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Hello, Elle.
I'll "hint" at 12 and 19!
12, the warship is an undersea vessel.
19, is fairly straightforward.
Very is often abbreviated to which single letter?
A negative two-lettered response?
Madeira is the definition.
I am starving and going to raid the fridge!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I thought you were going out for a walk?
You surely cannot be back already?
I think University Challenge is quite hard - it is the speed with which the questions are fired at one that I find intimidating!
( and I do not like Jeremy Paxman)
Now the crossword clues......
12a: I already had the "sub" part meaning warship
I've got SUB?E?
No idea as to the rest!
I'd done 19a in your absence....
Vino = such as Madeira
v- very
no - negative response
i - island
I was being very dim there! (you may agree without needing to duck!)
I like 16D - but am not sure what classification of clue it merits?
Your painter responds quickly!
Is he going to paint or stain your cupboard?

Hello, Elle!
Just saw Her Majesty giving the Commonwealth Games baton to Anna Meares!
Then an interview with Anna and Victoria P.
They are great friends now!
I did walk, but a short way.
12a is a dreadful clue, in my view.
"Subset".
I cannot explain 21 across, for which I have "Cannes"?
Maybe a homophone that I can not twig?
My painter is like greased lightning.
He will be here a wee while tomorrow and Wednesday.
Mainly preparation work.
Then a bit longer on Thursday.
He is using non-odour paint.
Fine day here!

Hello again, Elle!
Update!
I found the OED.
it costs £56 for a three months online subscription.
All I have to say to that is, "Jings!"

Hi, Rusty!
Anna and Victoria used to be mortal enemies did they not, in the days of their cycling rivalry?
It is good that they can now be friends!
Maybe the unnatural pressures put upon them working for BC did not help their previous relationship?
I took "Cannes" to be a sort of cryptic definition?
Meaning the place in France where the film festivals are held; and a homophone "cans" as in judging in the sense of condemning?
No?
I am away out now, in my turn, with the dog........I shall not go far as she appears to be limping a little....
I cannot find a problem, though, when I check her legs and feet.
I just want to go a short way and see how she fares.............

P.S. Rusty!
Just seen your second post after I'd put up mine........
You could probably buy it from Amazon cheaper than that ?
although I haven't looked?
I have a ninth edition of the COD ( Concise oxford) but it was a 1995 edition.
It as nearly as big as my 13th edition of Chambers!

Right ... I must away out.........

Hello, Elle!
Yes, Anna and Vic were fiercely competitive against each other.
Intense, and then some!
Literally, blood spilling contests on the track.
Elbows flying, not an inch given.
Now? What a difference. Great buddies!
I can not grasp "can" as in "judging", but no matter.
Hope doggie is going to be fine.
I explored OED costs.
For the 20 volume set of OED, it is £750.
There is an "acceptable" set on eBay for £450.
I shall stick to Chambers, Brewer's, and Anne Bradford!

Hi, Rusty!
Goodness, I had no idea that the cost of the OED set would be so high!
I was fully expecting that for a year's online subscription, you could buy a second hand set of books from Amazon.
I am gobsmacked!
Yes, stick to what you already have!
The dog is only limping slightly sometimes, when she walks slowly.
She runs like the wind...no problem then.
This has happened once before, and the vet could find no reason for it.
She does not seem to feel any pain or discomfort - does not even wince when I feel her feet and manipulate her legs.
I shall keep an eye on her.
I feel tired today......maybe the warmer weather?
One thing about the cold frosty days.... they are exhilarating!

Hello, Elle!
I am slightly surprised the OED is still published in book form.
The present edition was published in 1989, and there have been hundreds of new words since then.
No copies on Amazon.
Your dog appears to be fine, so.
Maybe racking your brains to solve your crossword is tiring you!
I think maybe the frosty days have passed.
It has been a very good Winter!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I think that we have had a reasonable Winter.
Our weather here has been very cold but largely dry and fine.
We have some lovely days!
And no snow , thank goodness!
I was discussing this, though, with my cousin yesterday, and she thought the Winter had been terrible.
She described it as mildish and damp!
I wonder what planet she spent her time on?
I like the idea that I might be feeling tired due to over exercising my brain!
(I wonder if I can cash in on that somehow.....?)
Perhaps if I went to bed earlier, and didn't get up at the crack of dawn , it might help?
I certainly never get more than about five hours sleep.
Generally, though , I am fine .
Now, I found several sets of the complete OED on Amazon?
The cheapest was £665.75 plus £2.80 delivery.
Described as "like new" from ardisbooks.
I have yet to watch 15 to 1, so shall do that now..........more brain exercise!!