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Much harder than usual I thought, and I gave up and used a solver for the last one in (21A - I mean really!). It could be wrong I suppose but it's the only word that seems to fit, unless my crossers are wrong.

There's also a few I can't parse like 3D, 12A (Pole?) and 5D (although the answer is clear).

Could not spot a rhyming pair this week but there is alliteration in 1, 5 and 26. Can't really parse 26 either!

Also unusual to have one answer be the plural of (the French word) from yesterday's prize.

14D and 19D were my favourite clues I think.

Ok I can now parse 21A, "word from above" - very clever... but it's such an obscure word shakes my head!!

12A is an abbreviation for interest (i.e. as on a loan), plus a word meaning to care, with N for North inserted. Whole thing means at last.

In contrast, finished under one hour which is unheard of. Morning all. Enjoying the extra hour. Found bottom half trickier than the top. FOI 11a, LOI 20d. COD for me is 17a, though I imagine if you've seen it before it's not so COD-ish. Actually liked 21a, neat clue. Agree there are some unclear parsing. But usual favourites including a spice noonerism.

26 is an anagram

I found this easier than usual but great fun, with lots of witty clues. I suppose I was exactly on the setter's wavelength for once. My COD though is 17A, which I found oddly amusing having struggled with the job yesterday.

Have to say I think 21A is my COY (ie Year) ... It made me laugh out loud when the penny dropped. Plenty of other goodies too: I agree about 17A, plus 2D, 13A and 18D, all of which are beautifully constructed. All in all, one of the best Everymans in years.

I enjoyed this and finished fairly fast but cannot for the life of me parse 19d although the definition is clear and fits the crossers.

Hi, JS. It’s a double definition

I also loved 21A