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Elle, I agree - the Wawrinka/ Dimitrov match was wonderful, exciting stuff! Yes, Stan W was out of the game, through injury, for so long that he has dropped way, way down the rankings. The same goes for Andy Murray. At Wimbledon, the seeds are kept away from each other initially and the initial rounds are just luck of the draw. That's what happened with Wawrinka and Dimitrov. We could also have had Andy M against Federer, Nadal, Raonic, any of the seeds.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I love Wimbledon fortnight!
But I am rationing myself as to how much tennis I watch!
The proportion might well increase next week though, as tension mounts.......
Now I do remember reading that Laura Robson had not been granted a Wild Card for Wimbledon.......
But I think since then it has been mentioned that she is to have hip surgery?
Next week sometime?
But I may have this wrong......
The saga about Froome seems to become even more ridiculous.......
Surely if he really did have a defective kidney , he would not be participating in such a taxing sport?
Who is trying to con whom, here?!



Yes, Malone! that is what I had thought must be the case!
It was a match worthy of at least quarter-final prowess..... if not further on than that!
A great pity to see Dimitrov go out so early...but Wawrinka deserved his win!
Incidentally , this is the first time I have seen Grigor Dimitrov without his facial foliage...I wouldn't have recognised him!

Elle, I just hope today's match doesn't take too much out of Wawrinka. I'd love his return to health - and to top form - to continue much longer. I preferred Dimitrov when he was a bit scruffier!

Hello, Elle!
I pick and choose the matches I watch, but shall take a closer interest in the next week.
I did not know about Laura's hip?
She did not progress the way we hoped!
If you were a cycling fan, Elle, you would probably be an old cynic like me.
We have seen it all.
From the Festina/Richard Virenque case, the Astana affair, Germany refusing to take transmissions from EuroSport of "your tainted sport", Armstrong, Contador, Floyd Landis, jiffy bags, and countless more.
And us fans deserve much more than a press release on the outcome of the Froome debacle.
A proper explanation would be a good start
Yes, a wonky kidney was Sky's first attempt at explaining it away.
(Wonky kidney did not stop them allowing Froome to race on, though)
And surely if he had twice the permitted amount of the drug in his urine he should have been in a hospital ward rather than trying to win a grand tour.
I am sure Team Sky and their money provided a wonderful defence for him.
I was speaking to two of my old cycling clubmates this afternoon, (lads who raced with me 50+ years ago) and none of us believe a word that comes from Team Sky.

Good morning, Rusty!
Another absolutely glorious day here - with a pleasantly fresh breeze whilst I was out walking....
Perfect!
Yes, I can quite understand both your frustration, and your cynicism, with regard to the cycling world.......
I am turning a blind eye to any possible drug infringements though, whilst watching Wimbledon..... lest it spoils my enjoyment of the occasion!
I have a free day before me.......that is after a few minor chores have been accomplished.......like hoovering ......ugh!
So I shall attempt the crosswords ( didn't have time yesterday!) and watch the occasional tennis match ( it depends who is playing) this afternoon!
What about you?

Good morning, Elle!
I have the same hot weather but no breeze so far.
I am not in the slightest bit frustrated, but certainly very cynical regarding UCI/WADA policing drug cheats in my sport.
There are cheats in every sport, Elle, who try to stay ahead of the testers.
And money talks!
Amen !
It is quite noisy here today.
My neighbour is getting gas boiler and radiators installed and quite a bit of banging going on, understandably.
My day is free too.
I am having a clothes clear out, and I'll leave my puzzle until later.
Usually my puzzle is my tea time treat!

Hi, Rusty!
I decided to have a padded winter coats / jackets wash!
It is such a lovely hot and breezy day that it seemed ideal for such a purpose.
I am feeling very pleased with myself now, as all are out drying on the line.....
Then they can be put away clean until the Winter!
Meanwhile, home on the range, in between washes, I have been struggling with the 15 x 15 crossword.....
I am in difficulties...... about three -quarters way completed.... not all clues parsed .....
I am not enjoying the puzzle today.
I shall set it aside for now......
Perhaps you will find it easier?

Hello, Elle!
Great idea getting the winterwear washed and dried in the fresh air!
You will often find puzzles that are trickier than you are used to.
Accept the challenge, Elle, and get stuck in!
I have just finished it, and it is fairly tricky.
I can almost see the parse at 16, I think!
New words for me were 4d, 6d, 8d, 14d, 18d and 13a.
Now, that is more than usual for me, though you may well know them, or some of them.
And I discovered a new word for "honey" at 24a.
Or, I should say, Anne Bradford discovered it for me!
Fine breeze here now!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Well, I did persevere with the crossword ....and I have done all bar two that interlock...and two parses!
So not too bad an effort ...but I just didn't enjoy it at all!
I haven't even finished up with a minimum sense of achievement.......just a hatred of today's puzzle!
Those I cannot do are 14d: Old film technique from USSR, heading off endless cash grabs(9)
M?V?E???E
I thought maybe "movie" for film? but got nowhere with that.
and 23a: I love not being separated (2,3)
I? / ??E
And the two parsings.....
16a.....I have "revolving door" = "what short term personnel go through" (def)
Now this is a term for a quick exchange of staff.....
and I can see door - rood (reversed) / cross
But where does "revolving" come from?
and I cannot fully parse 22d: "iceni " = old people (def)
But then what?
So where am I going wrong, please?
Now .....it is lovely out - the heat is bearable with the strong breeze...so dog and I are popping out for a short walk !
(Husband is snoozing!)
Back in a bit......and then I shall watch some tennis!

Hello, Elle!
14d is "movietone".
It was a technique developed to match film to sound. USSR heading off, is "(s)oviet", inside endless cash "mone(y)
23, I have "in one". "I" and "none" for love.
Not certain it is correct, but it seems to be?
I agree with "revolving door", Elle.
I can only surmise that "rood" has revolved (backwards?)
But it is not a satisfactory clue for me, unless we are missing something?
I liked 22!
"off" is "ice", American slang for "kill", "home" is "in", reflected to "ni".
Hope this helps, if not, ask, and I'll rack my brain a bit more!
Fine breeze here.
Enjoy your walk.
Your husband has the right idea!