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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!

Hello Elle and Rusty

Like Rusty, I dont wait long for a walk-in blood test. I have only done "fasting" ones - 12 hours with only water - at the hospital. For fasting tests you just take a yellow ticket, and they call you next. But the normal tests are done quickly too. There are always 3 staff doing them.

I have found at the Times Finals that some puzzles are more difficult than others. I think today's is in the hard category. There are the usual 30 clues in these and each correct answer scores one point.

I liked the long down ones. The stars see these straight away and dont bother trying to parse them. I think that is where MG slipped up. He thought he knew the answer but did not parse it completely. He could see the LL changed to RR and left it at that - at least I assume thats what happened.

Hi, Rusty!
Update! My husband has just arrived home!
Not a bad record... just over three hours door to door and back, with blood tests thrown in!
Now, the crossword......."seville orange" helped me with "validated" and "limbo", so thank you!
(Although I always thought that "limbo" meant an indeterminate period or abode, and not the definition given in the clue?)
I've finished the bottom right hand corner ..... that seems easier than the rest?
But definitely making progress now...only eight clues to go!!
I might pause for some (well-deserved?) soup.....




Hello, Jigjag!
There is no discrimination between fasting patients or otherwise at our local hospital.
It is one queue for all!
Unless of course, you happen to be diabetic, when you do have priority.
When do you get your blood test results?
I hope all will be well.
I am surprised that one does not have to explain the parsing in these crossword competitions?
To me, a crossword is not "completed" without being to parse each clue.

Hello, Elle!
Well done to your husband!
You will be glad to see him home.
I agree with you about "limbo".
And, for me, the definition for 21d is a bit not quite right!
But having never worn the item, I may be wrong.
When I think of it, I seem to remember my mother needing a "surgical" one, so it is probably fine!
Have a break, Elle, and you will finish it.
I am off to the post box in the rain!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Snap! Dog and I have just been out for a walk, posting two birthday cards in the process.
Two youths were walking behind me , talking about how much cider and beer they had imbibed last night........
I was sorely tempted to turn, and ask them had they got "blootered"!
But discretion got the better part of valour......
My poor husband was starving when he reached home.
He had gone without food (or a cup of tea) from 8 pm last night till just gone 1pm today....17 hours without sustenance!
It is a long time!
Right, a coffee ......then one last look at the crossword.....

Hello, Elle!
"Blootered in Bromley" sounds like a good title for a book!
That was a long fast your husband had!
Won't do him any harm though, and the blood tests are behind him now.
So that's fine!
Now don't give up on the Championship puzzle!
Help is not far away!

Hi, Rusty!
Okay.....I have gone as far as I can.....
I have three clues remaining that I cannot do......
9a: A?E?B
26a: ???L?T
18d: C?M?A??
And I cannot fully parse 22a: number one = primary(def)
What am I not seeing here, please?

Hello, Elle!
Right!
9, is "acerB" meaning harsh.
Great is "ace" with Britain reversed, "rB".
26, is "millet". Ground mostly is "mille(d)", with "t" for tons.
18d is something to get blootered on!
Affected is "Camp" with "air" supply, "ari", giving "Campari".
My parse for 22a, is "nobody" is "none", colour is "umber", giving "number one" for primary.
I think you have done well, Elle, as it was tricky today!

Hi, Rusty!
Ah yes, I can see it, now that you have so kindly explained!
But I would never have got there on my own.
I am relieved finally to put it to bed!
It was a lot of effort!
My daughter phoned earlier than usual today, as she had taken the day off.
The little one has a cold, and so she stayed home.
I think, from the sound of it, he will be ok to go back to nursery tomorrow, though.
I shall organise dinner - Shepherd's Pie tonight - and later watch "Eggheads".