Sharpie66

Excellent second episode! Even though I’m listening to the audiobook, I still thought that they had done a rewrite and had Tristan pass his exams, he was so believable. I really like his bonding with James over their issues with Seigfried. “What the Devil happened to my car?! Tristan!! HERRIOT!!!” Heh. Also liked how Tristan knew that James had passed his exams first time around—yes, he might make mistakes, but James is a smart guy. In the book, he does go into how transitional veterinary medicine was in the 1930s. James’s mum mentions in the first episode that the motor vehicle has gotten rid of the main reason for vets, to take care of the primary means of transport, but the book also talks about how medicine overall was moving past patent medicines and home remedies, which the cow’s owner this week was all about. A lovely tribute to Dame Diana at the end.

I just downloaded the audiobook for the first Herriot book and started listening tonight. Seigfried is definitely different in the book, but he is a ladies man, so Sexy Seigfried works for me. The book begins with the calf’s delivery, but is complicated by the addition of a doubting Yorkshire uncle of the cow’s owner adding dire predictions since James isn’t as experienced as the Yorkshireman’s hometown vet. I haven’t reread the books in nearly 40 years, so this should be a treat.

According to this, UK vets couldn’t use “Doctor” until 2015. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/uk-veterinary-surgeons-to-use-courtesy-doctor-title/

Just finished watching, and it was everything I was hoping it would be! I loved the books when I read them as a kid in the ‘70s, and I have fond memories of that original adaptation. When I saw the trailer for this version, I thought it looked charming, and it really was. The performances overall were very good indeed, especially James and Mrs. Hall. Both the scenery and the animals look wonderful.

Rachel’s story on the polio vaccine and the push for acceptance brought back my memory of that sugar cube. I was born in 1966, so I am guessing we had herd immunity and they were in no rush to give us the vaccine, so I didn’t get it until first grade, in school. Or maybe there was a minimum age? I’m not sure. I also remember getting another, this time injected, vaccine at another time but in the same school, but I don’t know for what (smallpox, maybe?).

A few seasons ago, Paul was handing out handshakes willy-nilly, so I think he has been very parsimonious with them since.

You can freeze heavy cream in ice cube trays.

Just finished today’s finale. One fewer persons on the podium—Sam Bennett is both the green jersey winner and the stage winner! Everything else was as I previewed. At least NBCSN has finally realized that we want to see the awards ceremony. A few years ago, they just briefly showed the three top GC people on the podium. Roglic’s son was freakin’ adorable in his daddy’s arms on that podium.

Bunga Bunga is halfway through now, and it is just as good as I had thought it would be. Not just informative, but entertaining and even funny (the host’s reaction to a Let’s Sing Praises to Berlusconi video is hilarious—basically, “I have never seen so many big breasts in my life!”). Mostly, though, it is infuriating to hear the level of corruption around the man for decades.

Finally got caught up on yesterday’s individual time trial that ended the GC competition. I have never seen a final day like that! Pogacar had the perfect ride and Roglic just could not keep up. All of the commentators were blown away by how amazing it was that the entire Tour came down to that final hill climb. Pogacar tales home the white, polka dot, and yellow jerseys—today’s podium will be the stage winner, Sam Bennett in green, I think Movistar as the winning team, and then just Pogacar.

I just saw that NBC thought the concussion discussion from yesterday needed to be posted on their YouTube channel, which, yes! Yes, it was.

I was visiting my dad today, so I didn’t get a chance to watch this morning’s stage until tonight. Sad to see Quintana get dropped (he’s still my favorite racer since he was the first one I noticed when I first got hooked on the race), and shocked to see Bernal get dropped even more—seven plus minutes behind! Van Aart was amazing on the climb, especially considering he is such a good sprinter. He led that Jumbo Visma team for kilometers before dropping back. But Pogacar was able to beat out Roglic to the line—when he took off, .i yelled, “Go kid, go!” even though I like both of them.

Yesterday, Romain Bardet suffered a small hemorrhage after getting a concussion during a crash, but he hopped back on his bike and finished the stage. Apparently, his team missed the severity of his injury until the day was done. This led to a really fascinating discussion by Phil, Bob, Christian, and Chris about concussion protocol and stories of Brain Injuries I Have Suffered While Racing. I love it when they can take the time for these deep dives into stuff about the sport as a whole. A few years ago, Christian spoke frankly about the fact that he doped when he first started racing, just because everybody else was doing it.

A new limited series for those who liked Rachel Maddow’s Bag Man, or other stories of political corruption—Bunga Bunga, about Silvio Berlusconi’s rise and fall. So far, I’ve only listened to the intro and just the beginning of ep 1, but I am here for all 8 episodes. I like most of the stuff that Wondery releases; their podcasts are very professionally produced, and are very entertaining (even the history ones like Tides of History). Another of theirs that I just started is Murder in Hollywoodland, about the murder of director William Desmond Taylor in the early 1920s.

Caleb Evan slips and slides his way through the sprinters to take the win! Very exciting. Sad to hear about Anthony Perez breaking his collarbone right after he had sealed the polka dot jersey for the stage. Today’s scenery was stunning. Soooo gorgeous. Cannot wait for the first big day in the mountains tomorrow.