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Rusty, you beat me to it! I was about to post about today's cryptic crossword, especially 3 Down...

Bloomer Rumpole talked of in Albert Square? (5)

The Victoria reference and the posh gardens reference were maybe balanced out by the Cleveland reference. I am in a benevolent mood!

Hello, Elle!
Are you getting up today?
There is a Bank Holiday Jumbo in The Times today, if that would interest you?

Good morning , Rusty!
Good morning, Rusty!
It is a very disappointing outlook here, after yesterday's glorious weather!
Only about 10C so far....very cloudy......and rain forecast for later this afternoon.
I only hope we can get our second walk in before that last happens!
You have done your crossword very early today?
(Why did you decide to do it online if you find it a bit of a hassle?)
I have yet to look at mine.......I am just printing them out whilst I type this!
I think I have done Malone's clue.......
What were yours?
Remember I don't have that crossword, but like to try the clues you both talk about!



Hello, Malone!
I'm assuming we are going with Rumpole of the Bailey here? and a homophone!
and a connection to iris?
But you've lost me with Victoria and Cleveland references?

Hi again, Rusty!
I AM up - AND I've been OUT!
Our posts have just crossed!
Sorry about the previous double salutation - not sure what happened there? - I started typing - then the words disappeared, so I began again...then there they were duplicated after I'd posted!
I would love to have the Bank Holiday Jumbo but that hasn't arrived in John's daily package of screen shots!
I might just buy a paper when next I go out.......but it will be late in the day to do it by then........I am making a start on what I already have , right now!

Hello, Elle,
Fine day here!
I had a walk earlier.
The car that I reported as stolen is still there but now has "Police Aware" stickers on it. Wonder why?
There is large article on athletics/drugs/Russians in The Times sports section. That would interest you?
The other clue is
"Victoria, perhaps, dispatching love drug (6)"
The Cleveland one is very good!

Hi, Rusty!
I wonder if the police put the stickers there just to show that the situation is "ongoing" and to prevent their being bothered by any further reports?
The car will probably now be left in situ to rot!
Yes, I have done your clue! although at first I was looking for Queens rather than railways!
What "Cleveland" one?
Okay, you have convinced me to buy a paper!
If not for the Jumbo xword, the mention of Athletics, drugs and Russians has done the trick!
I am off out now to purchase it...................!

Elle, as I was posting so early today, I didn't give details of all the clues I commented on, so that I didn't say too much, too soon.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Well, I have read the article about Athletics / drugs / and Russians........
What to say?
What good is an apology so late in the day to our British Athletes who missed out on their (eventual) medals being presented at the appropriate time?
Quite probably most spectators/ followers of the sport were not even aware of the later disqualifications of many of the Russian athletes and did not know that our own/ and other / Athletes were subsequently upgraded to a higher level of medal.
I feel especially for Jenny Meadows, who has been a faithful representative of GB and has never had the acclaim that she richly deserves.
As for "Athletics will be diminished without us (the Russians) at the Olympics" - this would be applicable had the Russians never been involved in drug abuse, but isn't relevant now.
Any prowess by them might have been falsely induced.
Russians might now be cleaning up their sport, but I think there should be a lengthy penalty period before any of their athletes are allowed back into competitive athletics.

Okay, down from soap box, having a quick lunch, then going out with the dog....
and the sun is now shining!

Hello, Elle!
Sun is shining on me, too!
There should be no easy route back for drug cheats from any country. A British cyclist failed a drugs test last week
Guess what he took? Asthma medication!
Sport is riddled with cheats on asthma medication.
I like Jenny Meadows, too.
We have had Games without major countries before.
No USA at the Moscow Games for instance.
Russia in their present state are no loss!
Were the Russians at the LA Games?
Hope you enjoy your walk!

Hi, Rusty!
We had a great walk!
The sun shone throughout, although it was a little on the chilly side.
I have nearly finished the (too easy)Times B/H Jumbo GK - then shall take a look at the Times 15 x 15!
I shall look for your (and Malone's ) Cleveland clue!
Modern technology is great when it works........but so far I have had three things go wrong.....
The washing-machine wouldn't spin properly ...I seem to have "fixed" this, but don't ask me how.....
The Tassimo coffee machine isn't functioning.......I have tracked down that it needs descaling....
And yesterday my daughter spent ages trying to get rid of flashing adverts and invasive writing (looked very much like algebraic equations!) that appeared all over the screen of my Hudl!
She thought that she had solved it and removed it......the writing has indeed gone, but the ads are back today with a vengeance!
Seb could do with us on his anti-drugs committee!
We would do a grand job!