Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Morning all,
I had the same reaction to 14d, but otherwise, as you’ve all said, most enjoyable. I might suggest two sets of rhyming pairs in the down clues, or perhaps that’s pushing it?

Really enjoyed this week. LOI and COD the superb 11d. I’d also never heard of 6ac or indeed 12a. I got 4d from the wordplay before I got “cross” - usually it’s the word first followed by the parsing so it’s always fun when it happens the other way round, so to speak.

Overall, this was really good.

Oh dear, my shameful lack of GK showed through today. I found it all pretty straightforward but 12a and 8d were both unknown to me and Google was needed to patch them together with guesses from the wordplay. I also thought 14a could have done with an allusion to the past. And am I alone in thinking that 7d was a bit too obvious to be truly cryptic or anagrammatic? Otherwise an excellent CW, many thanks Everyman

Morning all

I have a couple of problems

8D Under rock dog left a bird (7,3)
I have S?????H ???
Are the letters correct ? and any hint?

Also

12A Drink and fruit put before dog thats eaten nothing (6,5)
I have Orange P???? - again, am I OK and a hint please+

Hi Hywel,
Yes in both cases your letters are correct.
8d is 4 letter word for loose rock, followed by a 4 letter dog and one letter for left, giving a bird
12d is a drink. I must say I wasn’t familiar with it. Another 4 letter dog in short form I think. Usual 1 letter for nothing

8d: your letters are correct. Five letter synonym for rock+four letters for a breed of Chinese dog +L.
12a: again, your letters are correct. Letter O inside a four letter breed of Chinese dog (abbreviated).

Hi Jono and mathi

Tricky pair (not you two!!)

Thanks

H

I was obsessed with Orange punch and pooch on 12a

Hywel, the term rock should be construed as loose rock.

Thanks cymro

You Welsh? Wales were rubbish yesterday. Gatland and Edwards will be sorely missed