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Hi, Rusty!
I do not pretend to understand the logic behind these boundary changes, Rusty!
Most of us just ignore them and happily carry on referring to Richmond and similar as still being in Surrey...rather than Greater London as it now considered to be.

But Wikipedia says....
"Kew was added in 1892 to the Municipal Borough of Richmond which had been formed two years earlier, and which was in the county of Surrey.
In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963, the boundaries of Greater London were expanded to include Kew which, with Richmond, transferred to the new London Borough of Richmond upon Thames."

Basically, Kew, in the Borough of Richmond, is now in Greater London.
And yes, it is in the South-West.

I loved the video of Pete Sagan racing Grandma Joan!

Personally I have always fancied one of those large adult pedal trikes!
Do you know the ones I mean?
The curate at our local church used to have one!
I could have a large basket in the front for the dog!

Hello, Elle!
Now, I have heard of Richmond.
I think the Rolling Stones played one of their first concerts in Richmond.
(That's my total knowledge of Richmond!)
But apart from the Gardens, I did not know of a place called Kew.
A good clue if you know London!
That was some dirty look Grandma Joan gave our Pete on the start line!
Pity they did not have a green jersey for Grandma in the video!
Yes, I agree about the bike basket.
You could call into Greggs with it and stock up!

Hi, Rusty!
I have been checking out the Athletics in my TV guide.
A busy weekend coming up!
The tenth and eleventh Diamond Leagues are showing on the BBC on Saturday and Sunday!
The 11th Diamond League is the Anniversary Games - a two day event at the London Stadium.
Will this clash with your cycling and golf?
Or will you get chance to watch some of the Athletics, too?
Now, I have a question for you from "Eggheads", which I have just finished watching!
This is one posed to the viewers -at -home, by Chris........
"What Scottish village takes its name from a 15th Century Dutchman?
I am sure you will know the answer!




Just seen your post about the rain, Ros!
None here as yet!
And we've passed zero hour!

Hello, Elle!
I have not looked at the sport schedules for the weekend.
Will have a look at the paper to see what's on after I come home tomorrow.
There may be a good horse race somewhere too.
Now, I do not know the answer to your query, but shall have a go!
I suggest either Friockheim, or John o' Groats?
It is a long time since I saw Eggheads.
I liked Daphne when she was on it.
A fine girl!
The nest is empty.
The chicks are growing up!

Hi, Rusty!
You are correct with John O'Groats!
Apparently named for a Dutchman called Jan de Groot, who lived in the reign of James IV.
It is a strange story.......Jan de Groot had seven descendants who quarrelled about precedence .
So he resolved this by building an octagonal house with eight doors - one for himself and one for each of his sons.
He also had a similar shaped dining table, so that no one sat the head of the table!
(Lord knows where his poor wife fitted into all this!)
There is a mound commemorating the spot where his house was built.
Over the years, the name became John O'Groat's.
An interesting bit of History!
I do not know Friockheim?
Where is that?

Yes, I liked Daphne, too!
I think she would be delighted to be called a "fine girl"!

Good morning, Elle!
Bit overcast here, so far.
John o' Groats was just a guess.
I was not sure if it could be called a village or not.
There is not much to John o Groats!
A hotel and a few houses. It's pretty remote.
You seem to have investigated Jan de Groot and his poor wife very thoroughly!
Friockheim, (I thought the name looked a bit Dutch!) if you can imagine a triangle consisting of Brechin, Arbroath, and Forfar, well Friockheim would be in the centre...roughly.
I am not sure where the name came from.
It is pronounced. "Freekim".
I am off to visit young Miss O'Hara this morning.
I wear my old trousers when I go, as I get a very enthusiastic welcome from her dog, which can be very severe on the trousers!

Good morning, Rusty!
Another lovely day here!
Pleasantly fresh at the moment, but with the threat of much higher temperatures, as the day progresses.
No rain!
We had a good walk.
You may well be visiting your family by now....I was rather late back this morning.
I hope all are well.......you may hear more about their trip to London!
I have a few chores to clear first......and of course a crossword or two to do....and then I shall be able to concentrate on the Athletics for the rest of the day!

Good afternoon, Elle!
Not long home from my visit.
My phone has been busy too!
They have no shows booked for London but have museums on their bucket list.
Just finished my puzzle.
A good one but took me ages to "work out" 27a.
It is allegedly one of those homothingys.
Just awful, so it is!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Well, we do have some great museums!
Does your family have anywhere particular in mind to visit?
I always like the Egyptian Rooms at the British Museum.
But there is so very much choice.
The Science Museum in Exhibition Road, Kensington is well worth a visit......
Miss O'Hara might well like that?
And the Natural History Museum close by is another option!
There is plenty from which to choose!
I have to "do" Museums in small doses though....
I much prefer browsing the Art galleries!
Yes, my phone has been busy too!
I have watched little of the Athletics so far, as everyone has been ringing me!
But fortunately, I am recording it all!
I have "Sofia" = "City" for 27a ?
"so" sounds like "sow"/ instil
"fia" sounds like "fear"/ panic
I suppose I've come across worse homophones!
I cannot parse one of its crossers, though ?
I have "aorta" = "bloody channel" for 22d?
TA - volunteers
but "aor"?
Maybe I've got it wrong?

Elle, you're perfectly correct with Aorta. The odd-looking word/bit is in Chambers.

Rusty, I too thought the Sofia clue was poor! Fia doesn't sound like Fear to me, I've repeated it umpteen times and am still unconvinced.