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Hi, Rusty!
You were out early today on your bummel?
Is this because you have something special lined up for the rest of the day?
I tried Googling a "back baller" - but apart from discovering that it is a piece of (sports?) equipment specifically designed to self-treat muscles in one's upper & lower back by "foam -rolling" (whatever is that?) - I am not really any wiser!
Whilst looking for this though, I found an article where Jenny is strongly supporting Seb Coe by saying that she is sure that he will bring Athletics back to where it should be - that he is unfairly criticised, but has good, trustworthy, and firm intentions!
She wants to bring good, honest and clean sport to children.
I think Jenny is perhaps the worst hit of our athletes in medal deprivation, by the cheating of the Russians?
I am half way through the Everyman........

Hello, Elle!
Yes, was out early.
My local football team is on TV in the afternoon, so I may watch a bit of it.
The young ones are going to the game.
Jenny comes across as a "very nice lassie" as we say here.
I am not so sure her faith in Lord Coe is well placed.
I can not be doing with him.
Jenny got a raw deal with the cheating Russians.
Up here, our football authorities (no laughing!) have not dope tested a footballer in the past year.
None. Not even one!
Good luck with Everyman!

Hi, Rusty!
Jenny has only recently received yet another medal upgrade, hasn't she? This month, I think?
She has got a belated Silver Medal from the 2010 European Championships, because the winner Mariya Savinova was found guilty of doping.
I am wondering.......are there cash prizes involved in these World Events?
Because if so, what happens to the money?
It should surely be given /taken back????
And re- allocated to the next individual in line?
Jenny should surely be a lot better off financially!
I have never heard anything about the money aspect, have you?
I have finished the Everyman - in between doing other things! - and only have one parse to solve!
That will give me something to think about.......
We are off out with the dog shortly......well, about 2 o'clock.......

P. S. Rusty......
Jenny has said that she liked the idea of British athletes who had their medals retrospectively awarded getting them at the World Championships in London this Summer.
I think this sounds an excellent idea!
There should be some public acclaim!

Hello, Elle!
I do not know of cash prizes at Games.
The idea of British athletes being awarded retrospective medals at the upcoming Games is an excellent one.
I would be all for that.
Wonder what the powers that be, think, though?
My impression is they want drug related happenings hushed up, and that would not happen at London?
I think Jenny is doing fine financially but that is off her own bat.
Like Jess Varnish is doing.
And Jenny is getting positive publicity pacing Laura Muir.
Well done on the Everyman!

Hi, Rusty!
We are finally back home again.
The temperature must have hit double figures as it was pleasantly warm out.
We decided to go to one of the local parks - somewhat of a mistake, as every man and his dog, plus every child and his / her bike, scooter, skateboard etcetera, went there, too!
We should have driven further afield in view of the better weather and the half term holidays!
Ah well, that is where laziness landed us!
We had become spoilt during the winter when everyone stayed indoors!
I dug out my copy of "Three Men in a Boat" yesterday - out of curiosity to see to what Jazzgirl was referring in chapter 7...........
I am now, yet again, deeply ensconced in the story..........!
And enjoying it very much! It is an age since I last read it!

Hi rusty and elle
I gather from elle's reference to "bummel" that you enjoyed it - so much rang so true (and funny as well!)

Hi, Chris!
When did you get back?
I hope you had a good time?
I have read both books previously...but a very long time ago!
I have just "dug " them out to re-read!
I seem to recall there being a film, too, with David Tomlinson as "J".
I am uncertain, though, now that I am reading the book again after all this time, how successful the film could have been?
So much of the "comedy" is in the written word and the description?

Elle
To make up for Harris's utterance, you will find in chapter X (page 68 in my book) what I think is the most beautiful passage in the book.
It begins thus :
"It was a glorious night. The moon had sunk, and left the quiet earth alone with the stars"

It is magical :)

Hi elle
We started travelling at about 11.30 a.m. (our time) yesterday and got back about 3.30 p.m. today (some sleep on the plane). Great trip, but hard work - several times we were birding for 10 hours + in a day.

I agree the written word is the key. I've just re-read "Idle thoughts of an idle fellow", and disconcerted fellow travellers by laughing out loud at the unfortunate disappearance of Jerome's pet rat, which drowned in a gooseberry fool and was only discovered "on second servings"!