Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Chris,
I am sure that was mentioned in my book on Alaska.
I could not remember which shipyard(s), though.
I no longer have the book.
There was quite a bit about Peter and ships.
A very interesting character!

Hi Chris and Rusty,

Peter (the Great) first worked in shipyards in Holland before coming to the UK; if you type 'Peter the Great's work in shipyards', you might find more info;

By the way, my husband was born in Alaska where his father worked at the time and he remained there until he was 6 years old - He did return there on his own when a teenager.

On reflection, I think it might have been Depford rathe than Greenwich (next door!)

Apparently the well-known story about the cause of death of Catherine the Great isn't true - pity!

Hi, Rusty!
I have been absorbed in the tennis!
Andy Murray won in a 2 sets to 1 match against Marin Cilic.
A good game.
At present, Raonic has taken the first set from Tomic.
As I recall, there is quite a lot about Peter the Great in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.
He went first to Zaandam in Holland to learn the shipbuilding trade as an "ordinary" seaman, but was eventually dissatisfied with the Dutch prowess, so decided to go to England.
King William sent ships to escort him and he then studied ship building at the large docks at the mouth of the Thames.
I shall review all this with renewed interest on our next visit to the museums at Greenwich with BB and refresh my memory!
That is good that you have plans for Fathers' Day tomorrow! You deserve to have a great day.
We are going to have lunch with our daughter - the two "fathers" can be feted together!
(I need a circumflex over the first "e"!)
Are you watching your golf now?

Chris, I think you are right in saying that Peter the Great studied at Deptford Docks!
I was deliberately vague because I couldn't remember

Hello, Elle!
I was watching the golf, but my man, Bubba Watson, made a pig's ear of one hole, so I left it for a while.
A lot of useful info about Peter the Great!
I think, at the start of his reign, Russia had no ships, but when his reign was over, they had a powerful navy.
Spain had a king called Pedro the Cruel!
Wonder what he got up to?
It is a lovely evening here.

Hello, Pigale,
Thank you for your info!
One of Russia's top men in Alaska was Alexander Baranov.
Think there may be bits and pieces still named after him.
He was known as Lord of Alaska.

Hi, Rusty!
Dull but fine, here.
At least the rain stayed away in West Kensington so the tennis remains on schedule.
No, I didn't really enjoy the Athletics!
The prowess of the athletes was excellent - I enjoyed that part....but the way the programme was produced was awful!
Fifty minutes was all that could be spared to show the entire Diamond League event in Stockholm! Just fifty minutes!!
This has to be the shortest showing yet! sometimes we do get at least one hour!
And considering that everywhere I turn, I am inundated with ( hours of) football, I consider this most unfair.
No sooner are we given the names of the contestants , than the race is over and the results are showing.
One event is rushed into another.....diabolical! It's hard to keep pace......
Laura did well - but she did get boxed in; I see what she means about needing to use her elbows!
David Rudesha seems off his form?
I hope the golf is less blood -pressure raising ? I am feeling quite stressed!

Hi, Doglet!
Are you about? I am sure that you will support me here. Have you watched the Stockholm Diamond League on the BBC today?
I thought the programme even worse then usual today with its meagre, very rushed offering.
I wonder what we can do to make the BBC up their game?
Any good ideas?

Hello, Elle!
The BBC possibly used the Eurosport coverage and cobbled the bits that interested them, together?
I do take your point regarding football.
Not a sport I am keen on. Bad tempered and cheating non-stop.
I have been a bit miffed with Eurosport this week.
Both their channels showing tennis! No cycling until night time.
And BT Sport seems to have been showing hockey all week.
Laura is learning. She said she shall sharpen her elbows.
Nowhere on the television can I find the slightest coverage of the women's cycling this week.
Lizzie is leading with one day to go.
It finishes tomorrow at Kettering. Not sure where that is?
The golf is relaxing, I find, but it is not everyone's cup of tea.
Each to their own!

Hi, Rusty!
"Cobbled together" would fit the description of the programme very well!
It is a shame that you cannot find the women's cycling event .... being deprived of so much athletics, I am feeling very sympathetic!
I wonder whether a timely letter to the BBC about their Diamond League coverage would achieve anything?.......but I fear not!
Kettering is in Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands. I only know because it is about two miles from the village where our elder daughter now lives.
I have just started a book by Mark Billingham.
Do you remember my telling you about his being on a team of Challengers on Eggheads?
It is interesting to have learned a little about the author of books that I have enjoyed.