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Hi, Rusty!
I have been testing my brain power!
Watching Eggheads and 15 to 1.
It has been good to sit down after a day of walking about most of the time!
You are lucky to have the Cycling to watch tomorrow.
I am afraid that I shall never take to that....I do not like a sport where someone is liable to get seriously hurt.
I find the suspense unsettling!
(It's a bit like watching "Casualty"! except that is fictitious!)
But come next Friday, I shall have the Opening Day of the European Indoor Athletics Championships to watch!
I shall have to do some recording though, because it will be YB's first birthday on that day!
An important occasion!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, there are lots of crashes in the bike game.
Just the way it is.
I will watch though.
My hero, Cancellara, has retired, so I am not so sure who I shall cheer.
Probably Peter Sagan. I like him.
Both BBC and Eurosport are showing the athletics next week.
Been a fine day here.
Not sure what tomorrow will bring.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I accept that there are crashes........it is the "waiting game" for something bad to happen, that I do not like!
Isn't Peter Sagan Slovakian - or am I misremembering?
I wonder who will give the better coverage for the Athletics?
BBC or EuroSport Player?
I can "play".......
Our weather looks to be grey and somewhat forbidding for the morning......
I think I get the crosswords tomorrow.........but will have to buy the paper all next week!
J away on another holiday!
Daughter just texted to say she is now safely back home!

Hello, Elle!
That's good your daughter is safe home.
Yes, Sagan is a Slovak.
I do not know if he is riding this weekend though.
I hope he is.
I think you will find that BBC wiil focus on the GB contestants, and Eurosport will focus on the actual event.
That is usually the way.
The coverage from both should be first class, though.
Wonder if Jonathan will commentate for Eurosport?
i think Eurosport should buy Tina a new woolly hat.
She has had the bluey purple one on for three weeks now!

Good morning, Rusty!
We have a dull and somewhat chilly day here!
Not very pleasant out as yet.......
Have you been out for your paper?
What is it like in your neck of the woods?
It sounds as though you have a good day planned with the cycling to watch.
What time does it start?
Right, I need a reviving cup of coffee........and maybe an apple........

Good morning, Elle!
Mild and cloudy here!
I have been for my paper and it is still unopened!
I'll leave the crossword until evening, I think.
Just watched the women's giant slalom.
Ilka Stuhec won.
(You would not like it. Many racers crashed out.)
There is cycling on now, but it does not appeal to me.
Tour of Abu Dhabi or something like that.
The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad from Belgium will be on later and will be much better racing.
It is the first of the "biggish" Belgian races.
Sagan rides.
The major Spring Classics come later.

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, now having done my "chores", I settled down to study the crosswords.
And I have actually finished the 15 x15!
As usual, I found the Saturday puzzle much easier than the daily one.
I wonder why that is?
I have but two to parse!
And one that I thought should be all one word?
(I must look it up)
It is time for more liquid refreshment (coffee, that is!) and then I shall turn my attention to the Jumbo GK puzzle.
I hope you enjoy the later racing.
Any further news on the British Cycling "scandals"?

Hello, Elle!
Very well done on the crossword!
I really liked 4a!
Was ages getting 7d!
It reminded me of the Bristol Rovers supporters singing their club song, "Goodnight Irene"!
To me it sounds like "Goodnoight Oirene!"
All good fun!
The latest I know about the British Cycling stink is that a Parliamentary Enquiry was "postponed" a few days ago.
I hoped to watch it on BBC Parliamentary Channel.
There was a highly critical report submitted several years ago which was very much diluted and swept under the carpet.
This latest one is highly critical of the "bullying sexist" regime at British Cycling.
They have statements from many past and present folk who were involved at BC.
From Dame Sarah, Victoria P, Jess Varnish, Nicole Cooke, etc.
And some of the paracyclists who were referred to as "gimps" by senior staff.
I believe it is damning.
Apparently spin doctors have been employed by BC to twist the truth when it finally emerges.
It is a lovely day here now!

Hi, Rusty!
Awful here!
A very high wind has arisen again, and the rain attacked us, on our way back to the car!
But still, good to be out , getting exercise!
Yes, 7d is tricky if you don't know a Brummie accent!
I dimly remembered "I'll give it foive" - from Juke Box Jury (I think?)
I liked "spikiness (15d); "stasis" (14a); and "inanition" (27a)
I thought "Cochchinchina" (22a) was all one word though?
It's a bummer, isn't it, this business with BC?
I had never heard of the word "gimp" before?
I had to look it up...
Chambers gives it as having various different meanings........one being "a lame person" (U.S. usage)
But I am assuming that it was used in a far more derogatory sense than that ?
I hope the powers-that-be well and truly "throw the book" at British Cycling!
"Good Night, Irene " is now going through my head....... (again)!

"Thank your lucky stars" Elle.
Juke box jury was just "hit" or "miss" no scores