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Hi, Rusty!
Your home-made soup sounds delicious!
I am just going out for walk now, whilst the sun is still shining.....
Back in a bit!

Hello, Elle!
Sunny here, too.
I had a wee stroll, too.
I could not find the cycling on anywhere, so I went out.
I think Trotty and Katie Archibald may have won a silver medal, behind Denmark, but the report I read was in Dutch, so it's only a guess.
Maybe the BBC will get round to doing a report later.
My soup is very tasty!

Hi, Rusty!
We had a pleasant walk.
I much prefer the early mornings though.......much quieter and only the dogs and their owners about!
We went up to Crystal Palace Park, but it was fairly "busy".
We should have driven further afield.
Where did you venture for your own walk?
One of our neighbours popped in when we got home, and he has only just left.......
Did you find any further info about the cycling medals?
Did Trotty and Katie win the Silver?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, walking in the mornings is much better!
My walk took me round the back of ASDA.
Was only twenty minutes.
The BBC has posted a report on the cycling.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/50117855

I thought Trotty and Katie would win, but, not to be.
All this is a preparation for the Olympics.
I have been reading about some of it.
They will have new very high tech bikes for the Olympics.
And there is other "stuff" being developed.
There is a room at British Cycling headquarters, called the "secret squirrel" room, where things are being developed.
The riders are not allowed entry, all very "hush-hush"!

Good evening, Rusty!
It is almost dark outside already...and just think that this time next week, it will be even darker, as the clocks go back an hour at 2 am Sunday morning!
Winter will really feel as though it is setting in!
The plus side to this, of course, is that (for a time at least) it will be lighter in the mornings!
I much prefer that option!
Thank you for the news clip.
Well done to Laura and Katie for achieving the Silver medal.......and for very nearly getting the Gold!
The new high-tech bikes sound good.
I wonder what other empowering stuff is being produces in the "Secret Squirrel" room?
It all sounds very intriguing!
Are the girls back from Aberdeen?
Were they just going for the day yesterday.....or for the weekend?

Good evening, Elle!
Soon be early dark!
The track bike frames are made by Cervelo, a Canadian manufacturer, and are tested at a space technology centre in California.
Almost certainly there will be new high tech skinsuits and hats.
Anything to shave fractions of a second off the times.
So, could be new wheels, pedals, chains, anything!
Even the top riders like Chris Hoy were not allowed in the secret squirrel room.
I have not heard from the girls today.
I got my usual "Goodnight, Grandad" text from them last night, but nothing so far today.
They may be at the ice hockey this evening, if there is a game on.

Hi, Rusty!
I did not realise that so much scientific thought went into cycling!
I had expected the bicycles themselves - frames and components - to be "space age"..... but had not realised that the same type of research went into the clothing and protective helmets worn by the cyclists!
I can thus see why the contents of the "secret squirrel room" will be a much guarded secret!
know I have said this before, but I do think it's lovely that the girls always send you a "Good night" text!
So where would the ice hockey be played?
Is the rink local to you?
There will be no telephone chat with my cousin tonight, as she has gone with her daughter, son- in- law, and grandson to see Blackpool Illuminations!
I hope they have a fine night for it....

Hello, Elle!
Yes, the equipment including clothes and shoes etc is very space age!
And the girls are told to tuck their pony tails inside their helmets to cut down wind resistance!
Not all of them do what they are told, though!
It's like "The Waltons" here at ten o'clock when the "Goodnight Grandad, X" texts arrive!
I like it.
The ice rink is just over a mile away, but there is no game tonight,
They are away from home playing Sheffield Steelers tonight.
Coventry Blaze were here last night.
The ice hockey is a good night out!
A great atmosphere!
Hope your cousin and family enjoy the lights!

Hi, Rusty!
Speaking of the girls tucking their hair inside their helmets......
Competitive swimmers always wear caps...or the men sometimes shave their heads..... for comparative reasons.
I often wonder why female athletes , especially those participating in track events, do not adopt similar hair restrictions?
One would think that masses of hair streaming out behind them would slow them down?
But perhaps it doesn't?
I have never been to an ice hockey match!

Hello, Elle!
I would think hair billowing out behind the sprinters would slow them down.
You see it in Alpine skiing, too.
Long hair flowing out from under the helmets.
And the skiers have high tech suits and boots on to cut down drag.
The ice hockey is great entertainment!
There are ten teams in the Elite league.
Five from England, three from Scotland, the Devils from Cardiff, and the Belfast Giants.
I think the nearest team to you will be the Guildford Flames.