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Another useful abbrev:
225=fifteensquared.net, a crossword solution blog covering several papers. Grauniad Prize and Everyman get solutions posted after 1 week; most others (late) same or next day.
Various setters often post amidst the comments on 225. I've slowly become aware to Ninas via 225 posts; some setters seem to specialize in them, but seemingly rare in Guardian puzzles.

Thanks Geeker,

You're right, 225 (Fifteensquared.com) shows the solutions after any closing date for entries so can give very precise parsings and explanations for every clue.

Good day all. I see the Private Eye reference in 19d. My COD is 12a, can't explain why and 7d a close contender. Thanks for the abbreviations list, I now need to understand the explanations, should keep me busy. Not quite sure how 6d comes together. Thanks for the posts.

6d: abbreviation LA means the answer, and the clue confirms its location.

Morning all,
Good again. Instead of rhymes we have alliteration in the long clues today which we’ve seen a couple of times recently.
I’m slightly embarrassed to admit I knew the member of Steps immediately!
Nice to see a reverse clue (clue in answer CIA). That would be my COD but I won’t say where it is. Also liked 19d for its &lit quality.

Thanks Mathi, on 6d, a lot simpler than I was making it!

I have 12A except the parsing of the last letter. I’m not on Twitter so hashtags mean little to me. Does #4 mean letter 4?

That's how I read it Cymro.

12a: Yes, only then the parsing works.

Thanks, Brendan. I’m a relative newcomer to this forum. I find your initial pieces very illuminating.