NPR

Thanks and good morning, Globus. A bright fall afternoon on the outskirts of Osaka.

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22A

Good morning (from the UK) FK. Coming up to 4.00pm your way. The Management and I were hoping to go to Japan but this bug has mucked everything up. We were going to visit en route to NZ and meet a long standing PR friend in NZ before coming back via California and friends in Naples, Florida.

I wish you and your family well. Be nice to get in mail contact some time.

I don't speak Japanese but can get by in a bit of Mandarin. More fluent in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Greek. I can do a bit of Latin but no centurians to chat to these days!

If you ever had thoughts about a visit here, I can organise things. We live in a beautiful Town where we are biggish fish in a small pool.

I think today's grid is by Ray T. Looks like his fingerprint.

Thanks for your kind invitation, Globus. I have sent you a private message. But fear not, with the situation the way it is, you don't need to worry about the whole FujiKiwi tribe showing up with their suitcases on your doorstep any time soon! One day, though. A much appreciated thought.

FujiKiwi wrote: Fri Nov 27, 2020 7:33 am Thanks for your kind invitation, Globus. I have sent you a private message. But fear not, with the situation the way it is, you don't need to worry about the whole FujiKiwi tribe showing up with their suitcases on your doorstep any time soon! One day, though. A much appreciated thought.

My pleasure FK.

I'll look out for your message. We can accomodate a whole tribe of FKs here! There are some blooming good posters around who can keep the costs down.

In the meantime, I can report that Dave Gorman (a comedian - not met him) has become a compiler and put up his first grid in the Independent.

His moniker is Bluth and my pals in the crossword world are mightily impressed.

I've been trying to complete a Covid 19 grid, for a laugh. Had much fun in doing a Matt Hancock cryptic. More to follow perhaps.

In the meantime my Covid joke has gone viral.

I've done today's grid. The Toughie is by Osmosis, whom I know.

Still trying to get to grips with wasabi. I say "grips" because that is what it does to my tongue!

Morning. Still mild.
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Well globus seems to have opted out of providing 1A so...
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