It's always just one word!

[Linda]

I'll try not to lose too much sleep over it! 

[biggerbirdbrain]

Another day, another puzzle ... good thinking! 

[Linda]

I was just waiting for that rosette to pop up next to your name!!  I'm so cross!!  Spent ages trying to get last word!   

[biggerbirdbrain]

Teeth gritted, hit rate plummeting ... ugh, what a slog! I do understand, LL.

You know, in the beginning it was just fun getting the 9-letter word. Then, it was the %*#^(#* rosette. But, no, then it had to be the $)%($)($**(&**$$%^**&$^*&_+_#%) trophy! Why, oh why, do we torture ourselves so?

At least we're all in it together! 

[birdy]

Reading about your pain and suffering comforts me for not being a top contender - not so much stress, since it's so unlikely that I will ever find myself near the top.  I do admit to trying for the 9-letter word, especially on days when I don't have much time to spend on the puzzle.  And there are a few individuals I work hard at surpassing.

[Linda]

birdy ... I don't even attempt to get the trophy .... the occasional rosette is all I ever strive for but, like today, there always seems to be just one word I can't get ... I know it's there, staring me in the face but I've given up on it now, doing a heap of ironing and ignoring the fact that I've got a load of transcription work to do. 

[birdy]

I once - one time! got all the common words, and several times have come within range, with only one last word to go.  That's  worse than having a bunch to find - especially when the puzzle closes and the missing word (aitch, owner, iron) is revealed.  But it's so much easier to be relaxed about the whole thing when you know you don't have a snowball's chance of appearing in the top 10 - much more than my first weeks, when I really tried very hard to work out every combination of letters.

What a wimp! - no competitive spirit!  But having lots of fun.

[technomc]

We have all been there Birdy... 

It hurts..we know...  :'(

The pain gets less, i promise... 

[technomc]

I missed 'asset' from yesterdays puzzle...
How frustrating seeing as i have 2 of my own.....!!!

[Linda]

Boasty, busty!! 

[bobbi]

Mostly when I miss a word or two and check the following day, I'm embarrassed at my omission. E.g. missed care and carer the other day. T quite rightly pointed out that this is unforgivable for a student of Occupational Therapy, possibly the most caring of all health care professions.

But yesterday, the common word I missed was grippe. Grippe? I don't think I've ever heard someone say grippe. Read it in dickensian type novels, but common today? I think not. We have 'flu here in Kiwiland, not grippe. So I think I'm justified in feeling smug about my almost rosette.

[rogue_mother]

I know that feeling, bobbi!  That's how I get when the only word I miss is something like bint, or nous, or circs. These have been recognized for the regionalisms that they are and been demoted, but others keep cropping up.  I'm not sure about grippe.  My dad uses grippe or some other synonym, never flu.  But then, he's one who likes to use words for effect.

[biggerbirdbrain]

We used grippe quite a lot, but then, my family was not born here, so it was probably from Europe, where I believe it is more prevalent (the word, not necessarily the illness).

[birdy]

I don't remember anyone I know who's younger than 90 using grippe, but it's certainly a word that I'm very familiar with, so I don't think of it as uncommon.  But if we consult the under-30s, maybe they wouldn't have heard it.

[biggerbirdbrain]

Most of THEM just know the word "gripe"!