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Good morning, Elle!
Beautiful day here with a biting wind!
Very chilly!
It is the boiler's annual service.
It does not matter when it is done.
I do not have a gas fire, but radiators.
I do have a newish electric fire but I really only bought it as a focal piece. It has a lovely coal effect display.
Yes, I see there are "things" in the paper about Jess.
She says her body shape was criticised too.
Her bottom, specifically!
Shane Sutton is head coach, and like many Aussies, calls a spade a spade. He has offered blunt criticism to Cavendish and Wiggins in the past. Chris Hoy was not selected in the sprint for the London Olympics because Jason Kenny was going faster.
And Jason won gold!
There is absolutely no sentiment in British Cycling.
They are ruthless!
I hope to hear a bit more, but Jess is a favourite of mine, and a can of worms has been opened!
I think British Cycling has to accept that Jess, or Becky James, or the younger ones, are not Victoria P. She was a one-off.
And she was treated in a shabby fashion, too!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, definitely cold! I am hoping for a warmer second walk, later on!
I object to having to "wrap up" so much in April!
Sorry for the confusion over your fire - I remembered your buying a new one, but had "gas" in my head (there are lots of very strange things in my head!) for some reason.
Would you believe that we are experiencing a very late flowering of daffodils in our garden?
These must be some of the ones that we planted late November / early December!
See, they did come up after all!
I missed the bit about Jess' bottom!
I am drinking coffee and doing the Times GK - brain not functioning very well this morning - it is taking longer than usual.
I placed some heavy books on top of the paperback that was damaged by the postman's ramming it through the letter- box - it's appearance is improving slightly..............

Hello, Elle!
Still cold up here.
I have delayed walking and I've finished my crossword.
No teatime treat today!
Your daffs have done well to appear!
I think Jess' boyfriend has got involved with the shenanigans now. Liam Phillips is a champion BMX rider.
Good to see him sticking up for his girl!
It was Liam who told Rio their Olympic BMX track was dangerous and he and others would not be riding it.
It has been fixed and I think he was invited over to test it, and has approved it.
One of my books has arrived.
From World of Books, perfectly wrapped in cardboard as usual.

Hi, Rusty!
We have just returned from the park - very cold still.
The best that can be said is that we found it invigorating!
Have you been out yet for a walk?
I finished the Times GK before we went out - once I got going, it rolled along quite smoothly.....
Unusual for you to do your xword so early?
How strange that your book from WoB should still be packaged in the usual strong cardboard, whereas mine were in a (somewhat flimsy) polythene padded envelope?
A mystery!
So which book was this? The one on bootlegging? Or another subject?
I rather expected my friend to arrive on the doorstep this morning....but she must have been back very late last night (or even early morning)...her curtains were still drawn on our return home!! Perhaps her flight was delayed.......

Hello, Elle!
I am waiting to see Vroum Vroum Mag run and then I shall have a short walk. This is the first time she has raced against the "boys". Always been in mares races before.
My package was a new type of cardboard, less rough than the usual one. It is the bootlegging book by Kenneth Allsop, written in 1961.
Yes, my crossword is "done and dusted", where did that come from?

Hi, Rusty!
You have mentioned Vroum Vroum Mag before.......isn't she one of Willie Mullins' horses?
(Have you placed a bet on her?)
I hope she does well.

I have just looked up "done and dusted" in Brewers.
It is considered possibly to have two origins......
The more literal sense relating to a clearing and cleaning process, and the other to a culinary one.
For instance, where a cake has been 'dusted' with icing sugar.
The former is the more likely, but, apparently, owing to the contrary meanings of "to dust" - on the one hand to remove dust; on the other to add it - the latter could also apply.
So there you are!

Enjoy the race - fingers crossed for Vroum, Vroum Mag - let us hope she goes like her name!
And have a good walk afterwards!

Hello, Elle!
Vroum Vroum Mag has been withdrawn.
Looks like she will head to Punchestown now.
Looks like Willie withdrew her as he had lost the battle to be Champion trainer to Paul Nicholls. That's the way it seems to me anyway.
I am sure Willie will make a statement before they head home to Ireland.
So, I am going for a dander now.

Hi, Rusty!
That is all above my head?
Why should Willie withdraw VVM because he had lost the battle to be Champion trainer?
Wouldn't he stand to lose prestige/ money?/ good will/ by withdrawing the horse?
I'll never understand racing!
Anyway........did you enjoy your dander?
How far afield did you venture?

Hello, Elle!
I did not dander far today.
A cold North wind blowing.
Willie has been fined for the late withdrawal of Vroum Vroum Mag.
Firstly, Willie trains Mag, he does not own her.
When it became obvious that he could not overtake Paul, the owners decided there was much more prize money and prestige at Punchestown, and withdrew her.
She will run at Punchestown, now.
They had kindly agreed to help Willie by running her today at Sandown, but by the time her race came round, Paul Nicholls was already champion. Hope that explains it.
I do not really agree with it, but that is what happened.

Hey, Rusty!
We have (looking out of the window!) a lovely evening here - but when you open the door........whew.......it's icy cold!
Thank you for explaining about Willie's withdrawing VVM.
I think I understand it!
And it seems fair that there should be a penalty for so doing.
But, in reality, who should pay the fine?
Isn't it the owners who actually withdrew the horse?
So shouldn't they be the ones to pay up?
(I may be way off beam here?)
You have BGT tonight!
Shall you watch it tonight? or will you record it to view later?
Again it clashes with "Casualty", but there is a clear hour before the start of "Casualty", so I may record the first hour of BGT.
You can fill me in on the rest? please? and then I can watch anything of note on You tube tomorrow!