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I enjoyed this - a new twist, I think. But isn't there an error at 30?

Hi cockie,
yes there's an error with the wordplay in 30a. I emailed Steve Bartlett earlier.

It was an interesting twist but I have worked out the message and arrived at the final grid without solving some of the 'clue clues' IYSWIM.

I'm not sure what I was originally supposed to enter in at least 2 cases but having filled most of the grid it's hard to unsee the letters and cold solve the clues again.

It's a bit of a curate's egg for me.

Once the penny dropped and I realised the source of my frustration, it was a quick and fun solve. The error at 30a was a shame but was obvious enough not to be a problem.

Wow! Hardest puzzle of the weekend IMO.

Ironically, I found some of the themed clues the most difficult - and I mean the original answers:-)

Still, good fun and thanks to Vagans,

A very enjoyable mental work-out.

Good to see a new (to me) idea. I found it tricky to work out some of the extra letters.
One question - does 31d. really only work as an 'across' clue?

Hi Mattrom, it's funny because that was exactly my first thought on reading, but then I considered that if Vagans is saying "in this clue, if read from right to left or "from the east", you can see the answer" - then he/she is correct.

I can't parse 34 across (the non-grid entry). I know which device is used. I can distinguish the wordplay from the definition part, but I can't find a satisfying answer/synonym for the definition that fits the wordplay. Add to it the absence of checked letters, a couple of days' reflection and that's me throwing the towel.

Manu - I not 100% sure I’ve got it right but this is my take on 34a.
Using the clue device the wordplay ‘hot belonging near’ translates as ‘not belonging here’, the answer/synonym is extraneous.