Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Elle!
I am sure you will work out a solution to your tree problem.
There are probably loads of folk across the country with similar problems.
I am recording SPOTY.
Will watch it tomorrow.

Hi, Rusty!
I have been talking to my cousin for the past hour...she was late in phoning today!
They have had some snow!
I didn't watch SPOTY in the end....
I spent the earlier part of the evening , lying on the floor, wrapping bubble wrap around the lower part of the Christmas tree trunk!
Grrh! I am done with Christmas trees!
Coffee...strong...that is what I am needing!



Hello, Ros!
You read my mind! When I read your last post , I had already enveloped the lower part of the trunk in bubble wrap!
It isn't going to be sufficient.....but the principle can be worked upon!
Some time!
Right now, I am banishing the tree to an used room - I have had enough!

Hello, Elle!
There are flurries of snow here, but not lying, so far.
Are you winning with your tree?
Spoty 1, 2, 3, is,
1, Stokes,
2, Hamilton,
3, Dina.
And there we have it!
I'll watch it tomorrow.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear, I am sorry about your snow!
It looks pretty initially, but can be treacherous once it lies and freezes over.
Hopefully it will not stick.....
We shall not speak any more of Christmas trees.......nor of black cats that are causing all this hoo-ha!
Mind you, I wouldn't be without my cat.
And yes, I am onto a winning theory...now it has to be put into practice.....
Perhaps next year!
Disappointing news about the Sports Person of the Year ward....albeit not surprising.

Hello, Elle!
Ach, the snow is not lying, we'll be fine!
Sounds like you need some wadding packed tight around the base of your tree and then clamped firmly?
Get your thinking cap on!
I suppose Ben Stokes must be popular or he would not have won the votes.
It is incredible that someone as talented and successful as KJT can not get in the first three in a six contestant field, though.

Hi, Rusty!
Did you discover when and how Eliud Kipchoge was chosen to be the World SPOTY?
Or who the other candidates were?
That would be interesting to know.
Tomorrow, I am hoping to do more of my Christmas present buying.......hopefully, I can then tick off most of what is left on my "To do" list!
You definitely have the right idea in giving money...much less hassle!
I shall work on installing this idea into the minds of the more senior members of my family....but the little ones will still expect gifts of toys.
They are not yet old enough to appreciate money, or gift vouchers.
I can well remember, as a child, the joy of receiving a book voucher, and the excitement of going to choose .....
(I still feel like that!)
How about you?
Did you like going to the bookshop to "spend" your voucher?

Good morning, Elle!
Looks dry outside and 2C .
I don't know when Kipchoge was chosen, but I know how.
It was an online vote on BBC Website.
There were six candidates,
There was a cricketer and a rugby player whose names I forget, and Simone Biles, the American gymnast, Tiger Woods, the golfer, and Megan Rapinoe, the American footballer.
Simone Biles is superb!
I would have voted for her had I known about it.
Money is far easier for presents, Elle!
I have done this for years, much less hassle.
I never got a book voucher, Elle.
New Year was the big thing here when I was small, not Christmas.
Changed days now, though!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is dull and still damp here from the earlier rain.
A very muddy dog this morning!
Now however were people to know that there was online voting for the World SPOTY?
I never came across any reference to it?
As Eliud Kipchoge and Tiger Woods were the only ones whom I knew, I would have voted for Kipchoge.
I gather there was a row over the British award?
I read in the online News that Gary Lineker called Ben Stokes the "main award winner", even before all the contenders had been introduced......and an hour before Stokes was crowned winner!
Seemingly, Lineker denied allegations that the voting was "fixed".... and apologised for his gaffe.
Did you see any of that on your recording?

Hello, Elle!
I am not long home.
Was out buying flowers for cemetery run tomorrow.
All set now.
Quite a bit of black ice about.
I suppose regular visitors to BBC Sport website would see the International SPOTY voting bit.
I visit there, but I don't remember seeing anything about it.
Have you never seen Simone Biles?
Best gymnast I have ever seen.
Currently has 4 Olympic golds and 19 World Championship titles.
She's only 4ft 8 ins, too.
I have not watched the SPOTY show, but I was a bit surprised to see Stokes at such very short odds with Paddy P.
As if it was a foregone conclusion.
Maybe Paddy knew something we did not?

Hi, Rusty!
I too have another visit to the Crematorium to fit in before Christmas.
We always take a holly wreath to lay on the stone.
We do so on the 21st to coincide with the date of my father's death...so, just glancing at the calendar, that will be on Saturday.
No, I have never watched Simone Biles perform...I rarely follow the gymnastics.
This British SPOTY award does indeed sound dodgy.
Gary Lineker was apparently very quick to say it was HIS mistake....but hey, why ever would he think to say something like without provocation?
Very dicey........
Right...I am now going 'present' shopping ...reluctantly, but of necessity!
I shall hope to be home before the cows!