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Maybe I'm just off the boil, but I found this fairly difficult. That's not to say it wasn't fun and the clues certainly cover a wide array of topics.

There's some French, an eastern exercise, and some food and drink to top it all off:-)

If you do get stuck there's an initial letters in the downs and two long anagrams in the acrosses.

FOI was 1d followed by 10a.

COD - I was going to pick 21a simply because it is what it is 😜 but I'm going to give it to 9a due to the smooth surface.

Thanks to Everyman for a tricky but rewarding crossword.

As always, please feel free to leave a comment letting us know how you got on and don't hesitate to ask for a hint if you get stuck.

Stay safe:-)

Right behind you Brendan. I liked 21a too (reminds me of the Britney Spears version..) but 14a will be my COD for the surprise. LOI was 15a (forget my FOI). Good fun, as you say.

Brendan,
I agree that it's challenging. Started out with some "low hanging fruit" clues, seemed to be a lackluster puzzle, but soon stalled out. Then many of the tough/time-consuming clues turned out to be delightful! Thanks to Everyman for one of his best in my (limited) experience. FOI 3, LOI and COD 13. Will also mention 14, 11, 6 and 4 as worthy of COD consideration.

Hi Alzy,

Snap on 15a - I got caught out looking for a literal monster.

21a - that's excellent - It makes you wonder how many other great ones there are 😂

Hi Geeker,

That's pretty much how I solved it - picked off a few of the easier ones but then struggled with the last few.

4d reminds me of a former president from your neck of the woods Geeker:-)

Hi Brendan,
We got matching pairs instead of rhyming ones today and I wonder if 20d is a theme indicator.
Still working on a few parsings though.
But, all good fun with the usual looser clues and odd spots.

Hi Mystogre,

I see what you mean about 20d where quite a lot of the answers would be served.

Would be keen to know if 20d refers to “celebrations”or “baked goods” or something else.....
I thought I’d finished but no “tick” in the app box.....

Very good from Everyman today I thought. Wasn’t that food substance also referred to in yesterday’s prize? I didn’t know it was a thing, but clearly it is. 13d was my COD and I rather liked 18d.
And a pair (or perhaps two) of opposites?

Frsteve, I have a tick, sometimes it takes a while to appear I’ve noticed. 20d is a substitution, the answer refers to celebration, but if you switch one letter you’ll get the baked good