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Elle, I remember now!
You and the young man, and the concert, like Froggie going a-courting!
Life can be full of surprises!
I know Lowestoft is on the coast, but would not know it is in Suffolk. I associate Suffolk with Newmarket.
Why Portland "Bill", Elle?
I have heard of it before.
Is bill a headland or something?
Yes, it is good to see the dolphins.
The Tay ones are related to a family in the Moray Firth, apparently.
And, one of our ospreys has returned from Africa.
Lassie, she is called.
I know, that's a dog's name!
Her nest is in the Dunkeld area.
Her mate has not turned up yet.

Good morning, Rusty!
A fine day at the moment, but I believe we are forecast rain from lunchtime.
Very mild though.
Portland Bill is on the Isle of Portland, south of Weymouth in Dorset.
I hope! (as you know, Geography is not one of my strong subjects!)
A "bill" is a jutting promontory, according to Chambers! but yes, it is a headland and there is a lighthouse there.
It is a very good viewing point, especially for dolphins.
Are these the same ospreys threatened by eviction at the time of the "party in the park"?
So how do you know that this one is "Lassie" - is she tagged?
(It is almost as bad calling a bird by a dog's name, as one of my friends calling her cat "Fido"!)
I shall take a look at the GK crossword now, and take the dog out in a couple of hours....must be back though for 1pm for the Athletics programmes.
Have you been out for your paper? ( via the scenic route?)

Rusty, here's a clue - from the Times Jumbo Cryptic - to gladden your heart...

36 A. Native American consuming soft thin pancake (5)

PS. It's a very easy clue, but I'm passing it on because of the terminology!

Hi, Malone!
Goodness me, I've actually managed that one!
(maybe it's because I like eating them!)

Hi everyone,

Me too Elle, probably for the same reason !

Good moirning, Elle!
It is fell dreich here.
No, this is a different osprey.
Lassie took over Lady's nest when Lady did not return from Africa.
Lady had returned to her nest for around 25 years.
She had raised in excess of 50 chicks at Loch o' the Lowes, and was a very old Lady indeed.
Lassie's mate is, appropriately enough, called Laddie.
He is not back yet.
I think they are all identified in some way.
When they leave for Africa they are tracked down through England, South through Europe, and on to Africa.
There are webcams set up at some nesting sites.
There are ospreys in Northern England, now, I understand, so it is a great success story!

Malone, that is a good clue!
Not before time that The Times got their definitions right!

Glad we all enjoyed the early morning crepe!

Rusty, there was another clue, in the same crossword, for you...

8 D. Rising river engulfing companion's sailing vessel (5).

Yep, Malone, my local river!
That's a good one!

Hi, Rusty!
I was browsing the web looking up Indian versus Native American after Malone's earlier clue, and came across this......
"The Cree Indians are a vast tribe of Native Americans......."
Hedging their bets?????
It is interesting about the ospreys - I wonder if the tagging system works similar to that for the swans?
I expect Doglet would know...she is well up on swans and that sort of thing....... (remember the Swan Upping?).......maybe she will read this and tell us.
I am off now so that I am back in time for the Athletics.......dare I mention that the programme featuring Seb Coe and the anti- drug measures is immediately before the Half Marathon?
Yes, I do know what you think about his lordship! (and the BBC!) but I thought if you watched the programme we could discuss it?
Just a thought.......
Talk later........


Malone, yes, I got that one , too!
but probably only because Rusty said it was his local river!

Hi, Rusty,
Not sure if you are about?
Did you watch the Half Marathon?
What an event!
The women's race went more or less as expected, without too much excitement........ but the men's race was quite another matter!
Did you see Kamcromor - one of the Kenyans - fall at the very beginning?
Quite a nasty hard fall - you should have seen the severe abrasions on his knees!
However he ran as he did afterwards, I really do not know!
It was a hard fought race between two of the Kenyans, with Kamcromor winning despite his mishap.
Mo Farah fought very hard indeed - apparently running faster than usual - to come third and take the Bronze medal.
And the weather conditions...whew!
The women' s race was reasonable, as it wasn't raining then, but the men had to contend with a torrential downpour, and with severe winds nearly blowing them over whenever they came to a road intersection!