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Good morning, Rusty!
I managed my walk while it was still fine......but it was raining quite steadily by the time I went out again to vote.
The rain supposedly is now here for the day!
I think maybe you should consult your dentist as soon as possible about your tooth/crown?
I would have thought that if you do not wish to have the crown reinstated , then you might need to have the remnant of tooth removed?
In case possible further breakage /exposure results in infection?
But I may be talking utter rubbish!
Best see what your dentist has to say?
You don't want to end up with toothache over Christmas!
I shall take a quick look at today's puzzle whilst I have a coffee...…




Hello, Ros!
If the reason you have to show the driver valid ID is because you are receiving a sharp implement, then is this not a good security measure?
Presumably they are just checking that 'you are who you say you are', and are not just planning to go out and stab someone with the said scissors?!
It sound quite a responsible action?
( Just don't spend the interim hours awaiting the driver, grinding your teeth...and sharpening your nail file...…)

Hello, Elle!
It has became cloudy here, but still dry!
I'll maybe speak to the dental surgery on Monday.
I think, perhaps, the tooth root has been removed, but it is a good while since the crown was first done, and I can't remember.
I have done the puzzle, but one or two parses to sort out yet.

Hi, Rusty!
I have almost finished my puzzle........just three clues still to solve.
I think I have correctly parsed those that I have already done.
I cannot do 14a: Recent discovery of chap's piano piece netting two grand (5,8 )
H?G?S / ?A?T???E
7d: Article on musical cat pronounced heavenly (9)
A?G?I???L
and 17d: Most determined to make uniform then relax (7)
D?U?E?T
I have learned three new words....sestina; spandrel; and tactual.
I did not know that "Matins" could also be spelt with a double "t"....but Chambers assures me that it can.
My favourites are 1a: Jeremiad; and 1d; just so.
I thought it an enjoyable puzzle today....it appealed to me!

Update, Rusty!
I have just realised the time.
Got to go to the PPG meeting......
I should be home again about teatime.

Hello, Elle,
14 is "Higg's Particle".
I have heard of Higg's Boson.
Hi GG s p article.
7d I have "angelical", but I have not got a parse yet!
17 is "dourest", most determined.
Make is "do", uniform is "u", relax is rest.
I think uniform should be capitalised as in the NATO alphabet.
Mattins is a new spell to me, too.
Some excellent clues today.
Why did Jeremy Fisher jump into my head?
Do you know of him?

Jeremy Fisher is a frog in a book by Beatrix Potter, but maybe you are asking elle if she knows him.
I have the complete set of BP books, almost unopened.

Hello, Rosalind,
Thank you for that.
I read the clue and I already had the "J" and somehow Jeremy Fisher came into my head.
I recognised the name but have not read the book.

Stephen Jay Gould was much taken by spandrels, and used them for an idea in evolutionary theory. See this article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spandrels_of_San_Marco_and_the_Panglossian_Paradigm

Hi, Rusty!
Phew! I am only just home again.
Our earlier posts crossed! Did you realise?
I was just telling you that I had to go out, as you were very kindly sending solutions to the crossword clues
I know of Higg's Particle in Particle Physics but didn't 'see' this in the clue!
Thank you for the explanation.
I would not have thought that "dour" meant "determined", but you and Anne B think so..... so that is good enough for me.
Jeremy Fisher is a small frog in Beatrix Potter's books.
It was a long PPG meeting - over two hours - and no cakes this time!
We has quite a number of items on the agenda, to discuss, before we even reached the future of the practice.
Doors have opened slightly, in that respect, for discussion between the upper echelons....
It is very early days in negotiation.
But fingers crossed for a more positive outcome.
I now need to find something for us to eat......

Hello, Elle!
The "particle" was new to me, whatever is it!
Chambers has dour=determined, too.
You have appeared to have made a bit of progress regarding the surgery's future.
I have had my tea.
Mackerel and tatties!