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Good morning, Elle!
Quite a nice day here!
Frankie sang a lot of cowboy songs, too, including "Rawhide" for the Western series.
The "Kid" was hoping to earn enough money in the ring to buy, Bess, his sweetheart, a bungalow and settle down...but it was not to be.
My only plan today is to have a walk around the building sites to see how they are coming along, and maybe a chat.
I have done my puzzle, hardish today, and there is a dreadful homothingy at 22 down.
I get a Tweet every day from the OED, with their "word of the day".
Today's word is "magirist" (a cookery expert).
New to me!

Hi, Rusty!
I hadn't realised - or maybe just not remembered - that it was Frankie Laine who urged us to "keep them dogies rolling".......
I am struggling with today 's crossword!
I suppose it was too much to ask for three puzzles on the trot that I could manage to do!
So far I have found three homophones
1a: Offa - offer
8d: rues - ruse
22d: fia sounds like fear.
The only one of those that sounds to me like a similar pairing is "rues - ruse"
The other two are diabolical!
But I fear that today's puzzle will prove too hard for me....I have an awful lot of gaps.
"Magirist" is a new word for me, too!
But then, I am no cookery expert!

Hello, Elle!
Apologies!
I forgot to mention "Offa"! It is dire, too.
Remember that today is Wednesday.
The Times has said the toughest puzzle is on a Wednesday.
I think you will get there, but best leave it aside for a while.
I think "magirist" comes from a Greek word for butcher or cook, if I remember the Tweet correctly.
I am taking an interest in the skiing just now, before heading out.

Hi, Rusty!
I have done all that I can of today's puzzle...I am left with seven unsolved clues.
I have put it to one side ...in the hope that (just maybe) inspiration will strike later!
I am about to go for a walk …...the dog is keen to be off.....
And "the sun has got his hat on ......"
Talk later!

Hello, Elle!
Best plan, take a break from your puzzle!
It can make a good difference when you come back to it.
It's a fine afternoon here.
I had another walk to the building sites.
Amazing diggers they have!
I am off to "magirist" my tea, now!

Hello Elle and Rusty!

The sun has got his hat on here too..... finally!
Due to remain with us with very nice temperatures for quite a while,
or so the Met Office is promising us.

Had a nice walk down town, and going to what I call the "Star Trek"
medical cabinet! It will be nice as it is only a 10mns walk from home,
in the other direction from Town - so all flat.
Then Friday is Market day, and unfortunately I also have a funeral
to attend - one of my neighbours, a suicide job so not so nice.

I knew him well - he helped my dad with the garden after work and week-ends - He was only 62, I know why he committed this desperate act and I can understand. His wife left him some 3 years ago after being married for 20 odd years and he never recovered from this - understandably.

It is a religious funeral, so I am pleased to see that the Church has
become more lenient towards deaths by suicide. They used to
refuse a religious funeral in such case before - not that long ago
really. Now, it is a more human attitude I think.

On a brighter subject, I hope you both had a nice day and
Thank You Elle for sending the sun - I did take its time to cross the
Channel, but finally arrived!

Hi, Rusty!
It was beautiful out in the park.... and very much milder this afternoon.
I think the temperature must have hit double figures.
We have just a few Egyptian geese in the park (compared with far more Canada geese)
A pair of these were seen on the lake with eight babies on Sunday.
Sadly, though, mum and dad are gradually losing the little ones.....
This morning the Egyptian goose was down to six babies.....but only five tiny goslings were left by this afternoon!
The goslings are most probably being snatched by one of the herons, altho' there are also some very predatory seagulls around early in the mornings.
I saw a heron taking a very tiny duckling last year, and the poor little mite was still crying, as the heron bore it across the sky.
Mother duck just sat in the water and watched.
What have you had for your tea?



Hello, Pigale!
I am glad the sun finally reached you ......wearing his hat!
And that the weather is also feeling somewhat warmer.
You are obviously improving, as you can now walk into town!
That is good to hear!
I am sorry about your friend.
He must have been feeling very desperate to take such drastic action as ending his life. Poor man.

Hello, Pigale!
Glad to hear you have better weather now.
Elle must have worked her magic!
Nice weather here, too, quite mild, in fact.
It's good you are getting out for a walk.
That is awful news about your neighbour's death.
Poor man must have been in torment.
What goes on in the human mind can be very difficult to understand.
I am pleased the Church has adopted a more humane approach to these tragedies.
Much better for everyone.
Do you have someone to accompany you to the funeral?
Company is very helpful on these occasions.

Hello, Elle!
Very mild here, too.
Must be about 8C this afternoon.
Fine for walking!
I'm afraid that is Nature in the raw you are witnessing.
The birds have large broods but many will not survive.
I do not like gulls.
I had a mackerel, baked beans and boiled tatties for tea.
And it was very nice!
Have you had another peek at your crossword puzzle?

Hello Rusty!

I will go to the funeral alone, but will probably know many of the people attending it. He was of a well known family, a truly 'local'
family for generations in fact, so I believe there will be a lot
of other local people attending the funeral.

Re the temps, yes, it is becoming milder here too, except at nights
when the thermometre still goes as low as minus 1C or 2C - but
it's a small price to pay for a brilliant sunny mildish day!
Glad you are enjoying it too. Spring seems to be in the air doesn't it?