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Hello, Elle!
That's a good result at the vet's!
I will have a look at the Tour de Yorkshire first.
They go by an intriguingly named "Robin Hood's Bay" which I have not heard of.
I hope the weather is a bit warmer at Romandy for the riders.
It is a fine day here.
Less cold than it was, but I donned my fine fleece shirt this morning, anyway!
The Tour de Yorkshire is on ITV4, if you want to take in the scenery?
Thomas Voeckler is the defending champ.

Hi, Rusty!
How is your cycling going?
I know of Robin Hood's Bay!
It is a small fishing village and bay of the same name, about five miles south of Whitby, where some friends of ours live.
I have never yet been there, but we might make it one day........
Our friends lived and worked in London for many years, but have retired to Yorkshire.
I have just been speaking to BB....he has an Inset day ( used to be know as a " Baker" day, as originated by Kenneth Baker).
The children do not have school, but the staff attend for "training" purposes.
My daughter took the day off to coincide with this.
BB phoned me from a trampolining play centre!
He is having a great time and wanted to tell me all about it!
I am about to take a look at the 15 x15 crossword ( the QC was easy!)
Have you done yours?

You are obviously much loved by BB , elle.

One has to pay for self catering holidays in advance, at least you do have to where I went. I probably should have insisted, or found the small heater I found under the stairs as I was leaving earlier! My other probem was the new owner's dogs- they were out barking at 7.15 the last morning. Pity, it's a niceplace and you can stay for less than a week.

Hello, Elle!
I have watched some of the Tour de Yorkshire.
Big crowds cheering on the riders, I'm pleased to say!
Now the Stuttgart tennis has disappeared from my screen.
It was on BT Sport 1, and now they have moved it to BT Sport 2, which I do not get!
I was going to support whoever was playing Sharapova!
The Barcelona tournament is on some Sky channel though.
BB and his Mum seem to be having a high old time!
Yes, I have finished my puzzle.
1a is a dog breed I have not heard of.
Postie has just brought me three books from Amazon!
And I still have some credit left.
So, all good!

Hi, Rusty!
Update on the tennis!
I had to Google it to find out........
Maria Sharapova beat Anett Kontaveit 6/3; 6/4 in the Quarter Final........
which puts Miss S into the Semis........
I hate to say it, but I think she might well make it through to the Final......which will enable her to play in the Roland Garros by right!
Mind you, if it has to be....I shall find this preferable to her being given a Wild Card.
Do you not agree?
What books did the postie bring you?
I haven't spent any of my gift voucher yet!
My crossword solving is still ongoing, although I have but a few to do now ...but I am abandoning it temporarily while I go for a walk...........
Back shortly...........

Hello, Elle!
Miss Sharapova is showing good form after her lay off.
Yes, it looks like she will be at Roland Garros.
Ah, well!
My books are "The Wicked Boy" by Kate Summerscale.
"The Hills is Lonely" by Lillian Beckwith.
"I Heard the Bell" by John MacLeod.
Will keep me going for a wee while!
Tour de Yorkshire has just passed an old "puffing billy" steam train!
Spectators are well wrapped up.
The puzzle is quite a good one today!

Hi, Rusty!
We are at last back from our walk!
We met up with a friend on the way home and spent about half an hour chatting!
Those are all new authors and book titles to me.........I shall look forward to hearing about the content matter when you read them!
(That is the best way to learn of 'new' authors and potentially good reading matter, isn't it?!)
The only John MacLeod of whom I am aware is a biochemist?
Would this be he?
How did Mag do in her race?
Right, time to pit my wits against the "Eggheads".......
And I still have the crossword to finish.......

Hello, Elle,
Poor Mag finished down the field today!
I liked Robin Hood Bay.
Looks a nice place.
Dylan Groenewegen won the race, but there was a huge crash just before the finish.
"The Wicked Boy" is a tale of a boy who murdered his mother, and possibly his father, but years later, he successfully rebuilt his life in Australia.
He served with distinction at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
"The Hills is Lonely" is a semi-autobiographical tale of a woman who went on a "rest cure" to a Hebridean island, and the folk she met there.
Quite humourous, I believe, though some of the islanders disapproved of the way she portrayed some of them..
Miss Beckwith died some years ago.
I think this is not the John MacLeod you know, Elle.
"When I Heard the Bell" is the tale of the HMY "iolaire" disaster, off Stornoway, on 1st January, 1919.
HMY is His Majesty's Yacht. "Iolaire" is Gaelic for "eagle".
It is a fine evening here!

Good evening, Rusty!
It is a lovely evening here, too, and feeling very much milder.
The outlook for the holiday weekend is (supposedly) good.
Your books sound very interesting.....I am sure you will enjoy them.
( But yes, I think it will be a different John MacLeod!)
Now the crossword...I have at last completed it!
Admittedly in dribs and drabs!
I got off to a good start but found the last few hard.
I especially liked 3d; 8d; 29a; and 17d.
"Digamma" was a new word for me but it was easy enough to work out.
However , I cannot parse 14d?
I have "air-marshal" = high-ranking officer
air - broadcast
but cannot parse "marshal"?
Perhaps I am being dim?

I read some of the Lilian Beckwith books many decaes ago and enjoyed them. Did she not write "A Rope in Case" and "The Sea For Breakfast"? That's all I can remember about them. I think she had to move eventually.
I also once had a trio of books about a couple who bought a cottage in very rural Wales. They moved when a relief road was built too near them. I think they tried to be self sufficient, or nearly. "The Cottage in the Hills"? Something like that.