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Hi, Rusty!
Ah yes, I understand! and I guess as it is only for fun there is an added bit of excitement deciding at the time whom to support; it adds to the mood!
It is like a science though....so much to consider......the horse's condition, the state of the ground....etcetera........do you "work" all this out, too?
And you have golf to watch tomorrow.
We don't have any specific plans for this weekend, just take it as it comes.
Maybe have a rest ready for the onslaught when the family arrives on Tuesday!
I'm looking forward to that!
There are plans to get all the grandkids together - it is nice for the four of them to meet up and play.
( And very soon ,of course, the four will become five!)

Hello, Elle!
That is good about the young ones meeting up.
You will be run off your feet!
I do work things out regarding the horses.
I do know a lot about them, but I have discovered that it is not much help to choosing a winner!
To let you understand, for a trainer to have a horse good enough, and fit and healthy enough, to run at Cheltenham, is a trainer's dream. Many hurdles to overcome on the way there.
And that is just to run there, never mind winning.
So I tend to look for value in the big stables, who have the best of everything.
Like, say, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nichols, and Willie M.
On the Flat I tend to follow several of Aidan O'Brien's Classics contenders, and I pay very close attention if Criquette Head or Andre Fabre send a raider here from France.
"Good old Phil" is joint second after two rounds at Pebble Beach. Two days to go!

Good morning, Rusty!
Another very cold day! Fine at the moment but we are threatened with heavy rain later.
No frost early this morning, resulting in a very dirty dog!
How are you today? Have you been out early ready to watch the Golf ? What time does it start?
I have some letters to write and some phone calls to make........overdue in some cases! ( it always seems to my "turn"!) but it is good to keep in touch with folk.
I hope we make the second dog walk (which will be about midday today) before the rain!

Good morning, Elle!
Cold here, too.
Snow overnight and very slippy pavements.
The golf is in California, Elle.
Their time is quite a bit behind ours so it will be evening here before they start.
I was out and home early, ready for the downhill, but it has been postponed until tomorrow due to heavy snow in Switzerland.
I have a double on.
Took Lindsey Vonn, with Hearts, a Scots football team.
Both must win.
Having a look at the cross-country skiing from Sweden.
Boy, that's a strenuous sport! Snowing there, too.
I agree it is good to keep in touch with folk.
And you still write letters! Well done!

The postman came early today and brought me a little surprise package:

http://i63.tinypic.com/2eyz0u8.jpg

Does this mean you won, seamus? Congratulations if that's the case!

Hi, Rusty!
I hadn't taken into account the time difference with California!
Betting is a complicated business if you can have a "double" across two different sports? Like downhill skiing and football?
I could see the likelihood of such a bet existing between, say, two horse races (I know you have done that) but wouldn't have expected such an eventuality between different genres.
I can see I have a lot to learn!
When I referred to "writing" letters, I actually meant "emailing" them; or otherwise, if my correspondent doesn't have a computer , then I type out the letter and print it off, ready to send by snail mail.
I don't write in longhand, anymore!
So you have had snow? We are now having heavy rain - a little earlier than anticipated!
We shall wait for a lull...and then head out!

Hello, Elle!
I often have doubles on different events, not necessarily sporting events.
Paddy Power takes bets on many different things.
At present there are markets on the next editor of Vogue, the name of the next Royal Baby, The Voice, next Pope, Mayor of London, Irish Elections, Nobel prize winners, and many other things, plus every sport going, anywhere in the world. Chess, archery, you name it, Paddy will offer you a price!
They have markets open on every Olympic event now.
Thousands of ways to lose your money!
Beautiful day now, snow is going, thankfully.
One of the ASDA girls was left a Valentine today from a "secret admirer"!
Is your Hudl behaving?

Does this mean you won, seamus? Congratulations if that's the case!

Yes, it was a few weeks ago, but the T-shirt only just arrived.

Hi, Rusty!
My goodness! I never thought people would bet on such a variety of things!
What a sheltered life I lead!
We have only been back a short while - we are still warming up!
It was very wet, and very cold and - for once - we were very miserable!
I think this has to be the coldest wettest walk I've taken so far this Winter!
The dog was the only one of us who enjoyed it!
What have you been doing? Is the downhill skiing cancelled for the entire day? - or did it just have a late start?
My Hudl? ironically , it is being as good as gold.....
For some reason, it is usually evening when this "Server Error " message comes up......