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Hi everyone

Started at 2.30pm as usual but had to stop to mix up fruit in brandy for Christmas cake after sending my husband to Sainsburys for more sultanas. I got quite a few - over half - before resuming after 4.00pm, but have ground to a bit of a halt in lower half of grid. Although I think I've correctly identified the definition in 13d, I haven't solved it yet.

But I've just seen 20ac as I started to ask what a Ninja is. So that may help. Please can I have a hint for 23ac, which I assume is named after an author. OK just got that one! Which gives only one word that fits for 13d.

This is an interesting way of solbing the clues, but I better go away to get the rest. Be back soon. FOI 8d. LOI and COD still to be decided.

Hi Roof,

How is the tendonitis in your shoulder? I hope it's eased off.

23a - Is an anagram.

I like “solbing”, somewhere between solving and sobbing, we’ve all been there ;-)

Just two left in this relatively easy crossword, but I've stared at them and cannot see the answers. Are my crossers correct?
19d ?N?I?S

18d R?A?I?E?

Brendan, you need to listen to the Archers to get 24,16, though personally I make my puds earlier to fit everything in - it's a busy time of year. I make two batches of 3 normal puds and a small one for my friends and family so need two 16ds. This year I have had to be early as I'm meeting my sisters on 3 December, when I will give them Their puddings and cakes. It saves thinking of Christmas presents.

I used to listen to the Archers, well, a girlfriend did, so I used to listen with her - I loved Linda Snell😂

Al your crossers are correct.

19d - If you split the answer 2,4 it's a sort of humorous way of saying "resurrected" and the whole word is "garment"

18d - A very common word meaning "saw" as in 'understood'.

BHi roof
You probably wouldn't have had too much trouble with24, 16, then!

I'm going up to my brother's in Scotland for Christmas so will help him with all the cooking - well, as much as I can! I can't recall him ever mentioning 24,16 though it does sound fun:-)

Many thanks for these hints Brendan.

Personally, I think 19d should be garments not garment and I don't like 18d. But I've finished. So LOI was 18d and my COD was 5d closely followed by 20ac even though I didn't know what a Ninja was.

My husband hates listening to The Archers!

See (well on the forum) you all next week, when I'll be even more stressed about Christmas. Needless to say my husband hates Christmas.

I wrote this hours ago, but I seem to have forgotten to send it!

I still have the tendonitis in my shoulder. It is not too bad during the day, but is very painful at night - hence the Codeine.