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Sid Saltmarsh of the Sun was the man who invented "put me back on the bike."
Complete rubbish.

Elle and Pigale,
Normal service has been resumed at the loch!

Yep, just seen the chicks and Lassie but she has just left now leaving the young ones half-asleep.

Time for bed for me too,

Night night

Goodnight, Pigale!

Hi, Rusty!
How terrible for Tom Simpson to collapse and die from heat exhaustion.
The amphetamines certainly would not have helped together with such a high temperature as 50C.
So was Tom thought to be taking drugs to enhance his performance - or were the amphetamines simply a normal medical prescription?
I presume back then there was very little done to test for drug-taking?
I have just looked in on the chicks after reading your latest post...
Only two in residence in the nest.
I wonder if the male has ventured out yet?


Hello, Chris!
Thanks for the info!
I don't know if you read my post the other day about the painting of the six sphinxes at Crystal Palace Park?
You will no doubt remember them as stone coloured - well, they are being repaired and then painted a dark terracotta red to match the original sphinx in the Louvre.
Apparently the last time the Crystal Palace sphinxes were painted this colour was back in the 1900s.
I don't think I like it.......Google it and see what you think?

Good morning, Elle.
Fine morning here!
Regarding Tom.
It was common for riders to take amphetamines.
The year he died it was national teams in the Tour, not trade teams.
He was part of a very weak British team.
Tom had been suffering from diarrhoea (spelling?) for 24 hours and his manager at Peugeot advised him to abandon (in a phone call the previous night) and not start the Ventoux stage. His own personal manager insisted he ride. He was in poor condition before he got to the mountain.
The summit of Ventoux is an awful place. It is like the surface of the moon.
Scorching temperatures and no respite from the sun.
In hindsight he should not have rode, but a combination of illness, scorching heat, and amphetamines, caused his death.
Tom was a great rider and a very popular one.

Good morning, Rusty!
A lovely day here, too!
Ah, I understand now about Tom.
Thank you for explaining.
It is fitting then to have a memorial to him on the site where he died.
This will serve both as a tribute to him, and also hopefully as a warning to other competitors to take due care.
You were up and about early this morning!
I expect you are now occupied with watching the golf?
Did you mange to get out first to collect your paper?

Good morning, Elle,
Yes, a fitting tribute to Tom.
His daughters added a plaque to his memorial some years ago.
A personal tribute from them.
He was a very popular rider.
Known in the peloton as "Mister Tom".
Yes, I was on the go early today.
Arrived at Screwfix at 7.05!
My plan was to get in ahead of the tradesmen!
Screwfix is a busy and popular store.
Bought several torches.
From there I went to ASDA and LIDL.
I had the golf on for Monty teeing off at 6.30!
It is a fine day at Troon, too!
I'll watch the golf until the cycling starts.
High winds, as Pigale said, are forecast for Mont Ventoux.
Hope the riders keep safe!
Is this Ladies Who Lunch day?

Hi, Rusty!
You have certainly been busy this morning !
(Why do you need so many torches?)
"Mister Tom" is also a children's book about a boy called Willie Beech, who is abused at home in London.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Willie is evacuated to the country, where he is put in the care of an elderly recluse.
With Tom Oakley - "Mister Tom" - Willie experiences a new life of loving care.
This was made into both a play and a film......John Thaw played "Mister Tom" in the film.
He was great in the part!
I've read the book and seen the film.
A heartfelt story.
Have you read it?
Yes, it is "Ladies who Lunch" today, but I am not going this week!
We have our granddaughter and her mum coming over after school - they will stay for dinner - so I am staying at home today!
Otherwise it will be far too rushed to fit everything in!
How is your golf going?

Hello, Elle!
I do not "need" so many torches.
Only one is for me.
The rest are for family members.
I shall spread my bounty.
No, I have not read Mr Tom, but I have heard of it.
I know of John Thaw and liked him as an actor.
Have you ever read Pollyanna?
I do not know the author.
Possibly Canadian?
It crossed my mind to try it.
I have vague memories of a TV series?
Be a nice change from The Treaties of Utrecht!
Golf is going well, and I am well content with it.
Good to see the Americans on this side of the ocean.
Like having old friends visiting!
Weather is fine, but rain and wind are forecast for tomorrow.
Be nice to see your granddaughter for a while!
One of mine, Miss La Bamba, has just landed in Greece for a two week holiday.