Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

And thanks to Mathi, our entries crossed.

Thanks very much Cymro, I really appreciate that:-)

Almost another brisk Everyman, to whom many thanks - these are always fun. FOI 8a, LOI 12a, COD 1a. Love the repeated alilteration!
Best wishes to all, enjoy the holiday

Surprised to see no votes for 13D as COD -- so clever once the penny drops (which in my case took an age!). Thanks to Rainman for the pointer to 25A -- I just couldn't parse it at all. It is a bit convoluted, though, especially as the clue within the clue element isn't even a particularly common anagram indicator. There are some terrible surfaces, too (12A, 11A, 9A), alongside several lovely ones (3D, 6D, 19D). So, overall, oddly variable this week IMHO. (Maybe one setter did the acrosses and an other the downs!?)

Bit of a shame that 22d only had 13 syllables!

Ianwil, yes indeed, a missed opportunity!

Well spotted Ian. I was unsure what you meant at first but a quick trip to Google and all becomes clear:-)

I didn't know the Steps reference; presumably the first letter?
1d even if it were singular it should be "nerves" - even more so in the plural.
13d my COD too.

13d - Definitely. I didn't noticed the correct parsing until Phil made it his COD so went back to have a second look and, yes - excellent:-)

Thanks Phil, I similarly skipped over 13d thinking was probably an anagram and moved on, excellent!