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Hello, Elle!
Just home from Pine Cone!
We had a nice time and a blether with the waitresses.
I took a Mackies ice cream home with me.
You are away ahead of me, Elle, I have not looked at my puzzle yet.
I am enjoying Le Tour just now, and the golf.

Hi, Rusty!
I am glad that you had a good outing!
Speaking of Mackies' ice cream........I have just had a bowl of blueberries and vanilla ice cream for my lunch!
I am being very lazy now...
I was up by 5.15 am., as the day was already so hot.......and all the chores were done long before I went out for my walk with the dog at 8 am.
Hence the early start (and finish) to the crossword!
We are still having some technical problems with both the computer.......and now the television.......
I think these must be down to the heat...as I am not alone in this....
A few folk in the park this morning were complaining of similar problems, so I doubt it is something specific to our own appliances.
I guess we just sit it out......
I hope the golf and the cycling go well......
I am catching up with some correspondence ......

Good afternoon, Elle!
I had a wee look online and hot weather does affect broadband and TV signals....and it is hot!
If your friends in the park are suffering, I think that could be the cause of your problems.
Great scenery in the Pyrenees!
I am enjoying the cycling!

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, Rusty...thank you!
I will leave well alone then, and will not be tinkering any more with the TV set!
I had managed to get it to work.......but it will only do so at present through the Freeview digibox.
I'll wait now for the processing to return to 'normal'!
I am glad you are enjoying the cycling.... have you seen a bear ?
Now....have you had chance to do your crossword yet?
Any thoughts on the definition for 8d: ruminant?
Is it a double definition, as I'd wondered?
Here is a topical clue for you from the Times Quick Cryptic.....
Carol, crossing Scottish river, is going nowhere (7)
I only toss it into the mix as it is local for you........

Hello, Elle!
No, leave the TV in peace.
No bears today, but great racing.
G finished second and it looks very much like he will be going to Paris in yellow.
Now.... Sagan is struggling and it is going to be touch and go whether or nay he gets in inside the time limit.
Fingers crossed for him.
I have finished my puzzle now.
8d, "ruminant" is what I have, Elle.
A ruminant could be cattle or deer, or any animal that "chews the cud".
And "ruminant" means "meditative" or "thinking".
So, I am happy with clue/answer/parse.
How about "s Tay ing" for "going nowhere"?

Hi, Rusty!
Hurray!
We have (very loud) thunder.........and we have heavy rain showers.......
But for how long, I wonder?
Let us hope that the temperature will drop as a result......
That is good news about Geraint Thomas.....
But I do hope that Sagan hangs on to his green jersey!
It would be a shame for him to lose it now........
Yes, "s Tay ing" is correct...I had no doubt that you would get the answer!
I hope the TV works for "Eggheads" !
Zero hour approaches...!

Good evening, Elle!
Good news.
Sagan and the grupetto came in six minutes inside the time limit.
He is in quite a bit of pain.
There is another lad in the grupetto in a lot of pain.
Lawson Craddock, who broke his scapula in a crash on stage two.
Lawson is last every day, but he is determined to reach Paris!
He is the Tour "lantern rouge", the last rider in the general classification.
My son and daughter-in-law are at Edinburgh Airport.
Their flight to Holland has been cancelled. Not so good!
That is the last I heard.

Hi Rusty!
Good news about Sagan.....I admire his perseverance.... and his endurance of pain levels....
But not such good news about your son's holiday!
Are they going to Amsterdam?
I have been reading in the News that Schiphol Airport has suspended all flights until further notice......
And all National Rail services have been cancelled, too, because of the severity of the thunderstorms that are causing widespread disruption throughout The Netherlands, bringing down trees.......and causing absolute traffic chaos.
At least your son and daughter-in -law are still safely here........ that is a blessing in its way!
Our thunderstorm here has abated... and the rain has ceased.
It was very heavy, but I doubt it so far has had much effect on the parched ground.
Supposedly still more to come.......

Hello, Elle!
Sagan is as tough as an old boot, he'll get to Paris!
What my son was told at Edinburgh Airport was that bad weather had delayed flight from Amsterdam and consequently the flight crews would exceed their allowed hours, if they flew to Holland, so the flight was cancelled.
The airline has rebooked them for two weeks today and will sort out the hotels booking etc.
I think they should have rented a caravan at Dunkeld for the weekend!
A lot less palaver!
No rain here!

Hi, Rusty!
Goodness, two weeks' time seems a long delay for their holiday to be rebooked?
Not everyone involved would surely be able to alter their plans like that?
Does it fit in all right for your son and his wife?
At least, though, the airline seems to be doing all the hard work.......rebooking the flights and re- arranging the hotel bookings etc.
Our daughter and family are going to The Netherlands on August 2nd, but I am not sure of their destination.
Most probably I have been told......but have forgotten!
The latest on the rain front here is it will start again at 9 pm ( it just has!) and will continue until about 8 am tomorrow .....
But tomorrow will then be another sunny day, albeit cooler.......maximum supposedly 22C!
That would be absolutely wonderful if true!!!!