Possible Clues:

• Hurried to get hold of Bill (not in huddle)
• Son strode out when out of his skull
• Placed in intervals
• Out of it
• Having a gap year off, Kevin, say, died
• Notlikethis
• Arranged walk round Scotland's borders? On the contrary
• ___ out (became inattentive)
• Lost focus on the task at hand
• Had a mental lapse