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Completed, I think. Happy to try to assist with any questions.

Regards,
Alan

Hi Alan,
I finished it a couple of minutes ago,did 23 & 24
give you any grief? They seem to be transposed!
Best wishes,
Jerry

Hi Jerry,

Just the Grauniad living up to its reputation I suppose !

I had been made aware of the problem before starting out because I do a Google search on 'AZED nnnn' to find the site to download the gris from. On the Google results I noticed somebody pointing out the clue transposition. In addition, 15a was one letter longer than the online puzzle stated.

You would expect the online version to include corrections to any errors in the printed version - but no such luck.

I am surprised that the (very) 'common phrase' at 5d isn't in Chambers. It's hardly a recent creation.

Regards,
Alan

15ac UPSEE ??

4d DOPE ??

and

18d ???

Help much appreciated!

Hi Tim,

15a is URDEE (means pointed)

4d is indeed DOPE (a drug and a lubricant)

18d is MORESCA (under MORESCO in Chambers, with the A on the end indicating that it is the Italian version of this Moorish dance.

Hope this helps.
Alan

Tim,

I should have mentioned re 15a, that URD is a bean and EE is SEED with the outer letters (shell) removed.

Alan

Thanks a lot.

Now - if I'd spelled Pour-Parler correctly I'd have got that!

Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to send this one in. I've never entered the clue writing competition, and this is the closest I've got to finishing for ages.