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Good morning, Elle,
Bit dull here.
I do not get a Sunday paper.
I have read David Walsh online, though, and watched Wiggins on Andrew Marr's Show.
I do not think Wiggins came out of it very well, although Marr did not know enough about it, and Team Sky certainly did not come out of it very well.
I also came across an article in Daily Mail which referred to a charity that Wiggins set up to help poor children get into sport.
I think this was in 2012.
The Mail says the charity gave money to three Olympic champions, Trotty, Dani King, and Jo Rowsell. Odd?
It also gave money to Wiggin's son's rugby team.
Now, what are we to make of that?
Some good news though, Trotty and Jason Kenny were wed yesterday, in secret. Dani King was a bridesmaid.
I am heading out to the nature trail.
Wonder if Lassie has reached Africa yet?

Hi, Rusty!
How was the nature trail?
We haven't bought our Sunday paper yet, but I have now discovered that, if I sign on, I can access reading two articles free in the Times online each week!
Now how about that?
Very useful!
(I suspect it is most probably meant as a "taster", to entice one to sign on for the full package!)
So I have already read David Walsh's article........
I do not understand how Wiggin's charity could give money to such as Laura Trott et al?
They surely do not qualify as "poor" nor as "underprivileged children"?
Isn't this a gross misuse of funds acquired under false premises?
Is it going to be investigated?
Congrats to Laura and Jason!
I have finished - and fully parsed - the Everyman!
Though I prefer it to 'linger' for a while.....!
So back to cattle -droving for now........
We are going out later on this afternoon - and the sun is now shining!

Hello, Elle!
The charity money thing is very suspect.
But it is from Daily Mail, so not necessarily gospel!
Laura Trott has plenty of money.
She has gained several good advertising contracts.
So, a bit iffy, that story.
But, Wiggins got an advantage with the injections, which he denied having, in his book.
He and Team Sky may not, strictly speaking, have broken the rules, but boy did they bend them!
I agree with Tom Dumoulin.
Anyone whose asthma was bad enough to require injections should not be riding Grand Tours. They are ill!
Very shady, indeed!
I am very pleased for Laura and Jason!
Sun is out here, as soon as I came home!
May have another dander, later.

Hi, Rusty!
You are in fine fettle today - two walks!
Or do I mean in fine /high "feather"?!
I am having trouble with my desk top......it is supposed to do its updates at night.........but for some mysterious reason it keeps interrupting me to attempt to do them now!
It is insisting on over-ruling me!
Help!
Technology is taking over!
I think this would be a good point for me to go out for walk!
The computer might have finished its shenanigans by the time we get back!
But if I am silent for the rest of the day, you will know "IT" has won!
(Sorry, very bad pun.....)
Hopefully, catch you later!

Good afternoon, Elle!
How's you and the droving getting on?
One of my favourites songs when I was but young, was "Cattle Call" by Slim Whitman.
Some great yodelling in it!
Elvis sang it too, and Emmylou.
It is a fine afternoon with me.
I've had a good day and am in high feather!
Is "hoodwink" in your Brewers?
Not in mine. I was wondering where it came from?
America, perhaps?
I think updates are an imposition we have to tolerate to ensure the 'puters behave properly.
Best done overnight but they often think they know best and do them when they please!

Hi, Rusty!
Home again from our walk - a lovely afternoon after such a miserable beginning to the day!
I have nearly finished the chapter on Cowboys!
Canby has just lost his arm to a marauding Indian.
Your reference to the song "Cattle call" is very appropriate......remember how the lyrics go.....
"The cattle are prowlin', the coyotes are howlin'
Way out where the dogies bawl......"
Only on this muster, the "dogies" are not allowed to ride with the rest of the cattle because they will be unable to keep up with the herd.
Were it not for that first born calf being put in the cook's wagon, it would have been killed.
I cannot find "hoodwink" in my Brewers, either?
What brought it to your mind?

Hello Elle/Rusty,

Just had a look in my 1996 Oxford English Reference Dictionary and it says that 'hoodwink' originally was 'blindfold'; but it does not say how it became changed!

Weather reasonable after a small shower around 2pm.
Hope you are both OK

Hello, Elle,
There will be more on Canby as the saga unfolds!
So, the drive is not finished yet, with you?
It was a tortuous trail across the desert.
Hoodwink?
I just saw it written and wondered at it's origin.
The language is full of words like that.
Nice to know how where they came from.

Hello, Pigale!
I am in "fine fettle" as they say!
I trust you are the same?
Are you missing the ospreys?

Hello Rusty,

I am not bad either Rusty, thanks!
Yes, I definitely am suffering from 'ospreys withdrawal symptoms', though a little less now than at the beginning. Shame there is no feed back on the blog as to the whereabouts of Lassie / Laddie and their offsprings. Hope they are safe

Hi, Rusty!
It is good to know that Canby will reappear in the saga!
I thought I had seen the end of him!
It is the interweaving of the various main characters that gives the story its edge, don't you think?
I am now always wondering who will appear next on the scene!
I looked up "hood wink" in my infamous Chambers.
It gives it as "to deceive ; cheat; blindfold" and then "to cover up; hide (Shakesp)"
I am uncertain as to this Shakespearean reference?
My Chambers is unreliable at the best of times...what does it say in yours?
Any word from Miss O?
Is she having a good time?
I must now think about dinner........ have you had yours?


Hello, Pigale!
Good to hear from you!
Yes, I am fine, thank you!
I am beginning to feel much better - and certainly far more energetic! - now that we are having cooler weather.
Yes, it would be good were we able to learn how the ospreys are faring.
It was interesting to follow their daily progress, wasn't it?