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Hello Rusty,

Well, a difficult stage indeed today and amazing to see many little groups at a fair distance one from the other. Voeckler did not go very far, did he? Neither did Quintana, and Froome just made sure he kept the yellow, but I would have liked to see a bit of attack from him.

The lacets are impressive but, you know Rusty, I prefer the Lacets du Mont Verdier! Beautiful scenery though and a hot day for cycling !

Good afternoon, Rusty!
We are finally back home!
I did all the usual, even remembering to feed the fish!
Cat sat on my knee for a long time!
Now, where to start......firstly, daughter couldn't book an extension of their stay in Pool as the holiday site proved to be fully booked.
But she has managed to get them four nights (so coming home now on Friday) in Christchurch.
Do you know it? It is on the far side of Bournemouth from Poole.
It is a lovely place so I am sure they will have a great time there.
My daughter should remember it from years gone by.
Thy will have to pack up their stuff and move on, but only for about ten miles!
I like Christchurch!
I checked the TV for cycling.......but have just missed the end of the transmission!
There are Highlights though from 7 to 8pm - do you think if I watch that, I might get to see the Grand Colombier?
Are you feeling any warmer? - sultry here!
And how is your finger? (sorry, I forgot to ask!)

Hello, Pigale!
Yes, another hard day in the saddle!
I did not know there were other Lacets?
Lovely scenery today.
Wonder if there are wolves there?
Nobody appears to be strong enough to attack Froome.
Maybe in the Alps!

Hello, Elle!
I have heard of Christchurch in NZ but not your one.
Your daughter done well to get fixed up there!
You may see the Colombier on TV, or wait a couple of days for the Alps. Should be great scenery.
Now tomorrow le Tour goes to Bern, home town of Cancellara, who is in his last Tour. Hope he tries something!
My finger is almost cured. Not so angry looking!
Have you heard of my book.
Seemingly the idea for Ma and Pa Kettle came from it!
Temp is much the same.
I got a text message from my son in Glen Clova.
He has to climb a hill to get a signal!
They are coming home the "morn's morn."

Hi Rusty,

The Tour cycled on the 18 lacets of Mont Verdier last year, on their way to Gap.
If you type Lacets du Mont Verdier, I am sure you'll find a picture that will remind you of them.

Did not realise Cancelara was Swiss?

Hello, Pigale!
Yes, they are superb!
I thought today's looked a bit different !!!
Yes, Fabian is Swiss.
He speaks five languages, which impresses me!

Hey, Rusty!
Christchurch is an historic town, well -known for its harbour and its Priory.
It lies (I think) between Bournemouth and the New Forest.
There are always a lot of swans there, too, on the river.
What do you call a group of swans?
I think it is a 'wedge' when they are in the air (flying in a 'V' formation)?
But on the ground?
No, I haven't heard of your book.
Nor of the author, Betty Macdonald.
Nor, I am afraid, of "Ma and Pa Kettle"!
Are they characters in "The Egg and I"?
Explanations, please! I obviously need to fill some gaps in my education!
(I do like the "morn's morn"!
I must look for an opportunity to include it in my conversation!)

Hello, Elle!
Just finished watching the golf and switched TV off.
The golf was great.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Henrik Stenson won.
I had not heard of Christchurch.
I know geese on the ground are a gaggle.
In the air, a skein, I think.
Do not know about swans.
I saw Ma and Pa Kettle films when I was young.
They appear to have come from The Egg and I.
Elle, everybody and their Granny has heard of Ma and Pa Kettle.
I think you are having me on?
I think I have a Chambers book of lists, is it, that may know about swans?
I shall look.

Yes, Elle!
A wedge of swans.
A cloud of gnats.
An unkindness of ravens
A cry of hounds
There are many more that sound very dubious.
A hover of trout?

Hi, Rusty!
Honestly, I have never heard of Ma and Pa Kettle - or their films?
And Betty Macdonald? Who is she?
Are you not going to explain?
(Come now.......would I have you on?!)
Seriously....I do not know anything of them!
I did put on the TV to watch the cycling highlights, as I thought they might show the Grand Colombier.
But unfortunately I fell asleep! and, in fact, have only just woken up!
So whatever was shown...........I missed it!
I bought the Chambers Book of Lists! I have never yet had cause to use it!!
I had decided it was a "bad" buy.
However........when I can find where I put it, I shall browse through the Collective nouns!
(A use for it at last!)
Meanwhile, off the top of my head.........how about "an implausibility of gnus"?
I like that one.
Or "an enchantment of nightingales"
Very romantic.
Yes, a "hover of trout" is a strange one..... I mean..."hover" is to "remain in one place in the air"!