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Hello, Elle!
Hope your cousin heals quickly.
I do not know why "LouLou" is his nickname.
Maybe a French thing?
Many years ago, Raymond Poulidor was a great French cycling hero and was known as "PouPou".
Maybe a connection?
ReCaptcha does not bother me on my Chromebook, I only tick a box.
Often on my tablet, I have to find fire hydrants, etc, though.

Hi, Rusty!
Uhm... well, I can see how the nickname "PouPou" was derived .....but not so why "Lou Lou"...... no obvious play on the cyclist's name there?
Maybe the reason will come to light as Le Tour continues?
I am reading a book by Dick Francis, that I came across when at Polhill Garden Centre last week.
I had thought that I had read all his books, but this one had somehow escaped me.
I am enjoying it.....it is light and entertaining, with the usual slant about horse racing and detection.
It is good to curl up on the sofa with a good book at the end of a tiring (remember all those races) day!

Good morning, Elle!
A bit cloudy here!
I have tried to find out about "LouLou", but came up blank.
He is a bit of a character, and the French folk love him.
I have not tried a Dick Francis book, but I do remember him riding Devon Loch, for the Queen Mother, in the Grand National.
I think he died a few years ago.
I have done the puzzle online today.
And if I am allowed to pick a "clue of the day", it is 21d!

Good morning, Rusty!
Yes, it is cloudy here, too.......although we are promised sunshine later and a high of 27C in our area.
It is already unpleasantly muggy.
Yes, Dick Francis died in 2010.
He has written over forty books, mostly solo, but some in conjunction with his son Felix, and a few with John Francombe, another ex jockey, and crime writer about horse racing.
I expect you will know of him, too?
Goodness, you must have indeed been up early to have finished your crossword before you posted your message!
And you must be a very quick solver, too!
It takes me most of the day sometimes to finish my puzzle!
I shall take a look at 21d once I have printed out the crossword........

Hello, Elle!
I know John Francombe, a fine jockey in his day.
I did not know he wrote books though.
Yes, I tend to rise early.
I am not a quick solver.
I prefer to savour the clues and enjoy the puzzle.
Does that make sense?
21d
"Everyone asleep, perhaps, curled up (6)"
I think it's a great clue!
My microwave oven has given up the ghost.
Had it a long time, though.
Now, to get a new one!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, indeed it does make sense......
I enjoy "lingering" over my crossword, too......but my taking a long time is often of necessity.....because it takes me ages to work out the clues!
I only remarked that you must have been quick today, because you seemed to have finished your puzzle before 7 o'clock!
(Mine only arrives whilst I am out at the park, so I rarely get to start it before 10.30am.)
Yes, I liked 21d!
b all ed = curled up (def)
"all in bed" - "everyone asleep"
A good clue...and it made me smile!
A pity about the demise of your microwave!
I have my Bosch Tassimo coffee machine in bits ...…..
It refuses to froth...... so I have watched a video on You-tube about how to remedy the matter.
And am about to put it to the test!
So watch this space........!!!!

Maybe Pigalle can explain the stories behind the nicknames.
Mind you, it could be tricky just as it is with British ones.

Good afternoon, Elle!
I can get my puzzle online at several minutes after midnight.
Though I almost never do that.
21d is a smashing clue!
Well done, the setter!
I see a microwave in Curry's that would do me fine.
And my son will take me for it, with the old one for recycling.
My clothes washing machine is a Bosch and it is excellent!
Everything you ever want to know is on YouTube, Elle!

Hello, Kenyatta!
Yes, I'm sure Pigale would perhaps know.
She has not been on the forum for a few days, though!

Hello Rusty, Elle and everyone!

I hope everyone is well? Would you like some of our (very hot) heat???
At present, it is 47C on my terrasse! (in the sun of course, but still!)

Now, LOU LOU is a friendly term of endearment commonly used
by just everyone here and in every circumstances! I cannot give
you an equivalent in English, it is a mixture of "Dear", 'Petal' or 'Pet', 'my Little one' or whatever other sweet word you might choose to call someone you particularly like - it is very familiar, but in the nicest
possible way, and yet in a way it remains respectful -

Do you know what I mean? Difficult to explain what I feel in my guts
when I use the term!

I have kept up with the Tour of course, but not on a continuous basis as all my British friends decided to come over at one stage or another! so I had to be very selective as to the stages that I
really wanted to watch, and often only saw the second part of the
stage.
I am delighted about Julian and Thibault of course, and also pleased
to see Geraint Thomas AND young Egan Bernal doing well.
If this youngster can remain in the first 6, or even the first 10, till the end, it will be quite an exploit for a first go at this age!

What a brute of a stage with the Tourmalet!
and we still have the Alps to come, stages 18 and 19 in particular -
in the heat!

Hope to be able to watch those two stages in their entirety!

Any news otherwise?
How do you feel now Elle, has your gums stopped aching?