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Hi, Rusty!
Well...I am going to be like the proverbial ostrich and stick my head in the sand for the next fortnight!
I refuse to allow any unwelcome thoughts about drug taking spoil my anticipation and viewing of the Wimbledon tournament!
I shall 'pretend' that all is as it superficially seems!
I haven't heard much about the women tennis players ?
Is Serena going to be playing ?
I must try to hunt up the lists of seeded players., and see who will meet potentially whom in the various rounds.



Hello, Pigale!
Yes, I feel sure you are right.....I too remember the athletes arriving early in order to acclimatise themselves to the high altitude...
And yes, some had been training in similar locations in readiness.....
But I cannot remember where this was?
Nor what event?
I think it was relatively recently?

Good morning, Elle!
Another fine morning here!
Hope you enjoy the tennis.
I read that Serena Williams was given a seeding of 25.
Her actual ranking was much lower than that because she had not been playing due to pregnancy and childbirth.
The 32 seeded woman (I've forgotten her name) was not happy because she lost her seeded ranking to accomodate Serena.
Training at altitude is very common amongst athletes.
It allows their bodies to produce extra red blood cells.
Then they race at lower altitudes and have an advantage because of their changed physiology, which can last up to 20 days.
For instance, Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan had been training at altitude at St Moritz before the British Athletics Championships.

Update, Elle!
There is a 12 page Wimbledon pull-out in The Times today.
Lots of good stuff in it.
One thing that surprised me was the height of the men.
Of the top 8 seeds the smallest player is 6ft 1inch.
Several are 6ft 6ins!
When Andy Murray was recuperating from hip surgery, he passed the time doing crossword puzzles!

A Very Good morning to you, Rusty!
Yet another beautiful day here.
Blue skies, glorious sunshine!
If only it were somewhat cooler, though, and I felt able to go out and about more and enjoy it!
I was out at the crack of dawn this morning to 'beat the heat.'
And now we have to go into Bromley in an hour!
My husband has an appointment at the optician's.
He had trouble with the Field Test ( the one where one has to click when seeing a flashing light) when having his vision checked a week ago, and has to go back to repeat the test.
And to collect his new reading glasses.
I hope all is well and the test goes okay.
We should be back in time for Wimbledon!!
Have you been out for your paper?
How hot is it up your way?

Hi, Rusty!
Oops! I 've just noticed that we have crossed posts again!
Thanks for the tip-off...
I shall try to buy a paper whilst I am out.
Am about to leave now......…..
Catch you later!

Hello, Elle!
I do not know how hot is it, but it seems very warm.
This is the best summer that I can remember!
I hope your husband passes the peripheral vision test.
I failed it three years ago.
The patch they covered my eye not being tested with, was very uncomfortable and made me blink and caused my eyes to water.
I could not concentrate.
I took the test a week or two later, they adjusted the patch for me, it was much more comfortable, and I passed the test.
Been fine ever since!
I changed opticians early this year and the Field Test is much shorter now.
Takes less than a minute.
There is a bit in The Times about Lynsey Sharp complaining about Laura Muir running in the 800 yesterday.
Said she entered after the closing date.
British Athletics say that is not true!

I've just seen that the salbutamol doping case against Chris Froome has been entirely dropped, so presumably there will be no more heard about him being banned from the TdF.

Good afternoon, Rusty!
We are just home again....... we took the opportunity to do some shopping whilst in Bromley.
All went well at the optician's!
My husband had his new reading glasses fitted......and then he wore them for the repeat Field Test....
He passed it this time around!
I do not know how long the test took, as I was not present in the room where it was carried out......
But apparently the test has been modified nowadays to include lights of differing intensity!
I do not recall this at my last test?
Anyway, nothing to worry about, all is well!
I didn't realise that the tennis started early as 11am.....?
I am just about to switch the TV on now....!



Hello, Chris!
Thank you for that bit of info about Froome.......
I wonder how the findings came to be changed?
It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.......
Either he was over the permitted limit or he wasn't.......

Hi elle
It's explained here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/44679483
Apparently there are so many factors affecting measured levels that a single test should never have been given such significance.

Good afternoon, Elle!
Good news for your husband passing the Field Test!
You will both be relieved!
I remember my test being much shorter, but I think the lights have always been of varying intensity.
I do not think it is unusual for someone to fail the test, then be fine on the next one.
I watched Sloane Stephens getting beat.
She seems to lack a bit of sparkle this year.
Christian Prudhomme, the Tour de France director, has confirmed that Froome can start the Tour after being cleared of doping charges, but expressed his "extreme anger" that it has taken so long to resolve.
9 months does seem a long time.
Anyway it is very warm here and I am watching the football!