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Good evening, Rusty!
It has been a lovely afternoon!
The sunshine held out, but it feels to be growing colder.
Not that the dog cares...she will go out in all weathers barring a thunderstorm!
I hope your son managed to come round?
I think we are having family visiting us on Sunday.
I am a tad behind... I must go and organise dinner!

Good evening, Elle!
It is cold here, too.
My son was here for quite a time in the afternoon.
No Pine Cone this weekend.
Miss L-B is working and Miss O is in Crieff.
So, left to my own devices!

Hi, Rusty!
You will miss seeing the girls!
But at least you did get over to the Pine Cone twice last weekend!
I have tried to finish the remainder of the crossword...
Only two clues left to do....please can you help me?
12a: Soothing stuff from peace-keepers following confrontation on pitch (8)
?F?E?SUN
I thought "UN" for "peace-keepers"? but couldn't see anything else?
5d: Coastal regions provided one with cover when lifting felon (7,3)
P?C???C / ?I?
Is the first word "pacific"?
And how about the definition for 4d: Mature, upwardly mobile daughter, dated brother (4)
I have "egad"
age (reversed) - mature
d - daughter
I cannot see a definition?
"Egad" is an exclamation expressing surprise, anger, or affirmation.
What does "dated brother" have to do with it?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I shall miss the young ones!
12a, is something called "aftersun" which I have not came across before. "Afters" can be a bit of a skirmish on a playing field, I suppose.
5d, I have "Pacific Rim"
"crim" is slang for "felon", "cover" is "cap".
I have "egad", too.
I am sure the definition is "brother".
I think it is an American expression of surprise, not unlike "egad".
No idea about "dated" unless the setter is indicating that it an old expression?

Update, Elle!
Just checked Chambers and they have "aftersun" as a lotion applied to damaged skin after sunbathing.

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, thank you!
Yes, I can see "Pacific Rim" now that you have pointed the components out to me!
I do not understand "afters" - how is this a skirmish on a playing field?
( I do not remember any "afters" on the lacrosse field!)
I have never heard the term, other than its meaning "dessert" to be eaten after one's main course!
I did not know that "egad" means "brother"?
You are probably right about "dated" implying it is an old expression...that would make sense, wouldn't it?
Well, I have learned something new today!

Hello, Elle!
"Afters"! This is my take on it!
If you can imagine a rough tackle on a football field immediately followed by the two players having a go verbally or physically at each other, then that can be referred to as "afters".
Is that any help? I wonder what Chambers has to say about it?
Now "egad" does not mean "brother", but they are both expressions of "surprise", as is "holy smoke", for instance.

Update, Elle!
Here's your afters!
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/afters

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I do see what you are saying, but I still cannot understand why it should be called "afters"....... other than it is taking place "after" something that happened "before"?
Chambers simply agrees with me...that "afters" is a course following the main meal.
I suspect this will remain one of life 's little mysteries!
Oh, I am with you about "egad"...... an equivalent of "Jumping Jehosaphat"!
Now, totally irrelevantly, but simply conjured up by the word "brother", do you remember a comedy programme ages called "Oh Brother!", where Derek Nimmo played a bungling monk?
It was very funny!

Oops, Rusty!
Our posts crossed !
Your update wasn't there when I started typing my previous post.
Thank you for that explanation.
Funnily enough, I do often use the Collins Online dictionary, but didn't check it this time, using Chambers instead.
Unless I missed it (always possible) I didn't find it in Chambers?