Fairly straightforward today I thought. All the usual Everyman trademarks and a couple of new ones. I’m not fully convinced by 12a but may be missing something. COD was 6d.
Good day. Struggled with the top half but got there eventually. Got the answer to 11a - a variation on the 'primarily ' hint which I liked but did not know what the '18' was about. Then got a PDM. Aha. So although I don't like primarilies normally I'll give it my COD. Not sure I have 24 and 26 correct so I'll check back later.
A game of two halves, I thought, with the top half considerably harder than the bottom. Still awaiting a pdm for 11 and don’t understand 12. Liked the Spoonerism and 6
A mixed bag today. Some clues made me smile and others were indeed weak. I liked 6d, 11, 1a…and did not like the Spoonerism, 12 or 22. Nice to see a rhyming triplet though!
Chambers is wrong again! Patting involves lifting the hand and bringing it back down again gently; stroking doesn't allow separation between the hand and the item being stroked.