Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Elle!
Yes, my grandson is very excited.
Good to see the young ones getting on.
The Bonfest is an annual music festival at Kirriemuir, named after Bon Scott, who was lead singer with rock band AC/DC.
Bon grew up in Kirriemuir.
Seemingly there were around fifty bands playing over the weekend.
Here's a little bit about Bon.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-36162037
Here's hoping Laddie and Lassie cope with the intruders.
On a positive note, it's good to hear that there are more and more ospreys coming to try and establish (or steal) nests here!

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you for the article.
I knew nothing about the rock band AC/DC other than its name!
I did not know of the lead singer, nor of his death.
It is great tribute to him to have a statue...and to hold a music festival in Kirriemuir each year.
Well done to all concerned.
Now.....I hadn't looked on the osprey "invasion" in such a positive light!
My sympathies were entirely with Lassie and Laddie, and their need to protect their territory and their eggs.
But of course you are right ...looking at the larger picture, it is a positive step that there are more ospreys around in the area, trying in their turn to find nests to start their own "families"
Let us just hope though, that these newcomers leave Lassie and Laddie alone, and in turn build their own nests!
( I hope PH1 will be okay? I wonder will we hear more of him?)

Hello, Elle!
I'm the same, never heard of Bon Scott until they started up the Bonfest.
I can't stand these rock bands.
Anyway, Kirriemuir now has Bon's statue to go along with Peter Pan's!
I think Laddie and Lassie will be okay.
Blue PH1 has gone, but he is tagged, so he should be identified if he turns up somewhere.
The nest at Loch Garten is still empty, so why are no ospreys attempting to nest there?
When EJ and Odin were there, they had to chase off intruders, but no birds this year.
Seems odd to me!

Good morning, Rusty!
A glorious morning...blue sky, sunshine...... and warmer.
I am just back from my dog walk, but will have to go out again very shortly to take the cat to the vet.
He unfortunately seems quite poorly.
I have an appointment in forty minutes.
I do hope this is not a recurrence of his previous liver problem.
You may remember how ill he was with that?
Fingers crossed he will be okay.

Hello, Elle!
Fine day here, but on the cool side.
Hope your cat is OK.
I am running a bit late today.
Had to wait in for my gas engineer to do annual service.
Just heading out for my paper now.
So...."step we gaily....!"

Hi, Rusty!
".......on we go, heel for heel, toe for toe......."
Yes, you were indeed late in going for your paper this morning!
But good to have had your central heating boiler serviced - that is one thing to tick off your list!
I think our annual check is due sometime soon.
The cat has been hospitalised.
He is running a high temperature, not eating or drinking, and crying when moved.
He is going on a drip to rehydrate him, and having a series of blood tests done.
He may need antibiotics should he prove to have an infection.
The main concern is whether this is a flare up of the liver problem.
He is having Biochemistry and Haematology profiles done, so we shall know more later.
The vet will phone us when she has the results.
I am on tenterhooks every time the phone rings.....
I think a coffee is called for........

Hello, Elle!
Let's hope for a good outcome for your cat.
The waiting and 'phone ringing will be stressful.
I can understand that.
It is a nice day here, slightly warmer than yesterday.
Be nice if it continues!

Hi, Rusty!
No word from the vet as yet.
Unfortunately our "own" vet is away on a month's holiday, so we saw another member of the practice.
I thought she seemed very nice and I am sure she is very competent ....but it just isn't the same.....
I am worried...I suppose "no news is good news"?
Taking the bloods (from a reluctant cat) and setting up the drip.......and then doing all the tests will obviously take a lot of time....
But I wish I had an update.
Right...manfully changing the subject......
I thought the crossword quite a nice one today?
In 1a: "oof" for "money" had me consulting Anne B!
That was a new one to me!

Hello, Elle!
You'll have to maintain your patience until you get some news.
Never heard of "oof", too!
And the parse for 2d escapes me.
I liked 4d, and 22d.
I agree, a good puzzle, today, Elle!

Hi, Rusty!
The phone just rang...... but it was my daughter.....
If I haven't heard anything from the vet by 5 o'clock, I shall phone the surgery.....
Now......2d....
Can "outstanding" mean the same as "outsize"?
I reluctantly decided that this must be the case ( in the setter's view at least?) and went for the parsing as:
osier = basket maker (def)
OS - outstanding
IR - Irish
E - point
What do you reckon?