Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Elle!
It is still dry here.
Hope that continues.
I had a surprise visit from my grandson.
He goes on holiday on Thursday and thought he would call in before he left.
So, that was fine!

Hi, Rusty!
It has now stopped raining here.
I have checked the local weather forecast and we are now supposedly free of rain until midday tomorrow.
So hopefully a dry walk in the morning.
Oh, that was nice of your grandson to come to see you before his holiday.
Where is he going?
I am now reading a Bill Bryson book, "The Lost Continent".
Have you read that one?

Hello, Elle!
My grandson is visiting Spain.
I don't know which part.
Yes, I have "The Lost Continent" here, somewhere.
I like Bill!
"A Walk in the Woods" is my favourite!

Reported ( a huge chunk of spam followed Rusty's last post.)

Good morning, Rusty!
A lovely morning here...although we are supposedly having rain from 1pm.
How is it with you today?
My Bill Bryson book comprises two volumes....the second one , which I have not yet read, is entitled "Neither Here Nor There".
Yes, I, too, like "A Walk in the Woods" - it is less "rude" than some of his books?"
They are all very amusing, though!
What are you up to, today?

Good morning, Elle!
Cloudy, chilly, and windy, here!
I am home for the day.
Bill B is a funny writer.
I like him.
I have not read all his books, though.
Think he even wrote one about Shakespeare.
No plans today.

Hi, Rusty!
I got off to a good start and did a load of chores very early.......
Then I stopped for a coffee (and a chocolate muffin)...and a read of my Bill Bryson book.....
And I came across this ...
When Bill was looking for his ideal American 'small town', he pictured it thus.....(I quote)......
"In this timeless place, Bing Crosby would be the priest, Jimmy Stewart the mayor, Fred MacMurray the high school principal, Henry Fonda a Quaker farmer.
Walter Brennan would run the gas station, a boyish Mickey Rooney would deliver groceries, and somewhere in an open window, Deanna Durbin would sing."
Marvellous!
I can just picture all that, can't you?
I love it!

Hello, Elle!
I don't remember Fred MacMurray!
But, yes, I can picture it, and the Waltons would not be too far away!
Bill has a good way of crafting his stories!
Finished my puzzle.
Not quite on the same wavelength as the setter, but I got there!

Hi, Rusty!
Our rain is here.
The forecast was spot on!
(Sorry, no pun intended!)
I can place Fred MacMurray - try Googling him, you can see a picture; I am sure you will recognise him - but couldn't conjure up Walter Brennan.
I had to look him up.
I, too, have done the crossword, except for .....
13a: Girl who's got people gunning for me? (4)
?Y?A
and 20d: Coat with a small amount of white spirit? (7)
P?L?T?T
I have no ideas?
Please can you help?
Also 4d: Expect answers when buttonholing head of intelligence (5)
I have "await" = "expect " (def)
which I have parsed as
A A - answers
wit - intelligence
But if this correct, where, please, does "head" come into it?
I am about to brave the rain to take the dog out....... but will be back in a bit........

hi elle
you might remember walter brennan as the chief baddie in support your local sheriff?
my ra
pale tot - a french overcoat
i wonder if the compiler meant head of intelligence to give the i? still don't see how the rest would work, though