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Hello, Elle!
I am sure your daughter will phone, then you can settle down for the night!
You would probably hear on your News programmes if the trains on that particular line were not running?
"Blotto" for "high"? Not a word I would use.
Up here we would say "blootered" or "steaming", probably.
Hope your "15 to 1" show is fine!
Now, tomorrow is the first of the Championship Final puzzles.
I am looking forward to it!

Hi, Rusty!
I have heard of "blotto" meaning "drunk" but no, not "high".
The use of "high", I would associate with "high on drugs", maybe, or "high" as in "rancid"?
I love "blootered"!
I doubt, though, that I can introduce it into conversation....?
"Did you get blootered last night?" might not go down well on my morning walk!
Oh dear...I had enough trouble with today's crossword..... unlike you, I am not looking forward with much confidence to tomorrow's Championship offering!
Yes, daughter texted.....all well!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I am in full agreement regarding "high".
"Blootered" is what we up here would say for "drunk".
I was surprised that both Chambers and Bradford's have it!
That's good your daughter is fine!
I am sure I read that the contestants in the Final thought that this year's puzzles were a bit harder than they were in years gone by.
So...a challenge awaits, Elle!

"Blootered" update, Elle!
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/blootered

Rusty
If you look at "Reader's Delight" you may get the 'feel' of the
Bookseller's book!

Hello, Ninian!
I found it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2caiU5Bu-k
That is some bookshop!
I wondered what Nicky was like and now I know.
Thank you!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a beautiful day here.
I am just home from my walk.....
My husband has gone for his blood tests......
As this involves a trip to the local hospital "drop in" phlebotomy clinic, taking a number, and then waiting in a queue......he "may be some time".
He will be lucky to be home for lunch!
I have a list of jobs... and, of course, the crossword..... to do.
What are you up to?

Good morning, Elle!
We have rain!
Hopefully your husband won't be too long at Phlebotomy.
We have a similar system at my hospital, but I normally have a five minute wait, and that is perfectly acceptable to me.
Have a look at Ninian's link?
That's the folk in the bookshop, in the book on my Christmas list.
Looks a great shop!
I have done my puzzle, and it is quite hard, I think.
I needed Anne Bradford to rescue me for 6d, a new word to me, but I see what the setter is meaning.
I enjoyed it though!

Hi, Rusty!
I am sorry about your rain!
A five minute wait?
If one is lucky - and I am being perfectly serious here - one might get out from "our" phlebotomy clinic within an hour....but it is not unknown to be there for at least a couple of hours!
Yes, I have looked at the link...
What a fantastic bookshop!
I'd love to be let loose in there!
I have been toying with the Championship crossword.....
Goodness.......to me, it is an absolute stinker!
So far, I have only managed ten clues.
I started off all right, the first two across clues going in nicely...then the problems began.
I liked "enteritis" at 12a though.
I doubt I shall get very far ......but I am trying!

Hello, Elle!
The rain is easing, I think.
I have been to our phlebotomy department on several occasions and never have to wait very long.
Five minute wait, then five minutes giving blood sample, and that's it.
Our walk-in X-ray department is the same, almost no waiting.
Looks a great bookshop, doesn't it?
And nice mad staff, I like that!
Wigtown is known for bookshops.
I'll give you a hint for 1d.
The first word is the name of a town in Andalusia.
Second word is a fruit.
That should get you going!