Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Good morning, Elle,
Cloudy but dry here.
Yes, just read a bit of my book.
Lucy Walters was only 10 when she walked hand in hand with her Dad when he was going back to the Front after leave.
She walked part way with him and he told her to go home.
She kept looking back and he stood there waving to her.
He never came home, but Lucy still had vivid memories of her last walk with her Dad when she was over 100 years old.
She said everyone lived in terror of the telegram boys.
She lived near Kidderminster and said the local paper was the Kidderminster Shuttle! Great name.
Think it had to do with the carpet industry?
Hope you enjoy lunch!

Not only that, rusty, but one main estate agent in Kidderminster is called Doolittle and Dalley!
Poor Lucy. Leaving home knowing what you were going back to is unimaginable. I can't watch anything about WW1.

Good morning, Rosalind!
That's a great name for an estate agent!
Those left at home, parents, wives, sweethearts, brothers and sisters, had an awful time, in constant fear of the telegram boy.
What an awful job to have, delivering tragic news each and every day.
When Lucy's father was killed, they received the dreaded telegram. Obviously they were distraught,
Lucy's mother did not get on with her mother-in-law and asked 10 year old Lucy to take the telegram to her granny.
Where more tragic scenes ensued.
And there would be many a "Lucy" throughout the country.
Harrowing times.

Hello, Elle,
I am watching Miss V Williams playing Miss Sakkari.
Miss Sakkari is wearing the "Nike nightie" today!

Hi, Rusty!
I had a superb lunch!
Do you remember the restaurant to which I have several times won vouchers in the draw at the vets?
The food there has always been supreme.....well, that restaurant now opens at lunch time and offers a Set lunch........so we "Ladies who Lunch" decided to go there today.
Wonderful!
I loved your story about Lucy Walters taking a last walk with her dad.
I would be wiping my eyes throughout reading that book!
(Do you have a surreptitious 'sniffle' now and then?)
I am now trying to sort out the tennis and see whether I have missed anything of especial note?
Andy Murray has obviously only recently come out onto Centre Court...which means that Jo Konta will not have played yet?
I think she is scheduled to play after him?
I have yet to see the (in)famous " nightie"!

Hello, Elle!
Glad you enjoyed your lunch out!
Ninety years after Lucy's walk with Dad, she said she could still rememember the feel of the rough khaki cloth her Dad wore as he gave her a last hug and her little hand holding his big hand.
Oh, yes, I find the stories heartbreaking and a wee tear is never far away!
I watched the "Voices 16; Somme" programme today about the Ulster Division and the Irish Division on the Somme.
It was excellent.
I have now seen three ladies wearing the "Nike Nightie"!
I think Miss Safarova is due on court soon, so I shall see if she is wearing it today!

Hi, Rusty!
There are The Vigils being held for the Centenary of the Somme being televised this evening - and also the early morning programmes tomorrow.
A solemn and memorable occasion.
I have just found out that, due to the bad weather and the back log of matches, it has been decided that during the first round of the Men's Doubles, the matches will consist of only three sets, instead of the usual five.
This is to save time.
I cannot see it being a popular move amongst the players?
The Jo Konta match against Ms. Bouchard has just started .
Fingers crossed for Jo...
Is the dress that Ms. Bouchard is wearing the "nightie" ?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, Miss Bouchard is wearing the "Nike Nightie"!
It must have caught your eye, too?
The man in the studio with Shirley Williams, Richard van Emden, is the author of these new books of mine. Fancy that!
Yes, I am watching The Vigil, and will be ready in the morning for the Commemorations at 7.00 a.m.
I have not heard that about the men's doubles.
I still have not seen Miss Hingis!

Hi, Rusty!
I had been listening to Shirley Williams talking to Richard van Emden but had not realised that he was the author of your new books.
If you had told me his name, then I had forgotten it.
What a strange coincidence!
It will be quite something tomorrow to see the all the children - both British and French - laying flowers on the gravestones of the soldiers who died for their countries.
It is good to see them still being remembered and honoured.
(No, I didn't think much of the Nike nightie)
Time for a coffee and a shortcake biscuit......and I still have one crossword to do......I had forgotten it!

Good evening, Elle,
Yes, I told you about Richard van Emden in post 7948, on the 22nd?.
I bought 3 of his books, and he has written more.
He looks much younger than I imagined.
And Shirley Williams was looking well.
I am looking forward to tomorrow's prog starting at 7.
Wondering if there will be any "Remembrances" in The Times?
I agree with you about the Nike nightie!
I think Miss Safarova won but did not see it.
Had a visitor.