Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Hello, Elle!
Yes, it was very nice of LouLou, and yes, the little lad was shivering!
The problem of where to end today's stage was easily fixed at the summit of the Col d'Iseran because that was the only place on the route they had timing mechanisms.
They had little, or, no, choice.
Yes, the good descenders lost out, but there was a climb up to Tignes to come, too.
Not ideal, but what else could they do?
Today's stage is done and dusted.
There was no stage winner declared....not yet, anyway.
Tomorrow's changes are for the safety of the riders.
There is a bad weather forecast, and landslides on one mountain pass, which they are avoiding.
The stage finishes at Val Thorens, which is highest skiing resort in Europe, so let's hope the weather is not too bad.

Here's another clip of LouLou, Elle.
I don't think he takes President Macron very seriously!
The other rider is Thibaut Pinot, who looks like he can't wait to get away!
https://twitter.com/itvcycling/status/1152613935918571521

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I understand.....and obviously the safety of the riders is paramount.
That was an amusing clip!
Alaphilippe was more interested in waggling his eyebrows repeatedly at the camera.....quite a skill!
And Thibaut Pinot looked bored stiff!
Oh dear! Poor President Macron..... I hope he doesn't see that video!
I don't think there is any Athletics this weekend.....or not that I can find in my TV guide.....
It is the Final of "The Voice Kids" tomorrow night.
I am looking forward to that!

Hello, Elle!
I can see LouLou ending up in the Bastille for showing a lack of respect in the company of the President!
I tried the eyebrow waggling. It is not easy!
Thibaut Pinot looked as if he just wanted to escape!
I have not noticed any athletics scheduled?
Now, speaking about "The Voice", Tom Jones is appearing in town tomorrow evening.
I think it will be a sell out!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is very wet here.
We had a wonderful walk in the pouring rain!
Pleasantly cool
No one about that early, but dog walkers and a few isolated runners.
What is it like up your way?
I had to smile at the thought of your waggling your eyebrows!
I tried it, too!
I had to go and look in the mirror to see if it was working!
I think, though, it is only effective if one has big bushy eyebrows like LouLou.
I wonder if Tom Jones will return as one of the coaches in the next series of "The Voice"?
I hope the set up remains the same....they are a good team.

Good morning, Elle!
It is rainy and much cooler here this morning.
And very welcome it is, too!
I felt sorry for poor Pinot.
He looked almost distraught listening to the President!
Tom Jones seems to be almost a fixture on The Voice.
I imagine he'll be back.
Last day in the Alps at the Tour.
Wonder if there is any more drama to unfold?
It has been the best Tour de France for many years.
A very open race, too.
I've enjoyed it!

Hi, Rusty!
Still wet here......I think it is set in for the day
Decidedly cooler now...only about 18C
Hard to believe it was previously 38C!
I am not complaining though, but relieved!
This is so much more tolerable.
Tom Jones is very popular with the other "Voice" coaches, and, I think, with the general public.
But the BBC did axe him, ad replaced him with Boy George at one point.
Tom was only reinstated, when ITV took over the programme.
It would be nice to have all the regulars back for the adult version of the show.
I hope the cycling goes well today......with no further traumas!
A good puzzle today, I thought?

Hello, Elle!
I much prefer the cooler weather!
I think Tom is doing an outdoor concert tonight.
Hope it goes well!
The Tour will be on soon.
Unfortunately it is a shortened stage today, what with the weather and landslides etc.
I hope there is some drama on the final mountain of the Tour.
It has been a very enjoyable race, the best Tour for years.
Yes, a fine puzzle today!
7d and 16d are new words to me, and I have heard of 10a but had no idea what kind of food it was.

Hello Elle and Rusty!

Where is Alaphilippe at the moment? Can't see without his
yellow jersey!

I have just read that Egan Bernal was born in Columbia (of course)
at 2600 odd metres altitude ! No wonder he is happy in the mountains!

I am not happy with the way this TdeF is ending - We shall never know
if Julian could have picked up the seconds he needed on the last part
of the race - he had already picked up 4 or 5 seconds on the little
bit of descent before it was all stopped - Not a clean end of stage

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I hope the weather improves for Tom's concert if it is outdoors!
You are hoping for drama on the Tour?
Were I watching it, I would be dreading that!
I have done all the clues in today's crossword, so have a completed grid.
But I have four slightly dubious parses...however, there is plenty of time to sort those
out.
Moussaka is a Greek dish , made mainly from aubergines, minced lamb, potatoes, and a white sauce.
It is not particularly spicy, so you might like it?
I do not like aubergines, but I have an alternative recipe (somewhere!) using other ingredients.
My favourite clues were 22: treble clef; 25a: unloving; and 26a:souvenir



Hello, Pigale!
We have rain a-plenty!
Would you like some?
It is a much nicer, cooler, and generally fresher day.
We enjoyed a walk in the rain this morning!