Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31130
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning and welcome to my first blog as an official member of the BD blogging team, although it’s my fourth effort overall – I blogged three of the vintage puzzles last summer, so I should be getting the hang of it by now! Many thanks to Gazza for inviting me to become a regular blogger, and to Shabbo, from whom I’m taking over (albeit on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday). I wish him well in his new role as a DT puzzle compiler.
I felt this puzzle to be the hardest of the week so far, finishing in just over 3* time. I especially liked the cricketing legend in 9a, the ursine visitor in 1d and the boring old Conservative in 18a, but my COD has to be the eccentric mind in 28a. Many thanks to today’s setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
Across Clues
1a Upright working Prince, pure lad (13)
PERPENDICULAR: An anagram (working) of PRINCE PURE LAD.
9a Umpire uttered word in London (5-4)
DICKY BIRD: Cockney rhyming slang (Uttered… in London) for ‘word’.
10a Refreshing drink, Vimto – nice bottles! (5)
TONIC: Hidden (bottles) in “Vimto nice”.
11a Info stored on computer bellicose president recycled (5)
INPUT: The last two letters of a contemporary Russian despot are moved to the beginning (recycled).
12a Piece of chain Charlie removed from prison (4)
LINK: The letter represented by Charlie in the NATO phonetic alphabet is removed from a slang word for prison. According to the BRB, this word may have come from a prison with this name in Southwark.
13a Important little talking bird (4)
KIWI: This antipodean bird has two syllables that are homonyms (talking): the first sounds like a word meaning ‘important’ and the second sounds like a word (often Scottish) for ‘little’.
15a Good writer Eric who likes a flutter (7)
GAMBLER: The abbreviation for ‘good’ is followed by the surname of an English author of thrillers and spy novels.
17a American spies left to guard son Oscar, hostile to other people (7)
ASOCIAL: The single-letter abbreviation for America, the US intelligence agency, and the abbreviation for ‘left’ surround (guard) the abbreviation for ‘son’ and the letter represented by Oscar in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
18a Name boring old Conservative figure (7)
OCTAGON: A word that can mean ‘name’ or ‘label’ is inserted into (boring) the abbreviation for ‘old’ and a three-letter abbreviation for a Conservative.
20a Theatre cleaned out aunt’s awful infection (7)
TETANUS: The inner letters of the word ‘Theatre’ are removed (theatre cleaned out) and are followed by an anagram (awful) of AUNTS.
21a Starts to bandage over infected lacerated sore (4)
BOIL: The initial letters (starts to) of ‘ bandage over infected lacerated’.
22a Restrain old Strictly host endlessly pirouetting (4)
CURB: The first name of a legendary TV personality and host of Strictly Come Dancing loses its final letter (endlessly) and is reversed (pirouetting).
23a Give birth – onset of labour in hollow (5)
CALVE: The first letter (onset) of ‘labour’ is inserted into a word for a hollow in a rock resulting in a word meaning to give birth, especially to a bovine mammal (or an iceberg).
26a Pungent? Sour? That’s about right (5)
ACRID: A synonym of ‘sour’ is placed around (That’s about) the abbreviation for ‘right’.
27a Conductor might be so affronted about article (9)
INSULATED: A word that can mean affronted or offended is put round (about) the indefinite article. The ‘conductor’ here is conducting electricity.
28a Funny! Ha! Boris on the television finally – an eccentric mind! (5,8)
HEATH ROBINSON: An anagram (funny) of HA BORIS ON THE, followed by the last letter (finally) of ‘television’.
Down Clues
1d Station buffet fed eastern visitor wearing duffel coat (10,4)
PADDINGTON BEAR: A London rail terminus is followed by a word for a buffet in a restaurant, such as a salad ***, into which the abbreviation for ‘eastern’ has been inserted (fed).
2d Run, step over, run over again (5)
RECAP: The abbreviation for ‘run’ in cricket is followed by a synonym for ‘step’ reversed (over).
3d Type “Googly that turns” – mummy’s specialist subject? (10)
EGYPTOLOGY: An anagram (that turns) of TYPE GOOGLY.
4d Famous German doctor receiving dodgy e-mail (7)
DAIMLER: An abbreviation for ‘doctor’ is placed around (receiving) an anagram (dodgy) of EMAIL giving us a German motoring pioneer.
5d Motorcade NZ arranged providing cover for solo passage (7)
CADENZA: The phrase ‘Motorcade NZ arranged’ is hiding (providing cover for) a musical solo.
6d Reluctant husband chasing fortune (4)
LOTH: The abbreviation for ‘husband’ is following (chasing) a word meaning fate or fortune.
7d Performance of song that might be described as extraordinary? (9)
RENDITION: The answer can be preceded by the word ‘extraordinary’ giving a euphemism for state-sponsored abduction, transfer and detention.
8d Sick, beset by pains, nurse working vulnerable area (8,6)
ACHILLES TENDON: A synonym for ‘sick’ is surrounded (beset) by a synonym of ‘aches’, and followed by a word for ‘nurse’ and a short word meaning ‘working’ or ‘in operation’.
14d Carrying temperature, rabid collie bit artist (10)
BOTTICELLI: An anagram (rabid) of COLLIE BIT containing (carrying) the abbreviation for ‘temperature’. This Italian Renaissance artist’s most famous work is The Birth of Venus.
16d Demo outside court proceedings when dismissing Liberal woman of power (9)
MATRIARCH: A word meaning a mobile demonstration is placed around (outside) a word for a court case without the letter ‘L’ (dismissing Liberal).
19d Feed our island starters of nice ham sandwiches (7)
NOURISH: The initial letters of ‘nice’ and ‘ham’ are placed round OUR from the clue and a two-letter abbreviation of ‘island’.
20d In the US, Bill (a Caledonian) fails to finish hot sauce (7)
TABASCO: A word used in America for a restaurant bill is followed by ‘A’ from the clue and an inhabitant from north of the border, minus the last letter (fails to finish).
24d Car plant (5)
LOTUS: A double definition.
25d Thought I would peel pear (4)
IDEA: Take the abbreviation of ‘I would’ and add what’s left after you remove the outer letters of (peel) the word ‘pear’.
Which clues made it onto your podium today? Please let us know in the comments section below.
The Quick Crossword pun: SUMMER + SALT = SOMERSAULT
Slightly trickier than the last couple of days as befits a Wednesday.1a fell immediately but nothing much happened after that during the first pass. Using the checkers I had, I gradually burrowed into the rest and finished after a mug and a half of Taylor’s Rich Italian. As usual, the short four-letter ones proved to be the most stubborn especially the important talking bird at 13a. Once I worked it out, I thought it a great clue but not my COTD, which was nearly the US Bill at 20d until 1d came along. So, the duffel coated visitor makes the podium.
Thank you, setter for the challenge. Thank you, Deansliegh for the hints and welcome to Wednesday blogging.
10.58 Steve, you got a time machine or summat?
I couldn’t possibly say, TC. 😊
Straight out of the top drawer this one, loved every minute of it!
Very multinational, with folk from England, Germany, NZ, Peru and Italy all getting a mention.
My two of the day have to be 3d, 13a and 18a. Many thanks to our setter today, a masterpiece.
Off for my exercise walk now, as twisted my back yesterday, very painful!
Congratulations, Deansleigh — welcome, and thank you for blogging.
I loved this crossword, I finished it in a similar time to Monday’s [not a boast; I didn’t find Monday’s as swift as many other commenters did!], with Eric in 15a the only thing I needed to confirm actually existed.
My top few include the pirouetting Strictly host in 22a, all that running in 2d, the 27a affronted conductor, and the 28a eccentric. Thank you to the setter for the entertainment.
Quite tough for me and the talking bird held out the longest but an enjoyable crossword nonetheless.
Favourite has to be the eccentric mind.
Thanks to the setter and welcome and thanks to Deansleigh for the most excellent hints.
The dusting of snow we had yesterday has long gone to be replaced by sleety rain….miserable, cold, overcast, wet…..indoor games today.
Congratulations and thank you, Deansleigh, on your appointment to the team – you bloggers are so vital to us all!
This was a lovely puzzle, a swift solve and over way too soon. Re-reading afterwards I was struck by both the polish of the clues and how many I had ticked. Some great anagrams and surface reads (esp 21a) – but honours to 1d, 7d, 8d & 13a.
Many thanks to setter and once again to Deansleigh.
Good morning. Found this reasonably straight forward with only the SE requiring any thought. 1,8 and 17d is my podium with 8 making me grimace as it’s an injury I am susceptible to, when I run too fast or for too long. Like others have already commented , it was a step up in difficulty only marginally. Many thanks to the setter and Deansleigh for the hints, which were not needed.
That should be 17a and not 17d
Struggled to find a foothold at first this morning but, as is often the case, the perimeter clues gradually provided lifelines. Indeed, the Peruvian at 1d and the former Pinner resident at 28a were among my favourite clues, along with the field of study at 3d and the important avian at 13a. Thanks very much to the setter and thanks and welcome to Deansleigh,
Welcome to the party, Deansleigh. Fun today. 13a, 1d and 8d for me, with a nod for 27a’s definition. Best thanks to the setter and our splendid new blogger.
A very entertaining midweek puzzle – thanks to our setter and congratulations to Deansleigh on an excellent debut as our Wednesday blogger.
I particularly liked 9a, 13a, 18a, 27a and 7d.
I thought a good **/**** with my only worry being that I put in Lexus for 24d which I believe is a flower so that sent me wrong for a while.13a was my favourite and I enjoyed the well constructed 18a. My LOI was 17a which stumped me for several sips of coffee. Thanks and welcome our new hinter and of course our setter.
Lexus crossed my mind as well !
Loved it too. My last one was 13a, but that’s because I mis-spelled the first word in 8d. Doh!
3*/3*. Although this was mostly very enjoyable, I did have a couple of reservations.
Neither the “buffet” synonym in 1d nor the definition for 3d (even with the question mark) didn’t work for me. Surely the specific “rendition” in 7d is an American term.
My podium comprises 9a, 13a & 18a.
Thanks to the setter, and a warm welcome to Deansleigh.
Hi @RabbitDave.
Happy new year!
Buffet = a refreshment counter or bar (Chambers)
Rendition is listed in both Chambers and Collins without any US origin.
The def in 3D is indeed whimsical…
Thanks for the blog @Deansleigh and welcome!
Best wishes to all for 2026
Rob/Hudson
RD. Like the setter, and with respect to your opinions, I can see nothing wrong with any of the clues you mention. In 7d the “specific” rendition is a straight synonym of the clue definition. The rest of the clue is merely a hint that the answer is the same word (with a different meaning) that could be used in a two-word phrase if preceded by “extraordinary”. H has explained the other two above.
A lovely puzzle with a bit of brain-mangling thrown in.
Absolutely loved 13a when the penny dropped as spent some time in NZ looking for (and finding) them.
Took me a while to get 24d as I didn’t start with the top range of cars and slowly worked my way up. LOI was 23a.
Didn’t know the author in 15a.
Top picks for me were 13a, 8d, 20d and 28a.
Thanks and welcome to Deansleigh and thanks to the setter.
Forgot to mention that the link to the blog in the email isn’t working. Takes me to a “Big Dave must be sleeping” page.
Welcome to the blogging team Deansleigh and thanks for an excellent first blog and, ‘talking’ of firsts, Shabbo’s first DT Toughie is quite doable.
An enjoyable Wednesday challenge – 2.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 13a, 15a, 2d, 16d, and 24d – and the winner is the ‘neat’ double definition of 24d.
Thanks to whomsoever for the puzzle.
Another excellent crossy hits the back of the net that smacks of Hudson as his clues need slightly less deciphering than Mr T’s.
My FOI was a four letter jobbie (25d) as was my LOI (13a).
Eric is new to me as is the prefixing of 7d with ‘extraordinary’. I enjoyed the apt unravelling of 28a. What a star he was as was 1d’s creator, Bond. Michael Bond. They make you proud to be British.
My podium is 18a, 4d and 8d.
MT to Hudson (?) and Deansleigh (thank you for agreeing to be a regular blogger – the commitment doesn’t go unnoticed)
3*/5*
Ambler’s works are well worth a visit, even if perforce now rather dated. ‘The Mask of Dimitrios’ and ‘Light of Day’ are rollicking good reads, and both were turned into films – the latter renamed ‘Topkapi’ with Peter Ustinov (and inspired a Mission Impossible scene).
Thank you for that, MG. I do need to take my reading to the next level, I really do. My wife always has one on the go.
We have a Wordle and Connections contest with our children which has been the source of enormous fun. She is thumping the rest of us with the latter which has surprised her (not me) as one picks up so much knowledge when reading. I may be good at puzzles and finding connections (funnily enough) to learn facts like knowing that Ustinov won a Best Supporting Oscar in 1964 for the aforementioned but reading wins the day.
Love the MI connection, btw!
There is a museum in Pinner for 28a.
Duly noted, HT.
Thank you.
A really enjoyable puzzle .Not too taxing but enough . Didn’t understand 22a since I have never seen it, nor did I understand 13a until I read the hints , but very clever. Otherwise some super clues and d very difficult to pick a winner. Having got up at 5 this morning to watch Jacob Bethel score a century, I’ll give it to 9a ,closely followed by 28 , 17 and 8 . Thanks to all
Zipped through the first half of this puzzle and thought it was going to be a pb time. But no. The remainder of this cracking puzzle took a bit of teasing out and the clang and laugh when the penny dropped on 9a was loud indeed. Tough to pick a cotd but the aforesaid 9a just gets the nod over 1d, 15a and 7d. Thanks to compiler and thanks and welcome Deansleigh to the bogging team.
Welcome to the blogging team Deansleigh and what a splendid Hudson crossword to have for your first blog of a backpager
I found this easier than many of the earlier commenters did but thoroughly enjoyed every minute it lasted, with so many clues I really liked it would take too long to list them
Thank you very much to Hudson and Deansleigh
Enjoyable, amusing and not overly challenging, what more can one ask of a Wednesday back-pager? Thank you Hudson. Welcome Deansleigh.
I liked the sadly departed umpire and the eccentric mind, but for sheer wordplay I go with the talking bird at 13a as my cotd.
2*/4*
This was as bright and breezy as the weather outside, with a couple of slippery clues to mirror the road surface in the sticks. Plenty to enjoy, with the neat 13a my favourite.
Many thanks to Hudson for the challenge, and thanks and a warm welcome to Deansleigh for the excellent blog.
2* / 3.5* A cracking midweek challenge, needed new bloggers excellent hints to explain a couple.
Favourites include the elan of 24d, the polish of 13a and the vulnerable area at 8d (really wanted to put heel in)
Many thanks and welcome to Deansleigh and Setter
Would have been okay if I hadn’t messed up 8d by entering the second word as an anagram of pains plus an ‘r’. Meant I couldn’t solve 23a!!
A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle today. I had lots of favourite clues, but top marks to 13a.
Thanks to Deansleigh for joining the Blogging team and thanks to the setter for such a great puzzle.
Welcome Deansleigh and thanks to Hudson for a very enjoyable puzzle!
* / ****
Although unaware of the writer in question, 15a got a tick as did our friend from Peru in 1d and the 28a eccentric.
Seemed to be a wavelength thing or maybe the GK was just known to me but flew through this in 1* time.
Thanks again to Hudson and Deansleigh.
Haven’t looked at the cryptic yet but Shabbo’s maiden Toughie is excellent and quite approachable.
I agree. I needed help with a couple but it is a very enjoyable Toughie.
A very warm welcome to the newest member of the blogging team and what a professional start he made to his tenure! Had a couple of hurdles to jump today in the form of the ‘extraordinary’ song performance and the good writer but at least I knew the umpire and the eccentric mind so that counted for something. Plenty of clever clues but think the important talking bird was my favourite.
Thanks to Hudson and to Deansleigh for the review.
Pleased to tune into this cracker from the excellent 1a&d off for a surprisingly swift completion that was only marginally outside of Mon & Tues solve times. Very enjoyable indeed & for me you could stick a tick next to pretty well all of ‘em but the important little talking bird was my fav.
Many thanks to Hudson + a big welcome to Deanleigh & with thanks for such an accomplished debut blog in his new Wed slot.
Ps another shout out for Shabbo’s debut in t’other spot – very accessible & great fun, though I’m still scratching the crumpet 2 shy of completion
Really enjoyed this but had to have two goes today – a few clues, especially 13a, left me beaten at first. On my return to the grid I was surprised how quickly the answers came to me. Maybe more caffeine was the trick.
A puzzle where not much progress was achieved on the first pass but the few that did fall provided a good foundation on which to build. Thanks to Hudson for the puzzle and a warm welcome to Deansleigh as a new regular member of the blogging crew.
Thanks Deanleigh for becoming one of the selfless team of bloggers. Really struggled with this today (am obviously in the minority) and would not have finished without your help.
Thanks to the setter for the challenge.
Another nice puzzle this week for a Wednesday to my way of thinking. A few smiles along the way too.
2.5*/4* for me
Favourites include 20a, 23a, 28a, 1d & 4d — with winner 1d
Smiles for 20a, 23a & 24d as well as the funny 28a!
Good puzzle that I enjoyed.
Thanks to Hudson(?) & Deansleigh
Welcome, Deansleigh (what a splendid name) to the Band of Bloggers. 1a went in straight away I was so confident that I didn’t even count the letters. 1d was a bolt of lightening also but then I had to knuckle down and work at it. A very satisfying solve and many thanks to Mr Setter for his challenge. I thought 13a was smart – does anyone hear from our friends down under? The two Kiwis? Pray give them my good wishes if you are in touch. I went to M’nS in Royston this morning and then filled up with petrol. The number of the car in front of me was KI 55 YOR.
It worried me slightly.
Love the car reg!
I had an old Jag with the reg GTO 600D, ( read GOOD), what would that be worth to a vintage Ferrari owner today?
Unfortunately sold the car to a bloke for £45 to take it banger racing!
Gutted!
The 2 Kiwis commented on yesterday’s toughie
Yes DG we’re still here and still doing our regular ration of daily crosswords. Keeping an eye on what is said on here too although we don’t comment so often these days. Felt we had to do so today as two references to our part of the world and a new blogger in the nest that we kept warm for ten years.
Thanks Hudson and Deansleigh as well as best wishes to everyone else.
Carol and Colin.
So nice to hear from you. It was always good to hear you talking about sunny walks when we are wrapped up in thermals and fleece! I was very disappointed that it was impossible to talk on Zoom at the bash last January.
Nice to hear that you are fit and well Happy New Year 🌞
A very nice Wednesday puzzle which I found a bit tricky in places. Fine clues provided a decent-ish challenge and an enjoyable solve. I’ve ticked a few and will go for 18a as my favourite. 3*/4*.
*Here’s a cover of C,S,N & Y’s Carry On by an outfit called Foxes and Fossils. I don’t normally care for cover versions but this is a pretty good effort:
Very good. Thanks for posting. The guy on guitar did fine job – love Stephen Stills.
Shall listen to Deja Vu on the headphones while walking up to town for a meal out later
Thoroughly enjoyed that, thank you Jose. I wonder whether the group includes any father/daughter combos?
Apparantly, yes. From Wiki:
foxes and fossils band wikipedia
Foxes and Fossils is an Atlanta-based cover band that gained significant international recognition through YouTube. As of 2026, the band does not have its own dedicated English Wikipedia page, though they are frequently documented in music media and official platforms.
Band Overview
Concept: The band’s name refers to its cross-generational lineup: the “Foxes” are young female vocalists, and the “Fossils” are experienced veteran musicians.
Formation: Founded in 2010 by Tim Purcell in Smyrna, Georgia.
YouTube Success: They reached a major milestone in April 2025, celebrating over 100 million total views on their YouTube channel. Their most famous video, a 2010 cover of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” was a primary driver of their viral success.
Core Members
Tim Purcell: Founder, keyboardist, and vocalist.
The “Foxes” (Vocals):
Sammie Purcell: Tim’s daughter and one of the original vocalists.
Maggie Adams: An original member who joined at age 16.
Chase Truran: Joined the lineup later as a third vocalist.
The “Fossils” (Instruments): The instrumental section includes veteran musicians Toby Ruckert, Scott Gentry, Johnny Gentry, and Darwin Conort.
Left for Tai Chi with two left to fill in. Had to go to the hints for them both. One of them that took the bird and tripped me up was17 across and holding no grudge I nominate it as top clue. Enjoyed this for being more of a challenge than the last 2 days. OK that I didn’t get to the tape unaided it was the splendid journey that mattered.
Thanks Hudson and Deansleigh
Still adjusting to solving online rather than pen ‘n’ paper, the transition is proving interesting. I was on a busy London train, without access to paper for workings, and final two clues went in while on an Oxford St department store escalator. Will cite those two as my faves – 8D and 13A, the latter possibly biased by association with my second home.
Fun solve with the little bird as a brilliant clue. Welcome Deansleigh and thank you compiler
Welcome Deansleigh and thank you to the Setter. Typical level for a Wednesday. No real hold ups. COTD 1d. LOI 6d. We started and finished in daylight for a change!
Steady progress today. Last in was the old strictly presenter .. which made me cringe … never watched it and never will.
Cotd the wee bird at 13a although I confess to bunging in “chat” on the first pass.
Thanks to setter and our new blogger ..welcome .. handle a but of a mouthful though couldn’t that simply be DL .. just a thought!
I’ve never, ever, watched it either
Me neither.
Welcome Deansleigh. Thanks so much for joining the team . All you bloggers are stars in my eyes …and the setters too of course ! This was a really smart puzzle that I finished having taken my sedated and muzzled dog to the vet for her annual jabs. She is usually a nightmare , but the happy pills worked well today and she only screamed the place down as she was jabbed. Really loved this one , with some nicely chewy clues thrown in. I didn’t know 6d could be spelt like that. . Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
A warm welcome, Deansleigh, to this wonderful team; and thank you for your helpful review. Thank you too to Hudson for a most enjoyable guzzle.
Great puzzle – thank you Hudson. Started slow and then sped up but needed the hints to parse 13a (doh!)
Really struggled to get going with this today. I assume a wavelength issue as almost everyone else has managed more than 8 clues.
Thanks to all.
A bit late, but came back to this later and managed to solve unaided other than google for confirmation. Not heard of the cricket bloke, the author nor the chap in 28a. I feel a bit of an ignoramus…
Anyway, we’ll worth a second punt.
Thanks to all.
Great Wednesday combo, with Hudson here and Shabbo in Toughieland – two lovely puzzles. VMT also to Deansleigh – superb opening blog.
Spent far too long on this throughout the day. 3d amused me.
Can we ditch the falling ❄️ now🙄
Thank you all for your comments. In hindsight I should probably have used ‘homophones’ instead of ‘homonyms’ in the hint for 13a, but according to the BRB there isn’t too much difference in meaning, so I’ve let it stand.
@Big Eck – I’m sorry you found my handle a bit of a mouthful. It’s Thomas Hardy’s name for a place near my home town, so I think he should share some of the blame!
I was about to call you Deansgate in my comment but stopped just in time. Memories of a disappointing night in Manchester last night!
What a treat to be able to answer 1a and 1d immediately, the rest took longer but was very enjoyable. Thankyou Hudson and welcome to Deansleigh, I needed your help for the bird. It was good to hear from the Two Kiwis again.
1d was my favourite.
Welcome to the new blogger and thanks to Hudson for a cracking puzzle. A step up in difficulty from yesterday with a complete solve but with a solution I couldn’t parse – 7d and an assumption that there was a writer with the name Ambler.
1d favourite today
2*/5*
Will now head over to toughie land to check out Shabbos’s first puzzle.
I really enjoyed today’s puzzle getting 1a & 1d straight-away and thus off to a cracking start. I couldn’t believe my luck how quickly the answers flowed.1d is my COTD. Many thanks to Hudson and welcome to Deansleigh. I didn’t need your hints today thank you but that’s not the norm!
Because of my quicker solving time I looked at the Toughie by Shabbo and have completed most of it before having to break off. That’s another achievement I’m proud of!
Welcome Deansleigh and thank you for the hints and tips! An enjoyable solve and I would pick your three as my favourites too.
Thanks to Hudson for the puzzle.
Pitched about right for a Wednesday with a few head scratchers. 7d was, and remains, a bung in. Other than that a high quality and enjoyable crossword. I assumed the ‘Bruce’ in 22a was Fiona but then again I’ve never seen it. Favourite was 13a. Thanks to Hudson and DL, welcome to the fold.
Welcome to Deansliegh, an accomplished blog for a fine puzzle. The Yorkshire umpire was just beaten by the eccentric Heath Robinson for me. Thanks to Hudson too.
Very good to hear from Carol and Colin too
I think it’s all been said, an excellent puzzle and a brilliant first blog.
Many thanks to Hudson and thanks and welcome to Deansleigh
Not the rude awakening Wednesdays can be after charitable kick-offs to the week however due dilligence was still called for today in the East but with a bit of Google help it didn’t hold out for too long. 8d took a bit of sorting and then ultimately became my Fav. Thanks Hudson and welcome Deansleigh.
Just finished and more tricky than the previous offerings of the past two days. Needed the hints to complete, the Antipodean bird and giving birth. Why is it often the smaller clues which give you the most grief? Favourites were 28a, 3d and 8d. Thank you to the setter and to our new guide for the hints, Deansleigh.
2*/5* …
liked 22A “Restrain old Strictly host endlessly pirouetting (4)”