Holiday Jumbo

[stevenj]

Greetings from Connemara. Crossword was invaluable yesterday when the weather was vile. But it's been OK today and I went kayaking (arranged by SWMBO as you might guess. I enjoyed it.) So far I have resisted attempts to get me to swim. One distant relative in the party tried to goad me in by calling me names. Accurate as it happens though he doesn't know. And, in any case, its purpose was to be offensive. Why do some people think that rudeness will enable them to get their way? Sorry. Back to the crossword)
There are two clues where I am confident of the answer but don't know why. So my usual plea for guidance.
Quickly perform rhythmic monologue without real commitment. The answer is rapidly so that's quickly sorted. But the rest?
Ceramic business set up by American organisation with influence. This time it's the definition which I can't follow. I am sure the answer is octopus but what has that got to do with ceramic?
Please advise.
steven

[Zacs-Master]

Pot co US

[Lie-in King]

Hi Steven -

Rap idly

Octopus - 'pot (ceramic) co(mpany)' (up) + 'US'

[Captain2]

rhythmic monologue = RAP (type of music) + IDLY = no real commitment

[stevenj]

So is an octopus an organisation with influence?

[Mamyalynne]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Counter_Terrorist_Operations

[Zacs-Master]

No but a POTUS has influence. A thank you might have been nice.

[Mamyalynne]

Steven is always polite, the thread hadn't quite concluded.

[Zacs-Master]

He had an opportunity. I’m not familiar with the etiquette in the crossword section. Is it different to normal life?

[stevenj]

I am sorry zacs master if you think I am rude. I was waiting for an answer to the last point. But, of course, I am grateful to you all. (now including Mamyalynne who has a different take on the answer).
Thank you all.
steven

[Mamyalynne]

No Zacs.

[Zacs-Master]

No problem.

[Mamyalynne]

Enjoy the rest of your time there, smile politely at annoying relatives.

[stevenj]

Thank you Mamyalynne. I'll try! But he IS rude.
I am really sorry that I annoyed Zacs Master. But it was unintentional.
steven

[Tilly2]

Aww!

[Mamyalynne]

Well, in endeavouring to help I have been rather too specific.

For the purposes of this puzzle Def.2 here is fine.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/octopus

[stevenj]

I missed this last night. Waiting for others to go on a long walk as the weather is very pleasant. So I checked whether Zack 's Master had accepted my apology but, instead and better, this explanation by Mamyalynne. Great! Amazing what I learn by doing crosswords!
Less than a week before I see His Nibs!!!
steven

[stevenj]

I know this is not crossword but I must tell someone! I mentioned I was going for a walk. It took in the site where Alcock and Brown made their first landing. AND it was the site of Marconi's transmission station. Two HUGE steps forward in our development. Not very well presented but it just felt amazing to be in such a fantastic place. Bleak bogland (as A & B discovered when they crashlanded in the bog. I never realised before just how flimsy their plane was. How brave they were.
Fantastic
steven

[Mamyalynne]

Quite a walk and yes, amazing achievements too.

Only a week now?

We said time would fly. :-)

[Lie-in King]

Glad you're having a good time, we said the time would fly :-)

[stevenj]

Thank you both. Yes you did and you were right. It felt like eons when it began but it is nearly over. I am so looking forward to seeing him again. I hope he is feeling the same....
But it was really helpful to me that you both gave me such good advice. It's all new to me.
Thank you so much both of you
steven