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Hi, Rusty!
Yes, it does sound as though Laura is in training.
I guess it makes sense for her to concentrate on her running for a period now, having obtained her veterinary degree?
She can afford to put her vet career on hold for a couple of years, whilst going as far as she can with her Athletics.
I am hoping we shall see a lot of her over the Summer.
I like Laura!
I should have been able to parse "rifle shot"...I just didn't see "flesh" (and blood) for "family"!
I don't like "gran doper"!
And I didn't stand a chance with "deffo" - never having heard of either "offed" for "killed" or the word "deffo" meaning "certainly"!
My favourites were 3d: liegemen"; 7d: Whistlers mother ; and 16d: drudgery.
I'm doing the QC now.....

Hello, Elle!
Think Laura's main target is Tokyo Games.
It took me ages to parse "Whistler's Mother".
Then I saw "smother/put out"!
I knew "offed" but not "deffo".
I liked "Li feline" and "earwig".
I think chick 2 is trying to break out!
Exciting stuff!

Hi, Rusty!
Tokyo Games? that'll be another two years....
It sounds like a good game plan for Laura.....plenty of time after that for her vet career to take off.
I've been feverishly studying Lassie and the nest......but cannot make out if anything is happening?
I'm away to my bed.......
Maybe there will be another young chick by morning......
G 'Night!

Update, Elle!
Have a look at this.
https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/f/915/t/196831.aspx?pi2132219858=14

Good morning, Rusty!
A very wet and miserable day here!
I had a poggy dog at the end of my walk!
Those are fantastic pictures you posted..... I just missed them last night.
I must have logged off as you sent them.
I've just looked in on Lassie.....hard to tell if anything further has happened?
She is just sitting there calmly.
I couldn't see the chick?
I am out for lunch later.....this will be the last "Ladies who Lunch" for quite a while.
A Summer recess!
I am being collected at 11 am.
What are you up to today?

Good morning, Elle!
Dull and chilly here.
Fleecy weather!
You should bookmark that link I sent?
They seem to be up all night watching the nest!
I have a couple of things to do today.
And I'll support the "lad from Bury" in the mountains!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I have saved the link to My Favourites.
I thought it excellent!
My friend has just texted to say she'll be here in ten minutes.... I think we are going out straightaway.
I have only to put my shoes on......!
I hope you get all your jobs done successfully.
Fingers crossed for Simon!
Talk later.....

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Well, the rain stopped......although the sun never put its hat on!
An enjoyable lunch and an interesting catch up.
I see we now have two osprey chicks!
What a lovely surprise when I just looked in on Lassie!

Hello, Elle!
Lovely day here!
Yes, we have two chicks now.
Things are going well!
Now, Simon Yates has lost time today.
Dumoulin, Pozzovivo, and Froome, attacked him and he could not respond.
His lead over Dumoulin is now cut to 28 seconds.
That is his first sign of weakness.
Hopefully it will be his one bad day and tomorrow he will be back on song.
Glad you had a nice lunch!

Hi, Rusty!
Hopefully, number three chick will arrive soon!
Laddie will be very busy fishing.
I have tried checking on the Barn Owlets on Brownsea Island ( near Poole in Dorset) but the website has been down for a couple of days.
I hope all is well there.
That is not good news about Simon?
How significant a lead is 28 seconds?
It does not sound very much?
You will miss your visit from your son tonight....will a granddaughter come to see you instead?