
I am trying to make a plan to go out with La Bamba tomorrow.
But my oldest son is coming in the morning to possibly do a couple of jobs for me, and with LB's Uni classes etc, I am not sure when!
But she is very keen, so something will be worked out!
I have just finished the puzzle and I think it is the best for a good while.
Some cracking clues to get you thinking!
So, well done to our setter!

Hello, Rosalind!
My EE signal is quite good, but my neighbours say O2 is not.
My son is with "3" (what a silly name for a phone company!) and sings their praises.
He much prefers them to O2, who he was with for several years.

Hi rusty

I think you have to go with the best deal you can get on the best reception. My friends on EE or O2 have to go into the garden to get anywhere, and I live on top of a hill!
I have to be with Vodafone which I don't like but have good reception everywhere.
Very misty here

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I am now home again for the rest of the day!
My friend and I had a very enjoyable lunch, coming back here afterwards just to load up her car with all my books , which she will deliver for the church fund!
She has now set off on her drive back to Essex.
My husband's telephone consultation was a no -show.... the doctor did not ring.
I have since spoken to the receptionist, and rescheduled the call for Monday.
Let us hope that will be more successful an arrangement.
I did some of the crossword before going out....I am finding it difficult?
Remember that you are far better at cryptic clues than am I..... this is somewhat over my head!
Hopefully, you and Miss L-B will work out a schedule for tomorrow!

Good afternoon, Elle!
Well done on the books!
Maybe your doctor was very busy?
Though it is not good to leave patients wondering what is going on.
It is a tricky puzzle but a very good one, I thought.
Best one I have done in quite a while.
Miss L-B and me will hopefully sort something out tomorrow, I'm sure.

Hi, Rusty!
Well, I returned to my puzzle to see if absence had made the heart grow fonder...... but it and I are never going to hit it off!
I have done my best...indeed I am quite pleased by my efforts, but there are still nine clues remaining unsolved .....
I especially like 22a : Abednego; 3d: Tsunamis ; and 22d: aphid.
I got the homophone in 21d ...for once, I could not quibble about the pronunciation ......"O'Neill" does sound like "oh, kneel", surely, in anyone's book!
I am annoyed by the surgery incident.
A receptionist phoned first, asking my husband to book a phone consultation with the doctor - the date (today) and the time given was at her instigation.
As such, it should have been adhered to.......
Or at the very least, there should have been a phone call offering an explanation for the failure to follow through.
Now my husband has to wait to see what Monday brings.....
As you said, it is not good to leave patients worrying as to what is going on......
Will your son be coming to visit, as it is Thursday?

Hello, Elle!
Ah! I thought you would like the puzzle.
I thought it was great!
Your surgery does not look very competent with today's goings-on!
A word to the practice manager would be an idea, to get their act together for the future.
I had blood tests a month ago when I was leaving neurology.
When I phoned my surgery for the results the receptionist told me they were "reassuringly normal" (the consultant's phrase)
That was good to hear!

Hi, Rusty!
We have all been hoping that being "under new management" as it were, the practice would improve.....
We have three new doctors, two additional nurses , and an extra practice manager .....but regrettably the same inefficient, rather ill-mannered receptionists.
I think this is where the problems are originating.....
And unfortunately, the receptionist is the first face that the public (the patient) sees.....
I understand that there have now been a number of official complaints , so we shall hope that, given time for the "new brooms to sweep clean", the situation will improve?
It can hardly be worse.....
Yes, you do well at your own surgery.. that is good to know!

Hello, Elle!
My surgery has very pleasant, friendly, receptionists.
That's the way it should be.
A pity yours have ill manners.
The practice manager should sort that out.
My son has gone home.
We had a nice time.
Watched the curling.
Scotland men are into the final and will play Sweden.

Hi, Rusty!
It is good that you and your son had a nice time chatting, and watching the curling.
Re the GP practice.... the new practice manager is supposed to be calling a committee meeting some time soon....maybe something more positive, and patient friendly, will result from that?
I have just had a text from my daughter .......she wasn't able to phone on the way home - she didn't say why?.....and so texted instead.
She says she has done all her Christmas shopping in bargains from Black Friday!
I wish I were so well organised.
And this year , I haven't bought anything at all in a Black Friday Sale......
I might check out the books online and see if there are any bargains there...
( I cannot end up with empty shelving, now can I?)