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Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear! I hope you got a replacement cup of coffee!
We have just returned from a walk....narrowly missing the rain!
It was spooky when out ...I had just remarked to my husband that we hadn't seen an old friend for quite a while.....and barely had the words left my mouth.....when he hailed us from behind!
A quite astonishing coincidence!
Are you watching Le Tour...or the golf - or having to juggle between the two?
I shall watch the closing day of the Parathletics later on.
The Everyman was easy today...I much prefer having to struggle a bit!

Hello, Elle!
No replacement coffee!
I got out quickish!
I am watching the golf.
Very entertaining!
The Tour wont get to Paris until teatime.
Something they have done for a few years.
Not sure why!
i always thought that Everyman was on the easy side.
Bit like Rufus in the Guardian on Mondays.
I stopped getting a Sunday paper years ago!

Hi, Rusty!
I print the Everyman from the Guardian site on the computer.
Despite its sometimes being on the easy side, it remains one of my favourite crosswords, because I like the way that every bit of the clue is involved in the answer.
Does that make sense to you?
A while back the puzzle became much harder for a time, and I thought it a great improvement - but there seemed to be lot of complaints, and the format changed again - maybe to conform with popular opinion?
I like to have to puzzle over the parsing for a while!
It gives me a greater sense of achievement!
Did you lay a bet on the outcome of the golf?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I understand the Everyman is very popular, but it is not for me.
I had a small interest in Hideki Matsuyama in the golf, but my bet lost.
It was a great contest though.
I thoroughly enjoyed the competition!

Hi, Rusty!
I have just been talking to my cousin!
The family up north are all well, although my cousin herself is still suffering complications with her hand.
She will need to have further surgery on her thumb, which is upsetting for her.
We have a lovely evening here now, after some rain this afternoon.
Chilly though.
You haven't mentioned Le Tour?
How did the last day go?

Hello, Elle!
Best your cousin gets her hand fixed, though!
Not been a great day here!
I saw very little of Le Tour today.
The stage to Paris is just a procession and no racing takes place until they hit the Champs-Elysees, then it is a race for the sprinters.
Too many of the top sprinters did not make it to Paris, like Kittel and Sagan, so I was not really interested.
I did hope Andre Greipel would win, but not to be.
The golf took up my time today.
Big bike race this Saturday, though, the Clasica San Sebastian.
I will watch that!

Hi, Rusty!
It is good that you enjoyed the golf, as it seems that - for you at least- the Tour rather went out like a damp squib?
I suppose that with your favourites removed due to accident and retirement, the impetus had gone from the racing in its later stages?
A bit like the Final of a tennis tournament, I guess, where the top players had gone out in earlier rounds?
At least you have a race to which to look forward next Saturday!
Younger daughter has sent photos of the chalet in which they are staying and of the children exploring their surroundings!
They seem to be having a good time!

Hello, Elle,
I never said my favourites had gone out.
I said the top sprinters like Kittel and Sagan.
I like them, but I also like a lot more riders, including a few who made it to Paris.
The final stage into Paris is only a race for the last few kilometres.
It is a procession up until then.
A bit like a Sunday club run.
So the final round of the Open took priority with me.
And the golf was excellent!

Hi, Rusty!
I am sorry if I misread the cycling situation!
I mistakenly thought that, as several of the riders whom I knew you liked had "gone", the ending perhaps wasn't as interesting as it might have been!
I have been reading for most of the evening.
I am working my way through all my "old" Arthur Hailey books.
I finished "Strong Medicine" yesterday...and am now on "Overload."
It is quite a few years now, since I first read them, so am enjoying rediscovering the plots.
I need to have a consultation with Amazon and order some more books!
Or maybe visit some local charity shops......or Boot Fairs......

Hello, Elle!
I think we all knew the Tour ended yesterday with the time trial.
It is an "unwritten rule" that no one attacks the Yellow Jersey on the run to Paris.
They have had three weeks of hard racing and the final day is a "fun occasion".
It is a day for the sprinters, when they reach Paris.
I have been having a look at Amazon too.
Have not ordered anything yet, though!