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Hi, Rusty!
Ah yes, I've done it properly now.
Sorry, it was my fault...I couldn't find page 12!
Well, it certainly would seem to be Laddie?
I've also looked at the photo of the winning jockey, and Willie and his mum.
How immeasurably happy, and justifiably proud they all look!

Hello, Elle!
That's not a great site to find your way about.
It certainly appears to be Laddie and it looks like he is one of the first arrivals back in the UK this year.
Last away, first to return!
The jockey, Paul Townend, has been with Willie since he left school, and is a vital cog in the running of the stables.
It will be him or Rachael who will be crowned Irish Champion Jockey this year.
Willie looks very dapper, I thought!
His father stood there with the Gold Cup in 1986!
And the result of the Prestbury Cup competition is a draw.
Great Britain 14 winners, Ireland 14 winners!

Hi, Rusty!
I think, and hope, that it is indeed Laddie!
Let us trust that Lassie will be hard on his heels......
A draw for the Prestbury Cup seems a great way to end the competition?
With Honours even!
Are you going to the Pine Cone tomorrow morning?
Unless, of course, the snow arrives.....
I really hope, strong winds permitting, to get to the Crematorium with my rose tree.
It is raining again here, now.

Hello, Elle!
It looks like Laddie, so we may get confirmation from the rangers shortly.
Yes, perfect result for the Prestbury Cup. Roll on next year!
No, no Pine Cone tomorrow. Possibly Sunday, depending on what the roads are like.
It is overnight they say the snow is coming.
My friends are driving back to Cairnryan tomorrow to get the ferry home.
So, I hope the snow is not a problem for them.
It's a long drive.

Good Morning, Rusty!
We have another very windy day here...and some rain showers …....though not according to the BBC online forecast!
However, we were out in it!
And are just arrived home..,,,.battered, and a tad wet!
There are no major plans for today... just take it as it comes.
I have a few household tasks to do...and some letters to write .
Did your expected snow arrive?

Good morning, Elle!
Yes, the snow came as forecast, earlier today.
It is sleeting now, though, and meant to turn to heavy snow in the afternoon.
Are you to get snow?
I was out earlier but I think I am home for the day now.
I have finished the puzzle.
Found it a good deal less difficult than I hoped for!
I've been watching the first run of the slalom skiing.
Wendy Holdener leading from Mikaela Shiffrin.
The second run is a bit later.

Hi, Rusty!
I do not think that I shall go out again today, either.... the wind is very fierce , although the rain soon ceased.
I do not think that we are expecting snow?
But the weather forecast has not been very reliable recently, so who knows?
Yes, I thought the crossword today was fairly easy, but then Saturday's puzzle usually is.
There is only one that I cannot parse?
"Fellini" in 11a?
The definition is "director", but I cannot see the rest?
Maybe a strong coffee will help aid my brain cells.....
What time do your friends sail?

Hello, Elle!
Still snowing here. Not a very nice day!
The road to Loch of the Lowes is closed due to snow.
They have "tweeted" that earlier, and said Laddie has caught himself a nice fish this morning!
I am in the same boat with Fellini!
Could "fe" be an abbreviation of "further education"?
With "in" and "ill"/damaging reversed?
That's my stab at it.
Took me a while to see the parse at 26d, too, then it jumped out at me!
My friends are heading to Cairnryan now.
Boat sails at 3.30.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh, so it is definitely Laddie then, who was sighted in the nest?
I tried looking at the webcam earlier, but the nest was empty..... and I couldn't find an updated blog?
That is good to hear!
So come on, Lassie.....
Yes, I feel sure you are correct with your parsing of "Fellini"......it sounds good.
FE for Further Education ( and HE for Higher ) .....well spotted.
It took me a while to see a parliament of owls!
I did know it...I just wasn't on the right wavelength...my mind was focusing on (human) MPS!

Hello, Elle,
The Loch folk announced the arrival on Twitter (on FaceBook too, probably, but I don't have FaceBook) and they say it is LM12 (Laddie).
They say he has been doing a bit of housekeeping!
I think he likes to move sticks about!
I am fairly happy with the Fellini parse.
Chambers has "FE" = "further education", so it all seems to fit.
The other one I meant to say, was 13a.
"Often", first letters of "Ottoman fort" and "half seen".
I am thinking "ten"ded?
Could "seen" be "tended", d'you think?
Mikaela Shiffrin has won the slalom.
Poor Wendy Holdener second again!