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Hello Elle and Rusty, and Ros

Reading the blog (osprey blog that is), it seems that they have
been tagged earlier today - apparently they turned off the camera
while it was done, but it is working again now, so I assume it has
been carried out early.

Much less hot, (only 24C) but grey sky and humidity in the air - and some drops of rain every now and then. Thunderstorms throughout the night, but not violent for us. Much worse from South West all the way up to Brittany and Normandy, creating problems.

It is still warm and muggy and will remain so until Saturday - then
Summer is back! hopefully a more dry and more reasonable heat.

Have you had thunderstorms?
I know Ros was saying it was forecast for her area - did it happen?

Hi, Rusty!
I watched Venus Williams win her match against Johanna Larsson.
Now it is Stan Wawrinka playing against Grigor Dimitrov.......one set each.....
I am surprised that they are playing each other so early on in the tournament?
It seems an odd draw?
Daughter rang me on her way home from work, so we have been chatting for the past hour.....
I had the TV on silent at the far end of the room, so I could keep on eye on proceedings on the tennis court!
Yes, I saw that Sloane Stephens went out.......perhaps she had an "off" day?
Reports say that Selena is "struggling"......although I think she has eventually taken the first set.
Whew, it's certainly hot!



Hello, Pigale!
It's hotter than ever here today........and no breeze at all!
I am not happy......I really hate this!
We were in Bromley this morning......not from choice, but because my husband had to go for a further eye check...all went well this time!
I am watching tennis, drinking iced water...with the fan on!

Hello, Pigale!
I did not know the chicks had been tagged.
Have they said which sex they are?
It is still hot here, but now we have a breeze, thankfully!
Our forecast is at least another two weeks of this weather!

Hello, Elle!
What impressed me regarding Wimbledon was the fine condition the courts are in.
Well done to the ground staff.
And I see the ball boys/girls are as highly trained as ever.
They are super!
I do not have the knowledge, Elle, of the players rankings, to know if the draw is odd or not.
Sloane was disappointing!
I'll switch my support to Madison Keys now!
I have not seen Serena yet.
My TV is on "silent" 90% of the time.
We have a bit of a breeze today and it is most welcome!

I haven't looked at the ospreys for a while and did just now. Wow, they have grown!
The Met Office extended their yellow warning to this area, but I didn't expect any rain and didn't get any, either. None forecast until Saturday and I don't believe even that. Have been filling old dustbins with water as sooner rather than later there will be a hosepipe ban.
I'm reduced to watching iplayer. However, it's a book group this evening, so company and good conversation and the **** with wall to wall sport!

Hi Ros,

Wise to fill your bins with water - I am surprised that there does not
seem to be any talk about water restriction here - Yes, we had more
rain in June than we normally do, but I know some local peasants who
are already complaining about lack of water - Mind you, French
peasants always complain! The soil in our area is very well drained,
naturally that is, and after the next couple days of unsettled weather,
we should go back to very hot weather for a fair while.

I do not watch sports on TV either Ros, except the odd Rugby
match during the Six Nations Tournament (but not all of them)
and Le Tour de France - not only for the sportive part of it, but
more for the scenery, particular in the mountains.

Enjoy your evening - good conversation is worth a million
TV programs!

Hi Rusty,

I only know about the ringing because I happened to look at the
blog this morning, and apparently it was taking place precisely
then.
No mention as to the sex of the chicks as far as I know - did they
mention anything about it last year? I can't remember!

I am in two minds regarding the results of the saga with Froome!

Good evening, Pigale!
I had a look at the loch blog.
They "think" it is two male chicks.
They are really growing!
I think Froome was fortunate his team are so wealthy they can throw enormous amounts of money at the case to achieve a good result for them.
And I think WADA are toothless, and we have known for years how useless the UCI are.
I think it should have gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as well as being decided months ago.
Consider the case of Alessio Taliani.
He used a nasal spray for rhinitis during the 2016 Tour of Portugal and recieved a four year ban.
He is out of racing until 2020.
Yet Froome can fail a test and nothing happens to him.
Something stinks!

Hi, Rusty!
Wow! What a match!
Wawrinka won in the end........it was only a pity that the two men met so early in the tournament, as both could have got very much further....
I am thinking that this early meeting might be a result of Stan's having been away from tennis for a while due to injury and possibly being ranked lower as a result?
But I haven't got so far as checking out their rankings.........this is only hypothesis !
Right, television is now off for the night...
Yes, I read the osprey blog, too, and see that it is thought that the chicks are both males.
I wonder how soon they will start to fly?
A rum business about Chris Froome - and I hadn't realised that so long a time lag had been involved.
I don't think "justice" is a word that the authorities know......
Well......I must organise dinner!



Thanks, Chris , for the link about the cycling drug issue.
I missed your post earlier!

Hello, Elle!
You seem to be enjoying the tennis!
Madison Keys won.
I don't see Laura Robson playing?
The chicks have started to stretch their wings!
I believe the chicks at Manton Bay have fledged.
The Froome business stinks.
Originally Team Sky said he may have a defective kidney that was hoarding excretions rather than get rid of them, then they handed in a 1500 page report to the UCI, who passed it to WADA.
And UCI/WADA twiddled their thumbs for months.
I always remember what Bradley Wiggins said to a young up and coming English rider.
"Don't join Team Sky, whatever you do. They'll ruin you!"
Anyway, it appears Froome can ride on Saturday and I suppose it is a weight off his mind.
I would have preferred to see Geraint Thomas leading the team but that won't happen now.