Thank you everyone for your magnificent efforts … 33 contributions from 14 different setters is a very healthy return.
One thing that struck me early on, was how many different ways there are to clue “I” inside “PLOT”, including buddy @2, mprs @6, paul @11 & 12, tyke51 @21. I did like the π-based clues (irrational or otherwise): mattrom @4, buddy @9, culmer @23.
There were several really good anagrams, involving all three options, including dorrien @20, jimmygtal @25, fieryjack @27, mattrom @33 and (my favourite of this bunch) paul @13, as well as two very clever subtractive anagrams: jono @7, buddy @14.
Not many double definitions, but I did like mprs @8. I found it hard to categorise geeker @16 … maybe “weird” would do it, and I was glad to see the now traditional spoonerism: fieryjack @ 19. There were other clever offerings from tyke51 @18, jono @28, paul @30. Pretty much everyone deserved a mention, so forgive me for any omissions.
This was a really tough decision, over which I have spent far too much time deliberating (according to my wife, anyway). In my top three are paul @13 and mattrom @33 (egregious English spelling of ‘omelet’ notwithstanding ;-]), but both were just pipped by jono @7 … a great spot!
Car randomly destroyed in unstable petrochemicals trial (5,6)
Well done jono, here are your prizes:
Just to prove the Russians are good at something:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Cgxy7N-V0
Inspired by tyke51 @18:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMtoGj0dcSo
Music this week courtesy, perhaps predictably, of the great Joan Armatrading:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifARMmcqhD8