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Good afternoon, Rusty!
How was your outing to the Pine Cone?
Did just the two of you go, or did Miss O join you?
The family has just left...we have all had a great time together !
They arrived in time for an early lunch...and the boys have had me playing games this afternoon, whilst their mum kindly sorted out our Sat Nav!
YB (he is three) is coming along nicely and likes to play Snakes and Ladders now, and Snap...except that he calls it out all the time "just in case"!
I had forgotten about Alexa and the dogs.
Yes, I think she may well stand a good chance of winning....
A child and animals combination are often a great attraction!
How is the cycling going?
It's still wet here!

Good afternoon, Elle!
No show without Miss O!
She came along, too!
Will be quiet without the family?
Alexa and the dogs stand a good chance with normal voters, but the "super fans" are a law unto themselves, it appears!
There are several mediocre acts in the final.
We shall see!
Cycling is over.
Rained the whole day.
A win for Mads Pedersen of Denmark.
I have "Millionaire" tonight.
Looking forward to seeing Lynn back again.
She is going along quite nicely!

Hi, Rusty!
Uhm, yes, a good point about the "super fans" not being "normal" voters..... they certainly do not seem to possess good judgement?
Now wasn't there some scandal about the "winner" almost giving the game away by posting on social media.......or similar scenario?
That leads me to wonder who might have been foolish enough to do that before the show even went on air?
Neither Kseniya nor young Alexa seem to fit that bill?
Ah well, we shall find out soon enough whether we consider the winner to be worthy of the title!
Yes, it is quiet since the grandchildren went home.
They all leave for Ireland on Thursday for the wedding on Friday!
I think they fly from Stansted.
I have the Athletics to watch for most of this evening.......interspersed with my chat with my cousin...
I shall record the parts that I might miss!
Still raining......

Hello, Elle!
I have read that many folk know who has won. (I don't)
The winners were photographed with their prize, seemingly.
I don't see it as being their fault, though.
More BGT's fault/incompetence for not making sure it stayed secret.
Paddy Power normally has a book on BGT heats and finals, but not this one, because they would take a hammering from those in the know, if they did.
I saw a clip of Diane Lewis complaining about the athletics taking place in an empty stadium.
Michael Johnson agreed with her.
Too late to do anything about it now, though, more's the pity.
No rain here, been dry all day.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, the stadium remains largely empty today.
Very sad, and so discouraging surely for the competitors?
I am just going to set the recorder for the remainder of tonight's Athletics, before my cousin phones me very shortly.
I don't want to miss seeing Dina Asher -Smith's races!

Update, Rusty!
I had a very nice chat with my cousin...all are well up there.
They too have had heavy rain, all day.
I caught up with the Semi-final of the Women's 100m, after talking to her, and now have just watched the Final.
A terrific race!
Shelly - Ann Fraser - Pryce came first...... as expected, and indeed a well- deserved win!
But Dina Asher -Smith took Silver!
Well done, her!
Ta Lou came third; Elaine Thompson fourth
All very exciting!
The commentators were all saying how disappointing it was , though, that all this took place in a nearly empty stadium.
Never has a World Championships been so poorly attended .
Right, I need a coffee now, after all that activity!

Hello, Elle!
It seems that South of the Border has got all the rain today.
Been dry here.
I agree the athletics is very disappointing.
The choice of Doha by IAAF stinks. Corruption abounds.
I wonder if the IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, will have anything to say about it.
Though him speaking out about anything like this would be a first.
Possibly Sergey Bubka may offer an opinion...or an apology to all the athletics fans, and the athletes.
I find the empty stadium a complete turn-off.
Just can't take this championship seriously.
And EuroSport are not showing it.
Not so good, indeed!

Hi, Rusty!
It is so sad though for the athletes.... they have trained for these Championships...and worked very hard in so doing.
Just as they are also working towards the Olympics next year.
I feel they need our support and faith in their abilities, and that the powers-that -be are unfortunately lacking in forethought...if nothing worse or more sinister?
The athletes' achievements should not be lessened by the set up, or possible corruption of the authorities, don't you agree?
It is hardly their fault that they are put in this invidious position?
It was good to hear Michael Johnson seeming so well and fit...I like to hear his comments.
And don't you think that Jess Ennis- Hill's previous coach, Toni Minichiello, is doing a wonderful job as a commentator?

Good morning, Elle!
Still dry here!
I was a bit puzzled yesterday.
I read about Bekele just missing the world record by two seconds in the men's marathon, and yet I did not know that the marathon had been run?
Turns out the marathon was in Berlin, and that's where the top marathon runners were...not Doha.
The Guardian have interesting info, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/27/world-athletics-championships-doha-payment-investigated-french-judges
I have only watched several events.
Women's hammer, men's long jump, and women's 10,000 metres.
I'll watch Laura Muir's race, but I think that will be all.
Quite a few years ago, the German authorities banned EuroSport from showing the Tour de France in Germany, because of the doping.
I would like to see something similar happening regarding the farce in Doha.

Good morning, Rusty!
A nice sunny morning here ...and a very pleasant walk!
But I think rain is forecast for later on.
The Guardian article was extremely interesting....thank you for sending it.
I knew about the Diack father and son prosecutions, but not the extent of the (ongoing) corruption.
Yes, I totally agree , all such corruption should be firmly stamped on, with heavy penalties in place for those found guilty.
I too do not understand about the Marathon races?
I was under the impression that they were taking place in Doha?
I am not sure, though, about the banning of a Sport being shown on the television?
One needs to be careful just whom one is "punishing" here.....
It would be grossly unfair, for instance, to all the Athletes who have worked up, throughout their careers, to an important Championship - like The Worlds or the Olympics - were the general public unable to watch and applaud their accomplishments, do you not think?
The athletes are not to be held responsible for the faults / corruption of the governing bodies.
Now...my plans for the day.....
Organising some holiday stuff this morning...and watching the Athletics this afternoon!
With a dog walk thrown in somewhere!
How about you?