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elle

11th April 2017, 14:30
Re the osprey eggs........
I have seen still photos on the blog of the three eggs - but although the webcam is apparently now working again, I cannot see the nest properly?
For me, it is like looking though opaque glass again...I had hoped that problem had cleared up!
Is anyone else having difficulties observing the osprey nest ?
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rusty

11th April 2017, 16:54
Good afternoon, Elle!
It is a bit cooler here today.
Not shirt sleeve weather!
That's good you enjoyed the tennis!
i think Andy, Roger, Rafa, and Novak, all get on pretty well considering they are in a very competitive business.
In the charity games they can relax and have fun.
I have finished Emma's book.
There was some info in it that I did not know.
Did not know she was a close friend of Betsy Andreu for instance.
Betsy was another who helped to bring Armstrong down.
Or that the president of the UCI knew about the US Posties doping and turned a (well paid) blind eye.
I am glad the book is finished though.
I did not like reading about the deaths of Pantani and Jiminez again.
So, my next book will be a cheerier one!
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elle

11th April 2017, 17:58
Hi, Rusty!
Still beautiful here...although it has never really warmed up.
But I don't mind that...it is just nice to see the sun...even if there isn't any real warmth to it.
We enjoyed our walks!
It was good to see a smiling, apparently happy and relaxed Andy yesterday!
Roger, of course, was his usual charming self!
Yes, maybe you should opt for a pleasanter book next time........
I know you enjoy reading about these incidents and gaining more true facts about what happened, but it can surely be depressing.
I am afraid I do not know Pantani and Jiminez?
I'm assuming they were both cyclists?
Did they die , then , as a result of drugs?
My daughter has just sent me a text message making arrangements for tomorrow!
It will be my birthday, so apparently I am being taken out to lunch!!
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rusty

11th April 2017, 18:45
Hello, Elle!
Yes, Pantani and Jiminez were riders, both climbers.
Pantani died of cocaine, jiminez's heart stopped.
Both young men.
There is quite a list of riders who died through drug abuse.
Anyway, the World Track Championships start tomorrow.
I am looking forward to that.
No Jason Kenny or Ed Clancy riding, though, or Trotty.
Right, I am heading out for a while!
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chrise

11th April 2017, 19:53
I remember Pantani well ("The pirate"), but I'm struggling to place Jiminez. Was he a Grand Tour rider?
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rusty

11th April 2017, 20:01
Yes, mainly known for his rides in the Tour of Spain.
He was a great climber, but known to be very erratic.
He rode for Banesto.
He died of a heart attack in a psychiatric hospital.
He was only 32.
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elle

11th April 2017, 20:26
Hi, Rusty!
I see that you are home again...aren't the evenings staying light for a long time now? ......the days are stretching out.......
I have just read what you said to Chris about Jiminez being in a psychiatric hospital. Was that a direct result of his illegally taking drugs?
That is so sad...such a waste of a life due to drug abuse.
No wonder you found your book so distressing and depressing.
I still have my Amazon voucher to spend....I shall go for something relatively light and entertaining , I think......
I wonder if Jeffrey Archer has anything new in the pipeline?
Or Sebastian Faulks?
He is another favourite author.
I shall browse.......I may pop into Waterstones and take a look, too, at their new best sellers for inspiration!
Right, I still have "15 to 1" to watch......
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chrise

11th April 2017, 20:56
He passed me by, somehow - at the time I probably only followed the Tour and the Giro.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_Jim%C3%A9nez
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rusty

11th April 2017, 21:06
Hello, Elle!
Yes, Jiminez was seen as the successor to Miguel Indurain but was nowhere near good enough to be compared to Big Mig.
I do not think he was ever normal but the drugs made him worse.
It was a great waste and very sad.
Same with Pantani.
He died alone in a hotel room. Cocaine everywhere.
What comes through in the book, however, is the strength of the women involved. Emma herself, Kathy LeMond, and Betsy Andreu.
Betsy was the main whistleblower and Armstrong, according to those in the know, was too cowardly to meet her and apologise to her.
Betsy is not to be messed with.
Her husband, Frankie, was often road captain for the US Posties when Armstrong was winning his Tours.
He blew the whistle, too.
There is tennis on BT Sport this evening, from Bogota, I think?
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chrise

11th April 2017, 21:10
Yes, Betsy Andreu came out very well in David Walsh's book on Armstrong.

I really felt betrayed by Armstrong. I would find that difficult to forgive.
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