Can anyone explain 51a Fabric is prptected by short strip of wood (7) Answer is BATISTE. I can see the BAT, short strip of wood. I can see the IS from the clue, but where does the TE come from? I wondered about an alternative spelling of BAT, being BATTE, but this doesn't appear in my Chambers, only BATT. Thanks, as always.
Yesy, I see now Jumbuck. Are you another insomniac on Christmas day, then? All my family are dead to the world whilst I wait for them to wake up, I do crosswords. Merry Chrimble and have a good Christmas dinner and drinks.
Just totally on my own, woke up about an hour ago to (quietish) sound of music coming from nearby house and so got up instead of any sort of a lie-in. It was the usual getting-up time anyway.
Have a good day (sorry I don't do festive) and enjoy the calm before the storm.