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Good morning, Elle!
Beautiful weather here.
Blue sky and little wind. Fine!
Cats aren't daft, you know!
So, you are busy getting sorted out for visitors.
Canny day for me.
Wondering where I could walk to that is not sodden.
I will watch the Alpine skiing later on my television, and maybe a bit of the racing.
And I have started the Sacco and Vanzetti book.
So far, it is excellent.

Hi, Rusty!
Your weather seems to swing from one extreme to another!
I don't like this perpetually unseasonally muggy, wet weather WE are having!
Would that it be cold and dry! What I wouldn't give to go for a brisk walk instead of a muddy plodge!
Still, we mustn't grumble considering what the North of England is enduring.
I have made up the last bed that will be needed!
And I have finished the Everyman crossword all bar one clue that I cannot fully parse........
This will "niggle" me all day until I solve it!
( Is there such a thing as a "clueworm"?)
Going to take out the dog in a little while.......

Hello, Elle,
My motor was covered in frost earlier and pavements were slippy.
Better than the rain!
Poor folk in Northern England right enough.
A real nightmare!
Everyman is usually straightforward isn't it?
A year or two since I have done it though.
I have taken down my Christmas tree and cards.
A New Year is dawning!

Hi, Rusty!
It remained fine whilst we were out, although the ground was decidedly muddy!
Did you manage to fine somewhere to walk that wasn't too poggy?
You have taken down your tree and cards very early?
I have always heard that the "official" date by which decorations should be down is the "twelfth day of Christmas" - which is January 6th.
Probably superstitions vary, though, from district to district.
We always leave our tree etc up until at least after New Year's Day as we have the annual family party then............and usually until the 6th.
I believe it is said that if the decorations are not down by Jan 6th, then, in order to avoid bad luck, they should remain in situ until Shrove Tuesday?
But again that could be a local saying.
I'm all for enjoying the festivities for as long as possible!
Still stuck on the parsing for my remaining clue......

P. S. Just seen the parsing! I was over complicating matters!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I went for a good walk...and missed the skiing!
Had a wee bet on Viktoria Rebensburg to be in first three.
No idea how she got on.
I always take down tree early.
I have heard of the Jan 6th tradition, too, but I go my own way.
I have not heard of the Shrove Tuesday thing.
When or what is that?
And New Year is fast approaching!
Is your cousin still up in the Fort William area?
Why not post your clue for parsing?
I am sure someone could see the parse.

Hi, Rusty!
I'm glad you enjoyed your walk! You didn't record the skiing?
You haven't heard of Shrove Tuesday? aka Pancake Day or Mardi Gras (in English, Fat Tuesday!)
I'm sure you will have heard of "Pancake Day"?
Shrove Tuesday is the last day of feasting before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
It is a movable date (like Easter) - this coming year, 2016, it falls on February 9th.
My cousin and family will probably be home by now, I should think....she will be phoning me about 9 pm tonight for our weekly hour-long chat!
I solved my clue!
Did you not see my postscript? I don't like asking for help unless I am desperate! (or bored with it!)

Hello, Elle,
I have heard tell of Pancake Tuesday!
Remember, I am not as educated as you are!
I am at the thicker end of the spectrum!
Fat Tuesday? New to me as well.
You would not be stuck very long with your parse anyway, with AB etc knocking about.
I am wondering about the skiing?
Paddy says my bet is still "open" which suggests the event did not take place? Maybe postponed?
Did you see the slalomer nearly getting his head taken off by one of the camera drones last week? If he was a fraction of a second slower it would have hit him.
He was exceedingly fortunate.
And, he still came second!

Hello, Elle!
The race is tomorrow morning.
Eva-Maria Brem is favourite, ahead of Lara Gut, and Lindsey Vonn is racing too. Will be good!

Hi, Rusty!
You may not have completed your school education, but certainly you have more than made up for it since by self-education!
You are extremely well-read and well- informed!
I don't think there has been any skiing shown on any of the channels that we receive? - leastways I haven't noticed any.
But then, my sporting interests are very limited! (I haven't really looked!)
At least you didn't miss the race - was it postponed for some reason?
You will be able to watch it tomorrow morning.
Younger daughter has texted to say that they are all coming round at 9 am tomorrow! I shall not be back from the park by then, so have asked them to leave it till 10 o'clock.
I wonder if our grandson will bring all his trains for me to play with?!