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Hi, Rusty!
A pleasant day here now..... blue sky and sunshine.
I am glad that you and your friends managed to meet.
I hope they have a safe journey home.
You will be kept busy watching the skiing!
A pity about Mikaela......but maybe your second choice to win, Wendy, will do so?
I have been chatting to my son.....
He is coming over again on Wednesday to see us, and to check on his dad.
It will be great to see him!
I did the Everyman and the ST Cryptic crosswords this morning.
I thought I detected a similarity in styles......and have been wondering if they might be compiled by the same person?

Hello, Elle!
They should be sailing any minute now.
The crossing takes roughly two and a quarter hours.
Not heard from them since they left.
The skiing was great.
Poor Wendy, second again.
She is always knocking on the door but not quite winning.
Federica Brignone won.
Mikaela looked fine after her crash.
It's her first non-finish in two years.
She'll be back!
You will be looking forward to seeing your son.
Could well be the same setter, you know.
I think most of them set for several different newspapers.

Hi, Rusty!
I hope it is a good (calm) crossing for your friends.
They should be home in time for a take-away curry for their dinner!
Speaking of which, I quite fancy that, myself!
You say Wendy always comes second.....
There is a saying, isn't there "Always the bridesmaid..... never the bride"?
I think it means never being the first, or most important.........
She will get there one day!
Btw, my second book from " World of Books" arrived......
That, also, isn't exactly in "very good" condition, as described - more "reasonable" - but at least this one is "clean"!
There was a medical prescription left between the pages though, with ( presumably) the previous owner's details , name , address, etc on it, so the checker didn't do a very good examination of the interior of the book!
I shall chalk it all up to "experience!
I am very pleased, though, with my other books which came from different sellers.
Has your book about the "Croydon Poisoners" arrived ?

Hello, Elle!
They are landed and driving home, now.
Wendy is on the podium a lot but not often in first place.
That's why I hoped she would win today.
I would tell World of Books that your latest book is not of the standard you expect and pay for.
I have started reading the Croydon book.
It is very good indeed.
It came from "London Borough of Sutton Library Service" and is in very good nick.
I also see a "Murder, Mystery and My Family" book.
It covers five females who were hanged for murder, including Edith Thompson, who I have read quite a bit about, and who I think was innocent.
I think I will buy it.

Good evening, Rusty!
I have metaphorically - and physically in the case of the extremely dirty book ! - washed my hands of W.o.B.
I shall keep and read the book that has just arrived....it is tattyish but clean.
However, I shall have no further dealings with that particular book selling company.
I have found Bahamut Media Group; Awesome books; Infinite books; and Cotswold Library books to be very good and reliable.
Have you dealt with any of these?
I think you will enjoy the "Murder..." book...
I think you should buy it?
I am just going to phone my cousin...it is my turn!

Hello, Elle!
I have certainly got books from Awesome, and Bahamut Media rings a bell.
Not the other two, though.
I do tend to favour "known" book stores, when I am buying.
I have added "Murder...." to my "possibles" list.
I'll check later if it is on eBay.

Hi, Rusty!
All is well up in the North - west!
My cousin and I have had a good chat, talking for our usual hour.
Yes, I, too, prefer to use the same few "used books" sellers.
Generally speaking, one knows then what one will get!
I don't often go on eBay though......preferring to use up the vouchers given to me for Amazon.
Are your friends home now?
It has turned very cold here.....maybe we shall have a frosty morning tomorrow.

Hello, Elle!
Good to hear your cousin is to the fore!
I agree, I prefer "known" sellers.
I prefer eBay because the books are often cheaper there, than on Amazon, and I don't have to dodge Prime etc!
I have gift card credit on Amazon, too.
Yes, my friends are home.
Their daughter's friend was with them.
First time she had been to Scotland!
Can't beat a sunny frosty morning!

A Very Good morning to you, Rusty!
Despite the sudden drop in temperature, we have no frost!
Weak sunshine, very cold, and muddy underfoot on the grass.
A pleasant walk though....good to be out!
How is it up your way ?
I hope the "newbie" enjoyed her first visit to Scotland?
My first trip there was to the Black Isle (in my youth!) when a group of us rented a house, and went up there for a fortnight's holiday.
We drove up in three cars.... stopping off at various places en route.
I remember the fun we had......but little of the detail of our surroundings, as it was all so long ago!

Good morning, Elle!
Fine day here.
No frost, but black ice everywhere.
I was at the cemetery earlier and it was cold!
Yes, the young lady had a great time, she said.
Many years since I was at the Black Isle.
Mostly, I headed North West when I reached the Black Isle.