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Hi Jono,

Yes, 'hard but fair' sums it up nicely. As I said in an earlier post, this crossword definitely grows on you and their is some excellent cluing. The brilliant misdirection in 11a with "British Miss married", where it looks for all intents and purposes that the "Miss" is a female - but no!

Hi Brendan

I started after 3.00pm as usual and thought it was easy, especially after last week, but have ground to a halt after doing about half. I've read through the thread, but haven't found it very helpful and I've nothing to offer as I haven't got those answers anyway. I've been driven indoors by the sun going in. I had to look up 24ac, which sounds Russian, but that hasn't helped me get 18d Great shot in middle of singles (8). I have E???H???. Are my crossers right?
I've enjoyed the exchange on 22ac, but it hasn't helped me nail it. I assumed Boatman was ME reversed, but I can't see it.
Is the definition for 11 ac "a snake". If so I can't parse it.

Any further hints gratefully received.

I also thought ‘badger cull’ was a nice bit of misdirection!

Hi Roof,

Alas, the sun has gone in here too - but I live in hope:-)

18d Your E should be an S from 17a where the definition is "where one lives" and is an anagram of a word in the clue + S(ubway)S

22a again an anagram of a 4 letter word in the clue + 2 letters for "Boatman" (the setter) - definition is a generally oppressive authority (figure) - you're right about the ME being reversed.

11a is a snake.

Hi Roof,
18d your first letter is wrong. Snake, yes

22a Actually the 4 letter word isn't an anagram, it just goes around ME (reversed EM)

Jono, Yes, 21d was excellent.

Hi roof
Your E is wrong in 18d
11 is a snake - I met one i a loo i South Africa!

Chris - now that sounds like a story ;-)

Hi Chris,

That sounds awful - I just checked on Google and the snake is "fast, nervous and lethally venomous":-(

We were staying in the Kruger Park. The huts where we slept were in a compound, but one night we were driven into the bush for a "brai" (barbecue). The food was brilliant, but it was slightly disturbing that the perimeter was patrolled by guards with rifles - to discourage the lions, apparently.