Bluestocking: Do androids dream of electric hair?

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

Previously on 'The Bluestocking':
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5198256-autumn-leaves-crackling-fires-quokkas-and-puffins-at-the-bluestocking?page=40&reply=139728736

My photo hating cat is long haired.

As can be seen by this beautiful photo

ETA that is his tail! He is very proud of his tail!

😂

Can anyone explain this clue in the Times crossword from Saturday? It's a 3-letter one & I've got 2 letters & I still can't solve the flaming thing!

26a Traitorous secret agents progressively picked out letter (3) T?E

Is it 'TEE' for the letter bit? And do I need a word for 'Traitorous secret agents' from which I remove letters to get 'TEE'? Why 'progressively'?

Last one, but I'm not going to send it in.

Sad news about Timothy West. I loved Bleak House & Brass, back in the day.

I am not a crossword person, so I'm probably completely wrong, but all I can see is:

26a Traitorous secret agents progressively picked out letter (3) T?E

All I can think is T first letter in first word, e second letter in second word and e third letter in third word, which covers the progressively picked out letter bit, 1 2 3.

Past that I've got nothing!

I'm rubbish at cryptic crosswords. I ignore them. They upset me. I think Beetle's explanation is brilliant.

Genius! I was thinking of something like that but (wrongly) using those words as a definition instead of the source. I think you've cracked it, thanks.

You obviously ARE a crossowrd person.

I think that's right. Though really there should be a definition of "tee" in there.

I love cryptic crosswords, I think I have a twisted mind 😄

Perhaps 'picked out' is the TEE reference?

I like the righthand picture a lot, @inkymoose - please can I be the lady on the right, in the blue and white knitted cardigan - I feel that's quite me (though waaay slimmer). I definitely like the idea of Tunnocks branded gin glasses too.

I am in awe of all the talented use of AI on here.

I'm off outside (briefly) to give Fred a carrot and a pat, and to smell the lovely horse smell, then I'll be back inside for a very large coffee, pleaseandthankyou.

I think that's right. Though really there should be a definition of "tee" in there.

There is , that's what the 'letter' is.

ifIwerenotanandroid All the thread's cats look like they're DSHs (domestic short hair). The colours aren't different breeds. There are breeds like Siamese, Burmese, Turkish Van (who like swimming IIRC), etc.

Thank you - every day a school day on FWR
I googled the song & apparently this is it

Oh well done for finding the rest of the song, it's even better than I remembered it! I haven't laughed so much since... well since the last time one of you lot made me laugh, which is often!

A Work of Genius, isn't it? The opening line is funny, but they sustained it over the whole song. Wonderful. The Baron Knights, if I remember rightly - must google them.

@ifIwerenotanandroid what a beautiful cat, I'm glad you managed to get a posed one!

And also, that's pensieve kitty now home! A shaved side, a shaved leg and randomly a shaved bum hole??? (didn't want to ask the vets what had been done at that end and felt it was beneath kitty's dignity to ask). She is now lying on my knee watching me, purring and seemingly back to her usual sweet self. From now on all paracetamol is being locked up and never left out anywhere. I never leave it lying around anyway due to the toddlers but didn't think I needed to watch the cat as well. In the end the bill was £2700 so it's a cheap Christmas in this household. Maybe I'll create some AI colouring books for the toddler...

You're right, of course. I was thinking of the "letter" as being those progressively picked out.

Guess I'm not as good at this as I thought 😄

I think you are all very clever, and all the cats are fabulous.
That is all.

Doh! Of course. I overcomplicated it, was thinking it was a reference to 'suits you to a tee'. Cryptic crosswords are definitely not my forte.

And I don't have a cat 😕 I'm suffering serious cat envy.

I usually just do the quick cryptic, 'tee' quite often comes up but commonly the definition relates to golf tee eg 'supporter'. Though of course that can signify other words like 'bra'.

Oh yeah, this one had support = bra in another clue, & number one = wee. 🙄

Actual photo

😁 and then when finished I do this

It's probably for the best. I fear it wouldn't end well for you!

Thought the service in here was rather slow today. Turns out the gerbils are practising their audition pieces for something. Couldn't tell what as it went quiet when I walked past, but I reckon it's either Grease the Gerbical or West Side Story!

I don't have a cat either*. Cats and birds aren't often a good mix, even if the bird is as big and feisty as a magpie.

• Not for want of next door's cats doing their best to get into our house

Oh it will be fine!

<hands cat to magpie>

Five minutes later...