DT 30238 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30238

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30238

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty **** Enjoyment ****

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I enjoyed this puzzle a lot, although it took longer than usual to get a full grid. At one point I had the left-hand side complete and the right-hand side almost empty. In hindsight I’d say it’s because today’s setter is skilled at misdirection, but perhaps that’s just me. I look forward to reading how others found it. 

In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    I'm surprised about article, these days journalist is impetuous (9)
HOTHEADED:  Concatenate the reversal (about) of an exclamation meaning “I’m surprised”, a grammatical article, an abbreviation for “these days”, and the usual abbreviated journalist 

6a    Settled having something to watch on TV after changing sides (4)
FIRM:  Something to watch on TV or at the cinema after changing one handedness into the other (after changing sides

10a   Divine being in Halifax regularly with daughter (5)
NAIAD:  Alternate letters (regularly) of IN HALIFAX with the genealogical abbreviation for daughter 

11a   Troublesome beads? Want this! (5,4)
SWEAT BAND:  The wordplay is an anagram (troublesome) of BEADS WANT. The entire clue can serve as the definition 

12a   Traveller's gear something funny to carry in toboggan (7)
LUGGAGE:  A joke or something funny is inserted in (… to carry in) a type of toboggan 

13a   March miles with figure backing political doctrine (7)
MARXISM:  The abbreviation for March is followed by the reversal (backing, in an across clue) of the fusion of the single letter for miles and a figure less than ten 

14a   Reportedly dig out money for wine (8)
BORDEAUX:  Homophones (reportedly) of both dig out or drill and an informal word for money 

16a   Near side of yew bearing fungus (5)
YEAST:  The first letter (near side of) YEW with a compass bearing

19a   Memorial is large one occupying field (5)
RELIC:  The clothing abbreviation for large and the Roman one are inserted together in (occupying) an informal word for a community sports field

21a   Not totally exposed, back part of organ (5,3)
OUTER EAR:  All but the last letter of (not totally) of a synonym of exposed is followed by another word for back 

24a   Stray this writer's recalled feeding fruit (7)
DEVIATE:  The reversal (recalled) of a contraction for “this writer’s” from the perspective of the setter is inserted in (feeding) a type of fruit

25a   Something to eat and drink in part of Oxford? (7)
TOASTIE:  One of the usual wine drinks inserted in the front part of an Oxford 

27a   Be in wagon drunk getting wheeled home (9)
WINNEBAGO:  An anagram (drunk) of BE IN WAGON 

28a   Value  tip of writer (5)
POINT:  The tip of a writing instrument is also another word for value. I wonder if I’m missing something here?

29a   Was deceitful and answered to have rep leave (4)
LIED:  A synonym of answered minus REP from the clue (to have rep leave

30a   Material gained by Interpol yesterday (9)
POLYESTER:  The answer is hidden in (gained by) the remainder of the clue 

 

Down

1d    Name drinking establishment that's used by bikers (9)
HANDLEBAR:  An informal synonym of name is followed by a drinking establishment 

2d    Object having watery shelled egg (5)
THING:  Watery or dilute with EGG minus its outer letters (shelled

3d    Aged men prepared for final stage (7)
ENDGAME:  An anagram (prepared) of AGED MEN 

4d    Remove uniform, entering bath provided (6,2)
DISHED UP:  Remove or discard and the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by uniform are inserted together (entering) another word for bath 

5d    Lovely drive, relaxed outing south for male (6)
DREAMY:  The map abbreviation for drive with a synonym of relaxed in which the single letter for south has been replaced by the single letter for male (outing south for male

7d    Wooden home erected in area north of China (9)
INANIMATE:  Link together home or not out, the reversal (erected, in a down clue) of the combination of IN from the clue and the single letter for area, and the rhyming slang meaning of china 

8d    Scottish engineer ignoring cold woman (5)
MADAM:  A Scottish engineer minus the single letter for cold (ignoring cold) 

The surface the cat is on is a hint

9d    Stage romance on the radio (6)
STOREY:  A homophone (on the radio) of a romance or other tale 

15d   Pertinence of soldiers on enclave being mobilised (9)
RELEVANCE:  Some usual soldiers followed by an anagram (being mobilized) of ENCLAVE 

17d   Upset rubbish instructor annoying person (9)
TORMENTOR:  The reversal (upset, in a down clue) of some rubbish or nonsense is followed by an instructor or guide 

18d   Doubts moved waterfowl to vacate drought area (4,4)
DUST BOWL:  An anagram (moved) of DOUBTS is followed by the outer letters of (… to vacate) WATERFOWL 

20d   Persuaded swimmer to cover cut (6)
COAXED:  A food fish containing (to cover) cut or delete 

22d   Someone you once dated, handsome model (7)
EXAMPLE:  An short word for someone you once dated is followed by handsome or large 

23d   Take off from city in grip of wetness (6)
DECAMP:  The abbreviation associated with the City of London is inserted in (in grip of) some moderate wetness

24d   Pin that's blue holding nothing up (5)
DOWEL:  The reversal (up, in a down clue) of blue or obscene containing (holding) the letter representing nothing 

26d   As some might say, it's not muddy (5)
TAINT:  An homophone that only works in some parts of the UK (as some might say) for “it’s not” 

 

Thanks to today’s setter for a very enjoyable solve. My long list of ticked clues included 11a, 13a, 25a, 22d, and 26d. Which clues did you like best?


The Quick Crossword pun:  COUNT + SILT + AXE = COUNCIL TAX


87 comments on “DT 30238

  1. Only one word for that puzzle, absolutely brilliant!
    Very hard, very cunning, and very rewarding once it was (finally) done.
    Took an absolute dog’s age and I thought I’d have to take a break and revisit later, but as I was still making headway, albeit pretty slow, soldiered on to the end.
    Don’t quite get the latter half of 14a so will see the hints.
    Best clue for me was 11a, a real gem. Just listening to the very last Ken Bruce
    Radio 2 show, mornings will never be the same again.

      1. Ta Angellov, my trouble was that I had the first part as ‘boreD’ so I was looking for something for the second part that sounded like the letter O, totally my own fault!

    1. I can think of many words to describe this escaped Toughie and brilliant would definitely not be one of then!
      Good manners precludes me from giving my honest opinion.

        1. Never thought of that. I had it as point = usefulness/advantage, as in: What’s the point/value of that course of action?

      1. Agree. I think I’d probably best keep my thoughts to myself. I’m wondering if the ** Toughie today might be easier? Wrong slot day again?

  2. 4*/4.5*. Despite finding this rather challenging, particularly in the NE corner, I really enjoyed this offering from Mr 4X.

    My podium comprises 14a, 25a, 1d & 7d.

    Many thanks to proXimal and to Mr K.

  3. Very enjoyable Friday puzzle from the X-man (for it is no doubt he), tricky and cryptic.
    My page is littered with ticks, but I’ll mention 1,6,21&25a (took me a while even though I suspected the context of Oxford immediately) plus 4,5,7&18d.
    Not sure whether I like 26d or not, the metaphorical jury sitting inside my head is still out.
    Good stuff indeed.
    Many thanks to ProXimal and Mr K.

  4. This was very hard and took me a long time, largely I suspect, because I am not and never have been on Mr X’s wavelength and a lot of lateral thinking is needed before I can guess wherehe is going with some clues. The east was particularly tricky and I had to liook two clues up onthe internet to check that I was on the right track. That broke the log jam enough for me to finish tbe puzzzle. I liked 1a, 27a and25a and COTD 14a (Cheers!). Thanks to Mr K for the hints and the compiler for a stiff challenge.

  5. Glad to see its been given 4 stars because I’ve only got about a third so far! Will persevere and come back for the hints later if/when I finish.

  6. This was a beautifully crafted and pleasantly tough Friday puzzle, that had some outstanding clues, foremost among which for me was 25a. In truth, I would have needed a very large podium to pick all my selections.

    Many thanks to proXimal and Mr K.

  7. Phew, what a struggle! But finished it. Favourite 26d. Least favourite 6a.
    A while back this would have been above my pay grade.

  8. What a doozy of a brilliant puzzle, and I absolutely loved it, even though I have missed breakfast because of being pushed into 4.5* time in this glorious solve. (Jimmy is keeping my eggs warm for me.) Like Mr K, I had a complete left-side filled and most of the NE for quite some time, at which point I had three unsolved clues: 6a, 25a, & 28a–and when those fell, in one fell swoop at the end (though I’m still a bit unhappy about 28a), I felt like shouting. So many favourites, ticks everywhere, but I’ll settle on 26d, 11a, & 25a for my first podium. Wow. Thanks to Mr K for the great pictures as usual and to proXimal for the workout and utmost pleasure. 4.5*/5*

  9. As others have said a beautifully crafted puzzle which poses challenges without the need for obscurities. Many thanks to proXimal and Mr K.
    It’s difficult to pick a podium from such a plethora of fine clues but I’ll go with 14a, 25a and 27a.

  10. That was a bit of a slog but a very pleasant one. I thought that this was going to be my first DNF for a long time at one point but I persevered and managed with just a little reference to the BRB. 27a was a new word for me and, being an anagram, not discernible from the word play. The NW went in easily and the SE held me up the longest. Not quite sure why now. Lots of brilliant clues jostling for podium position but I’ll mention 12a, 1d, 20d and my absolute favourite 11a. Thanks to ProXimal for the enjoyment and Mr K for confirming my parsing and the wonderful kitty pics.

  11. Too much like hard work and needed a lot of help but did appreciate some of the misdirection. 14A cotd. ****/***

  12. South was OK but North hung fire for some time. Not keen on abbreviations as per 19a. Still struggling to completely parse 4d – obviously being thick to coin a Kathism! Thank you proXimal and MrK.

  13. What a session!! Some thinky clues but the hints above were indispensable. Good fun though, much more enjoyable than some recent Friday grids which have been murder.

    Lots of clever clues but my fave is 27A;

  14. Wow! I was planning on going to the gym later but I don’t think I need to.

    A truly wonderful tussle. Castlemaine had me on the ropes for a while and I was flailing like Richard Dunn vs Ali but I managed to get to the 15th, winning on points. So many beautifully crafted clues with 26d getting the nod.

    Extremely enjoyable and long live Zen Bruce.

    4*/5*

  15. Great Friday fare.
    Devilishly tricky in parts eg 11 and 25a, and 6 and 7d.
    Last in 28a, very clever!
    Big smile at 14a.
    Hardly any space on the podium.
    COTD 14a by a whisker.
    Certainly 4*/5*
    Many thanks, proXimal and Mr K

  16. Above my pay grade today. Gave up.

    Thanks to Mr K….great cat photos as usual.

    And ta to the setter too….

  17. Too hard for the likes of me, I’m afraid. I will probably look at it later and see if anything else creeps out of the woodwork but I doubt it. From the clues I did solve it was clear that it was a well crafted puzzle – just way above my pay grade. I did like 14a very much so is my COTD if there is a COTD for an unfinished puzzle.

    Many thanks to the setter for the thrashing (that sounds kinky!) Grateful thanks to Mr. K. for making sense of it all for me and for cheering me up with the pusskits. :good:

    1. Thanks for your comment yesterday Steve. I checked my collections this morning and found Reggae in both, Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks in the vinyl, and Joy Division in the CDs as not mentioned. The last I only bought in the last five years after reading Mark Fisher who made some very cogent points around their lives and music which I found quite mesmerising.

      Agree with you about today’s escapee from a heaven for crossword fanatics. If it were a test for heaven I would be somewhere much warmer which would be very acceptable today.

      1. Actually, there is Rap, which I never listen to, in Blondie that I had forgotten. Rapture ends with:-

        “Cause the man from Mars won’t eat up bars where the TV’s on Now he’s gone back up to space Where he won’t have a hassle with the human race And you hip-hop, and you don’t stop Just blast off, sure shot ‘Cause the man from Mars stopped eatin’ cars and eatin’ bars And now he only eats guitars.”

        Debbie Harry did lend it a certain panache, though. :smile:

        I do like Reggae

        1. Rapture was on the album with The Tide is High on, I think. It was AutoAmerican if I remember rightly and it was number one for quite a few weeks.

  18. The major hiccough here was 4d which held out until the very end – it was the definition that fooled me.
    Plenty to enjoy in this one and hard to pick the podium but I’m going to piggy-back Gazza’s choices and add 26d which really made me laugh.

    Thanks to proXimal for an excellent puzzle and thanks to Mr K for the review and the felines – particularly liked the two tucked up in bed watching something engrossing on the laptop!




  19. I know a lot of you like guitar music, you may enjoy this as something to chill out to (a very good acoustic cover of Sultans of Swing). In case I have not managed to add the link correctly she is Gabriella Quevedo on YouTube or Spotify. Her Pink Floyd Another Brick in the Wall is also very good.

    I posted this yesterday but realised as it was 23.30 it might have missed most of you!

    I am not doing well with todays crossword but have not thrown in the towel yet!

    1. Thank you for posting that last evening, MissT – I watched it very early this morning and thought she was wonderful, a tremendous interpretation of an all-time classic.

      Here’s another wonderful cover, this time of Stairway, by Rodrigo y Gabriela – a live version rather than their ‘clean’ album version: https://youtu.be/RjwtbWjNSes

    2. That is absolutely fantastic, MissTF. A wonderful interpretation of the song and played so fluently.
      I loved it. Thank you for posting.

    3. I looked her up and cannot believe she got the sound of Pink Floyd out of her one guitar.

      Comfortably Numb and don’t tell me you cannot hear the lyrics.

      1. Agreed, I can’t believe how effortless she makes it look, and as you say at times she sounds like several guitars are playing.

  20. Cracking Friday puzzle. Challenging but really enjoyable.
    I had to check the spelling of the Scottish engineer’s name, but it couldn’t be anything else.
    Like Jane, 4d was my LOI.
    Too many good clues to pick a winner.
    Thank you setter and Mr K.

  21. Bravo, proXimal ! A perfectly pitched Friday back-pager.

    Looking for the fourth “X” certainly helped me to solve 14a.

    Top spot goes to the wonderful 25a.

    Thanks, also, to Mr K for the review – brilliantly illustrated as usual.

  22. Tricky, challenging & tremendous, exactly what is called for on a Friday on the backpage. My own difficulties were in the E, specifically in the SE, though 6a was my LOI. So many superb clues, where should one start – maybe the great surface reads/answers with 11a, 14a, 27a? The deception of 26a, smooth polish of 1d & 3d, the laugh out loud humour of 30a & 17d, or the sheer brilliance of 7d & 18d. Take your pick, because I can’t.

    4 / 5

    Chapeau, ProXimal, chapeau. And thank you to Mr K for the review and lovely pictures.

  23. I was the same, ‘re left hand side completed promptly but struggled with the right hand side. Got there eventually though

  24. My brain hurts too much to use the word “enjoy,” but thanks to the oft needed hints, I got there. Concur with the admiring remarks about mis-direction – especially, as a biker (in its normal use), I fell for that in 1d for far too long.
    Today’s setter: you’re far too clever for me, shipmate!

  25. A really excellent Friday puzzle; as good as you’ll get on the back page. Great clues, a stiff challenge and a very enjoyable skirmish. I’ve ticked several and will pick 25a as my favourite. 4*/4.5*.

    *Yes, Miss TF, some of us do like guitar music. Have a listen to Steven Stills’ wailing guitar in this track from the 1970 LP Deja Vu, one of my all-time favourites:

    1. One of my all time favourite albums too. Have always thought Stills seriously underrated – rarely featuring in lists of great players.
      2 guys I’m looking forward to seeing very soon are Marcus King & Chris ‘Kingfish’ Ingram – both seriously good & very highly regarded players.

    2. Thanks for sharing, I had not heard this before, always good to expand one’s repertoire. A very distinctive sound.
      Joe Bonamassa is someone we only recently came across and has had been added to our playlist. Gordon Giltrap was the first guitarist I saw live ( his most famous piece being Heartsong), possibly a bit dated now.

      I have now abandoned hope of completing the crossword and can see from the comments that I should not hang my head in shame. I will enjoy reading and learning from the hints, Thank you Mr K and the setter.

      1. Gordon Giltrap dated, MissTF? He is still performing with the likes of Pete Townsend who admires him greatly. He is shortly putting on a concert with Rick Wakeman and his son, Oliver Wakeman.

        Don’t write off Mr. Giltrap yet even though he has had tragedy in his life. He lost his son at an early age and recently lost Hilary, his wife. Yet, he carries on.

        1. Definitely not written off, still regularly played in our house, and as soon as heartsong comes on I am immediately reminded of ‘The Holiday Programme’ and Judith Chalmers!

  26. Really hard. Really. I needed the hints to go through and underline the meaning I was aiming for and that helped so many thanks Mr K for helping there, and of course for the wonderful photos. You have excelled yourself. And many thanks to Mr Setter as well for stretching me! Thanks also to yesterdays setter – I did the xword whilst travelling up to see DD1 but my phone ran out of juice and I couldn’t comment. The nursing staff are angels, give them all the money they want. Two and a half hours floored both of us I don’t know how George drove home. Dear oh dear. Make the most of every moment folks, you never know what is round the corner!🐱

    1. You are so right DG – make every second count. Burying my best buddy next week. Told end November all OK, told 6 weeks later new scan revealed inoperable tumour. 8 days later and poof, gone. Ghastly.

      1. Sorry to hear that Manders, it must have been a shock to all involved. Keep the memories of your friend with joy.

          1. Oh so sorry to hear that. I lost my bestest friend 20 years ago, met her at college and she was like a sister – no one has ever taken her place but I treasure the memories.

      2. I am so sorry to hear of the death of friend, Manders. I know how you feel. A good friend of mine and my mentor is being buried tomorrow.

        You are in my thoughts.

  27. On the positive side, I did manage to finish, and there was a time when I’d have given up after solving just 4 clues on the first pass. Glad I persevered but wasn’t the greatest fun.

    Thanks anyway to setter and many thanks to Mr K for the explanations.

  28. Well on the plus side I did finish this unaided but on the minus side I still can’t parse 4d even having read the hint. In fact the hint makes no sense at all – no idea where the bath is! Thanks everyone. Despite saving my details below, have to now enter them every single time, most annoying.

    1. Hi Manders – re 4d, take a 4-letter word meaning remove/strip (the same word which applies to a snake removing its skin), add to it the letter represented in the phonetic alphabet by uniform, and put all that inside a 3-letter word for bath, a word which may be more familiar in connection with having a quick one in the sea, but which as my waistline testifies, I personally encounter more often with crisps and crudites …

      Hope that helps!

        1. Thanks for posing the question Manders. I was short on full parsing for 4d apart from the bath.

  29. Bit of a grueler today , but a great sense of achievment when that last clue went in.
    Top class cluing throughout and nothing obscure.
    Have to go with Mr K on a ****/**** and thanks for the pics,
    Even an excellent Quickey pun!

  30. Absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge which I completed and parsed with a little difficulty. How do you pick a favourite? So I’ll choose two 11a and 14a. Thanks to ProXimal and Mr. K.

  31. Can’t say that this puzzle thrilled me as a back pager. Escaped from the toughie area with obscure clues and parsing hard to follow. A very hard Friday puzzle that didn’t give much satisfaction to me … but to each his/her own.
    5*/1* for me today.

    Unknown word in 10a as well as several definitions that really didn’t marry up to the answer to the clue … and that is just frustrating.

    Favourites were hard to find in this one … but I pick 12a, 14a, 30a & 18d

    Thanks to setter and Mr K

  32. I got about two thirds of this, but it’s good to give the brain a bit of a workout. I’m sorry if I’m being really thick, but I don’t understand the explanation you give for the parsing of 4 down. Thank you for the hints and to the setter.

    1. Defo one of the trickier ones, I got: remove = “SHED” + “U” for uniform all contained by (entering) bath = “DIP”, with provided being the definition.

  33. I loved this, favourite of the week for me, with some fairly clear clues to get one started but others with a real bite that took real thought! Some of the misdirection was toughie standard IMO. I too finished up in the NE, but had spotted our compilers signature by that point which opened up 13a and the troublesome corner. 7d was fresh in my mind from yesterday which also helped. I didn’t know the Scottish engineer for 8d or the nymph for 10a but managed with the wordplay. Lots to like – I’ve struggled to narrow to only three – but today’s standouts are 14a for the double homophones, 28a a super DD and 27a gets COTD mainly for the word as it was quite an obvious anagram ***/****

    Thanks to Mr 4X and MrK

  34. Thank you Mr. K for the lovely kitty pics, you outdid yourself. Fave was the TV watchers at 6a.

  35. What an excellent puzzle, so full of misdirection that I lost my way almost completely in the east after much meandering in the west. I’m just glad I’m not on a pay scale because they would have removed me from it with only just under half done.

    Thanks to Mr K for the hints which proved my inability and to the setter for leading me a merry dance.

  36. What a shame to end the crossword week with this☹️ I didn’t even get some of the answers after Mr Ks explanation. I do crossword puzzles for amusement not to get a headache 🥴 Thanks to Mr K

  37. I could barely get a foothold in today’s puzzle after four brilliant days but I’m overtired from a late night and the weekly shop etc. I needed far too many hints but it was rewarding in seeing all the kitty pictures from Mr K. Thank you for cheering me up on what has not been a good day! Thanks also to the setter.

  38. One person’s meat is another’s poison. Didn’t find this enjoyable at all. 5* difficulty 1* enjoyment

  39. Corking guzzle. Happily on wavelength for a reasonably brisk completion so thankfully not a repeat of my struggle with Ray T yesterday. Correctly guessing it was a proXimal production (& I’ve his Toughie from yesterday to look at) certainly helped at 13a where I was initially sucked into the misleading surface & slow to twig March as in month. I couldn’t quite see point as being particularly synonymous with value at 28a (other than maybe what’s the point in that) & the parsing penny for last in 6a (fabulous pic Mr K) took a while to drop. Ticks aplenty – if restricted to 4 of each I’ll plump for 11,13,14&25a with 4,7,18&20d
    Thanks to the X-man & Mr K

  40. Having got just 7 answers myself, I’m not inclined to read the hints as well. The best thing about today’s puzzle is Mr K’s pictures, particularly the two cats in bed 😊. Enough said I think.

  41. 28a rather summed this up for me. A DD of two dubious synonyms. OK, it’s gettable once you have some checkers, but it’s trying too hard to be hard, without really being entertaining. Thanks for the hints, needed them to parse 4d.

  42. Dreadful.
    DNF.
    I nearly got there but gave up with 3 to go. I can’t even be bothered to read the hints. Sorry to be negative but I found this truly annoying.

  43. Three gaps when I finally threw in the towel. Would have given up earlier but the answers were so good when they came that it made the struggle worth while. Thanks to all.

  44. Certainly tough, brain figuratively duffed up, not a lot of love, just to finish was enough!
    ***** / **
    Like a hilly marathon on a hot day- prefer an entertaining 10k myself
    28a my favourite
    Thanks (?) to Proxilmal and to Mr K

  45. What a cracker of a puzzle, yes it took me two goes to get over the line, but boy was it worth it!

    4*/4*

    Fav 11a LOI 25a

    Thanks to proXimal and Mr K

  46. Solved 3 and gave up. Thanks to setter and many thanks to Mr K for the hints (some of these were beyond my understanding) and for the wonderful kitpics which were the only pleasure in this puzzle. No thanks to the editor.

  47. I too found I had almost completed the left side but not many on the right. I put tea cake instead of toastie so struggled with Taint.Best clue for me was 18d Quite hard

  48. I have started tracking how many I get on first pass…just 3 today! A long slow solve, including some e-help, followed. 3rd in a row I have struggled with this week.

  49. Late on parade – only managed to do today.
    Got 2/3 on 1st pass then got a few more on 2nd pass – being left with 5d and 9d.
    Sussed 5d but still don’t really understand why 9d means stage.
    Thanks to MrK and proXimal for the workout.
    Lovely sunny day here in Almoradí – and really liking our new home and being in the centre of town.

  50. Got half done yesterday, like Mr K, it was the left half. With recorded cricket to watch, didn’t get back to it until coffee time today. Almost gave up but 11a finally fell in and, as sometimes happens, the rest followed, but it took a long time. Satisfying, though, and some great clues, if a little obscure(e.g.4d, 13a). So a late start to today’s, but should be no further distractions from Bangladesh, at least until Monday.

  51. Phew. After a really good week this was a reality check. I enjoyed the challenge.

  52. 4*/5* …. appreciated the hints …
    liked 27A “Be in wagon drunk getting wheeled home (9)” …. had never heard of the answer before.

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