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This week's puzzle is a most enjoyable effort by Tramp.

FOI was 2d followed by 4d.

I found it quite difficult in places, especially with those pesky 4 letter clues like 13a, 18a and 22d - but I think I've managed to get them all, although I nearly went for the wrong definition at 18a!

If you do get stuck there is a long anagram in the acrosses and three long anagrams in the downs.

We were talking last week about what makes a good surface in a clue, and Tramp has provided some fine examples with 8d and 24a.

There are still a few I can't fully parse, namely 9a where the wordplay is clear but the definition isn't and 16d where the definition is clear but the wordplay isn't 😜

LOI were those tricky 4 letter words I mentioned earlier, 13a and 22d.

Please feel free to leave a comment letting us know how you got on with this puzzle, it's always interesting to read the views of fellow solvers. And remember, if you get stuck, don't hesitate to ask for a hint, there are always people on here willing to help - you might be one of them 😉

Thanks to Tramp for a challenging but rewarding crossword.

Stay safe:-)

Sorry, in all the excitement I forgot the ....

COD - 3d - Stroke pet on top of paw and go off (3,6)

I always thought the first word was longer but Chambers gives both spellings.

Hi Brendan,
I also found the short clues tricky.
23 will be LOI, but I'm stuck.
FOI 14. COD 16 over 1a, 20, 24, 4 and 19.
9: Definition is "can [US] feature"
16: 3-letter abbrev for "what have you" + first letter removed from 6-letter word for "stuff"
Thanks to Tramp. Not an easy puzzle, got off to an extremely slow start.

Hi Geeker,

Thanks for that.

9a - I completely overlooked "can" - no wonder the definition didn't make sense!.

23a - Definition is "Downed one" with a 3 letter "can" (Again!?) after/"at end of" a 3 letter "month"

Brendan:
Many thanks on 23! That was my guess, but I was fixated on the wrong meaning of "downed", which prevented parsing.

Thank Geeker,

It's one of a quite a few clues this week with hidden definitions - makes for a more enjoyable solve 😃

I have trouble getting 13a. Yes, the short four letter clues are difficult.

13a: I assume the definition is the opposite of drop. Only this answer I can fit.

Hi Mathi,

6a - I have the definition as "drop" (as in a drop of sweat)

I'm really not sure of the parsing but I think it's based around ....

Single letter "toast essentially" inside a 3 letter "floor" (as in 'base')

Sorry Mathi, I meant 13a.