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Hello, Elle!
Still a fine day here.
The aeroplane has just landed at Amsterdam.
Just seen the rangers at Loch of the Lowes have announced that Lassie has not been seen since Tuesday.
Looks like she is on her way to Africa!
Another successful season for her and Laddie!
I don't mind tea but I prefer coffee!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Ah, that is good that your family has arrived safely in Amsterdam
I hope they have an enjoyable holiday ......how long are they staying there?
Well, rain has again stopped play here.
The builders have gone home as it is pouring down!
We shall have to hope for drier weather on Monday.
I have finished my crossword with only one clue to parse today.
20a: Fiat for the time being desire nice motoring (6.4)
The answer is "decree nisi"- anagram of "desire nice"
How does it parse, please?
I cannot understand it?
Godspeed to Lassie on her way to Africa!

Hello, Elle!
They will return on Monday at teatime.
Hopefully Monday will be dry for the builders.
My take on 20a, is....
A fiat is an order/warrant by a judge, "for the time being" means it is a "decree nisi", rather than a permanent "decree absolute".
Now that is only my interpretation, Elle, it may not be absolutely correct!
But, I am quite happy with it.
Yes, may favourable winds bring Lassie safely to Africa!

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, thank you...yes, I can see 20 across now that you have explained it to me!
We have thunderstorms here now... ...very loud thunder, although I have not yet seen any lightning.
I had been thinking of taking out the dog as the builders have left.......
I don't mind walking in the rain.....but the thunder has put paid to that !
There is no way I could persuade the dog to leave home in a thunderstorm!
She is hiding behind the sofa!
I shall watch the Championships instead........

Hello, Elle!
Best keep your dog home while there is thunder about.
I do not mind walking in the rain, too.
I looked up one of the Nike vested athletes, Timur Morgunov, and he is a Russian.
But he does not appear to be competing for Russia?
A bit strange, surely?

Hi, Rusty!
I wonder if some of the Russian athletes are competing under neutral status?
As they did in the Olympic games?
I think this sounds a likely answer?
And it would explain why he is wearing his own "gear".
Now...I have just had our elder daughter on the phone.
They are back from their holiday in Northumberland, having had a great time, and are now keen to come to stay with us!
Daughter and the two boys will arrive on Monday the 20th for a week!
I shall have to put on my thinking cap and devise interesting things to do /places to visit!!

Hello, Elle!
Seems odd goings on with Russians?
I have seen several athletes in the Nike green kit.
I am cheering Eilidh Doyle at 19.50!
You will be glad to see your daughter and boys!
My son texted to tell me he has never seen so many bikes as there are in Amsterdam.
I never knew that Anne Frank was a German national.
I always thought she was Dutch.

Hi, Rusty!
Now I have just Googled and found this
http://tass.com/sport/1015479
I hope it works?
So it seems my theory was right?
But yes, I agree, still an odd circumstance?
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, I think?
But her Jewish family moved to Amsterdam when she was a very young child.
I have read her Diary, but such a long time ago!
I didn't get to watch much Athletics due to one thing and another!
But I did see quite a lot of Alistair Brownlee in the Triathlon earlier .......
Such a pity he only finished fourth...he was in the lead in the last stage, at one point.
I need a coffee...….

Hello, Elle!
Yes, it works!
But, there is a Russian team competing anyway, so how do these folk get an entry too?
That's what puzzles me?
I had a wee read about Anne Frank earlier.
She was a German national but became stateless when she lost her citizenship in 1941.
This was all new to me.
The athletics are running behind schedule which is annoying.
I only want to see the races, not talking heads in the BBC studio.
It has been a lovely evening here.

Hi, Rusty!
I am thinking that it is perhaps only in the Athletics events that the Russians are competing independently as "neutrals"?
Would that work, do you think?
I wonder if I still have my copy of "The Diary of A Young Girl"?
But I doubt if I'd ever find it until I have my big sort out of all my books!!
I may see if I can pick up a cheap copy from Amazon.......
Yes, fine here, too, now...... at last!
(We could do with the builders coming back and working by floodlights!)