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Hello, Elle!
Apparently the scones at the Grand Floridian are not as good as the Scottish ones!
Just had a brief text from my son.
I am sure you can order coffee at the "afternoon tea" do!
Give the Nubucks a good wax and polish before you go, too.
Lassie and family have settled down for the night!

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear...that's long way to go for afternoon tea.....only to discover that the scones at home are much nicer!
Strict dress code , Rusty!
"Smart casual"......no jeans or trainers.
And definitely no Nubucks!
( It is all right, I know you but jest!)
Mind you, my Nubucks would certainly be an education for the hotel staff.....
Patched at the toe where the fox ,who ran off with the boot, then chewed it...and all splits glued together with StormSure glue!
Wonderfully comfortable though.
I do have some heels......
That's a good idea of Lassie's..... I shan't be long before I "settle down for the night" myself!
Going to make a hot drink.....



Ros, I went to the Savoy Hotel for afternoon tea a while back.......they were very gracious in providing me with coffee!
I expect Claridges will also rise to the occasion!
It will be a good test of their hospitality......

Good morning, Elle!
Fine day here!
I am sure you will be be spot on for the afternoon tea.
No more activity at the loch.
Wonder when chick two will arrive. Today?
I have one or two things to do today, and I have to keep an eye on the "lad from Bury"!

A Very Good morning to you, Rusty!
A lovely day here, too, but a mite chilly as yet.
I needed a light fleece on this morning.
The cooler temperature leads to a pleasanter and more invigorating walk though!
I have a list of chores to do this morning --- some of which involve ordering goods on my computer.
I would have done all that yesterday, but for the computer/ printer hiccough!
But first, a coffee and my apple.....
Have you to go out? or are your jobs indoor tasks?

Good evening, Rusty!
I am not sure whether you are about?
How has your day been?
Did you get all your tasks completed.......and also find time to watch Simon in the cycling?
How is he doing?
I have returned to find that this time it is my recorder that has been playing up in my absence!
I just get the computer and the printer sorted....... now this.....
No "Eggheads" to watch!
What is it this week with me and modern technology....?
There doesn't seem to be another new arrival in the osprey nest yet.
Maybe tomorrow?

Good evening, Elle!
I have not looked in on the forum as often, the last day or two.
Seems to be quite a bit less posting going on.
Less clues to solve.
I have quite a few tasks to do, still.
Simon finished in the main group today and preserved his lead over Tom Dumoulin.
The mountains tomorrow!
Good news from Laura Muir, too!
She has passed her finals and is now a vet, and she is delighted!
No sign of chick 2 yet, but chick 1 is feeding well.
Good to see!

Hi, Rusty!
I am delighted to hear about Laura!
She has worked very hard , both at her veterinary studies, and in her Athletics training, and certainly deserves to have done well in her Finals!
Good for her!
Has she mentioned her future plans?
Is she going to concentrate on her Athletics for while? or pursue her career as a vet?
And well done, Simon!
You are lucky to have caught the osprey chick feeding.
I have only seen it peeping out from under mum!

Hello, Elle!
I follow Laura on Twitter and that's where she announced her news.
She did not say what her plans were, but I am sure I read earlier she is concentrating on athletics for now.
She had loads of replies to her Tweet, and I noticed one from Katherine Merry.
Simon did well. His team went to the front and kept the pace high to discourage any breakaways.
Will be different in the mountains though, and Sunday is really just a procession to Rome.
Have you seen this clip of Hayley Moore?
Hayley is a presenter on At the Races channel.
A runaway horse came galloping down the track,
and.... step forward, Hayley Moore....
https://www.racingpost.com/news/to-the-rescue-presenter-hayley-moore-dives-on-to-track-to-capture-loose-horse/332468

Hi, Rusty!
Wow, what a brave young woman!
She could easily have got hurt.
It was a good thing to do, though, as presumably the horse could have damaged himself...or even caused injury to another rider?
My experience with horses is limited to pony -trekking on the Isle of Man.......
My pony was called Melissa!
Did you get chance to do your puzzle today?
I am only just doing mine......
I am stuck on three clues, if you can help, please?
8d: Something sending elderly relative to sleep? Answer where nothing's spoken (5,5)
G?A?D?P?R?
Some sort of homophone?
27a: Potential killer in family into mob violence (5,4)
R???E /?H?T
It might be "rifle shot"? but if so, I cannot see why?
and 23d: Killed the wrong way, certainly casually? (5)
D???O
These last two clues cross each other.

Hello, Elle!
Hayley has been around horses all her life.
Her father was a top jockey and her brother Ryan is a champion jockey.
She will have done that before, I think!
Update on Laura.
I just noticed her Tweet came from Santa Monica, California, so I presume she is doing a training block out there?
8d is "grand opera". "gran doper a" (for Answer).
23 is "offed/killed" reversed. "Deffo" slang for "definitely/certainly"
Yes "rifle shot", family is "flesh" inside "riot", meaning mob violence.
Quite a good puzzle today.