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Hi, Rusty!
I think you missed a treat if you never watched "Morse".
It was a great series.
And John Thaw was magnificent as Chief Inspector Morse!
Yes, Morse liked to do the Times crossword!
I really enjoyed/ enjoy the series.
I am always happy to watch re-runs!
John Thaw was married to Sheila Hancock.
Are you going to the Pine Cone tomorrow ?

Hello, Elle!
There is an awful lot I have not watched over the years.
I simply prefer other things to most television programmes.
I watched a few episodes of "Taggart", though.
No Pine Cone tomorrow, maybe on Sunday.
I will see if there is skiing on EuroSport, and I plan to have a look at the fields for Cheltenham next week.
I am looking forward to Cheltenham!
And one of my very favourite bike races takes place in Italy tomorrow.
The "Strade Bianche", over the white gravel roads!

Good morning, Rusty!
Dull and dreary here, as yet.
But sunshine is forecast for later.......although few would believe it, looking at the black sky!
You sound as though you will have a Sport -filled day.....what with skiing, and cycling, and checking out the horse-racing ahead.
Unfortunately there are no Athletics for me to watch this weekend!
Still, we have family visiting tomorrow, so that will keep us busy.
Right, coffee, and the crossword call.....

Good morning, Elle!
Beautiful day here.
Not a cloud in the sky, but icy pavements, though!
Puzzle complete and I am looking forward to the cycling.
Yes, Cheltenham starts on Tuesday and there is a big golf tournament next weekend I am interested in.
I still have Millionaire to catch up on, too.

Good morning Elle and Rusty!

Hope all is well with both of you - I keep a "diagonal" look at the
PCT every now and then so keep up with most of your news, I
think!

Rusty, the PARIS-NICE cycling race starts on Sunday, as you probably
know, and on Tuesday - Day 3 - the race will cross my village.
The starting town on that day is about 18kms from here, so our
main road will be closed from 11.30 am till 14.00 pm I think.

Looking at the route, and weather permitting, I might go down
my lane and watch them pass - that will be about 20metres from
my home! I fear the forecast is not good for that day though,
not so much for the odd shower, but mostly for strong winds,
either from South-West or North-West.

Good day, Pigale!
I hope you are keeping well?
Yes, I am looking forward to Paris-Nice!
"The Race to the Sun"!
First big stage race of the year.
I shall look forward to seeing your village!
You must wave to us!
The crosswinds will make for good racing but perhaps not for spectating.
I hope you and your friends enjoy the race!

Hello Rusty!

How long to you reckon it will take the riders to cycle the 18kms
between the starting (small) town and my village?
It is pretty flat country, I know there are one or two smaller
villages to cross with narrow roads, but all in all it should be
easy riding.

I am keeping reasonably well Rusty, and at long last the back has
definitely improved - so long as I do not lift anything heavy, and I
reckon I will remain with this small problem for the rest of my life.
I just have to be more careful and not try to do anything strenuous,
and remember at all times that I am not 20/30 anymore!

Problem: the mind still feels young!

Hello, Pigale!
I know the feeling about the mind thinking it is young and the body not quite agreeing!
Good news about your back, too.
Take things carefully and you should be fine!
Now, the race.
There will be the publicity convoy travelling ahead of the race, which you may want to see, and get some freebies.
18km should take somewhere between 21 and 25 minutes, I think, depending on weather and tactics.
There may be an early attack and if so, 20/21 minutes should bring the leaders to your village.
The villagers will be looking forward to it.

Yes, what I shall do is walk down to the village proper and meet
my mates - the little tavern where we usually gather is situated
on a strategic spot, at the bottom of a hill, and right on the corner
of a sharp right hand turn to get into the village center.

They will not cross the heart of the village itself as it is a one-way
system and quite narrow, but rather take the Boulevard de la Republique which gets around it. Then another sharp right hander
to get out on their way to Moulins.

I've just discovered that there is a Sprint-point somewhere in the
village, but I have yet to find out where precisely - It would be
an interesting place to be as a spectator?

Hi, Rusty!
Oops! Time has rather got away from me... a friend popped round late -morning..... and has only just left.
It is a beautiful day here, too, now .
The sun did eventually arrive, duly wearing his hat!
Yes, I finished my puzzle , too.
I always prefer Saturday's puzzle to the weekday ones!
I have all clues completed , bar one somewhat dubious parse....I am working on that!
I must check out the cycling on Tuesday, having just read Pigale's post....
She could wear a red rose clutched between her teeth, and wave The Times newspaper at us!
Did you find time to watch "Millionaire"?



Hello, Pigale!
It is lovely to hear from you
I am glad that you are feeling so much better.
Hopefully, if the cycling is covered on one of my TV channels, we shall both see you when you stand at the end of your lane!
I am suggesting a red rose between your teeth and a waving of The Times?