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Hi, Rusty!
I am glad that you all had a great time together!
And I am sure that you too looked very smart and did your grandson proud!
He would have been pleased that you were there to share in his triumph.
Yes, the tennis was good - no "upsets" today.
Marin Cilic and Feliciano Lopez both won their matches , as might have been expected.
I think Cilic stands a good chance of winning the Championship now........
But I wouldn't hang my hat on it......
Much cooler and fresher here now...but we still have had no rain!

Hello, Elle,
I forgot to say,
my grandson's Mum graduates tomorrow!
This is her second degree!
My grandson leaves for Australia on Wednesday, on holiday.
I can not keep up with these young ones.
They are always up to something!
It is quite a bit cooler here.

Hey, Rusty!
Wow! Good for her!
So does this mean another family celebration?
Is your grandson going touring in Australia or staying in one place?
Is his girl friend accompanying him?
He deserves a break after all his hard work!
How long is he going for?
At least he hasn' t taken a leaf (yet?) out of Miss ATW's book!

Hello, Elle,
No, she is not going to the graduation ceremony.
No, my grandson has relatives living in Australia.
He is going to see them.
His young lady is not going.
I am not sure how long he is going for.
He knows about Sandy.

Hello Elle and Rusty,

Finally our heat wave has given in! 'only' due to reach 29C today -
which will be a lot better. All windows opened at present to cool
the house down before the sun gets too strong.
But like you Elle, no rain!

Rusty, I have just had a look at the Tour's route - A good few
pure mountain days, but it seems to me that there are more 'flat'
days than last year?
The riders have not been named yet have they?

How are you both?
Still hurting but I now have a morphin patch given to me by my
GP - hope it will help!

Good morning, Rusty!
A beautiful day here....thankfully much fresher .....temperature 20C out this morning.
I believe it is set to reach mid-twenties later.
I am just back from the park.
Whereabouts in Australia will your grandson be staying?
Will he be anywhere near where Sandy was "retired" in Maribymong, near Melbourne?
I have a free day today.......in that I have no pressing engagements , nor are we expecting visitors!
I need to catch up on some correspondence .........but not until I have had a coffee and an apple and cheese..... and a look at the crosswords.......
Priorities, right?
Tennis later ........
What are you planning for today?




Hello, Pigale!
I am glad that you have got some more effective pain relief.
You are indeed having a hard time .
i hope you will be better soon.
It might help you a little now that it is not so hot?
How are the cats faring in the heat?

Hello Elle,

The cats are still in their 'holiday home', where there is some
form of air conditioning -
I thought it better to leave them there a few more days, until I
can move about a little more easily, if only to feed and water
them! and I have phoned the lady twice, I know the place and
they are well looked after.
I gather that the heat does not seem to affect your dog?

Good day, Pigale!
29° is still hot!
It looks a flatter Tour this year, unfortunately.
I know Team Sky have announced their team but do not know of the others.
Froome leads Team Sky but there is no place for Ian Stannard.
I like Stannard, a real workhorse!
Yes, let us hope the morphine patch is helpful!

Good day, Elle!
It is cooler here, too.
I don't know which part of Australia my grandson is going to.
It is on the coast, I know that, and he has been warned about the box jellyfish.
They are very nasty things to get involved with.
I nipped in to see my GP earlier, on my way to the butchers.
I bought a largish steak pie.
They are excellent.
The puzzle is quite good today.
I liked 28a!

Hi, Rusty!
Now I have heard about box jellyfish.... they are potentially lethal, are they not....having a poisonous venom?
Yes, your grandson had best stay away from them!
I hope you are okay, having called in to see your GP?
(To get a prompt appointment with our GP, one needs to plan being ill ahead of the event!)
Yes, the 15 x 15 was a good one today!
I have finished it all bar one parsing.......
20a: Where punters are withdrawing computer game (9)
I have "Cambridge" from the crossers.
I wondered whether "Cam" (the river) might be "where punters are"?
But I think I have this wrong, as I cannot go any further?
16d was my last one in, and I got this - "cadastral" - from the parsing!
I had to look up the word to check its meaning.........
It was a new word for me.
Yes, "balalaika" was a good one!
A friend named his dog after "Laika"!




Hello, Pigale!
I am glad that you managed to organise accommodation for your cats, whilst you were in hospital.
Yes, it makes sense to leave them there until you feel able to care for them.
My dog does not appear to "mind" the heat...but I still do not take her out when the temperature is very high.
I have been getting up about 5am and going out much earlier than usual, while it has been minimally fresher.