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Hi Brendan

Glad you could join us. I was only able to tackle a few Saturday and yesterday (too busy cooking and eating), but did the rest in a few sessions over today. I finished early this evening after today's guests left. I was really put off this crossword with the need to constantly cross refer. The words in the preface didn't tell us the length, so I had to find them in the grid (which wasn't easy) and count the letters by which time I'd lost the clue! I found I was all over the place until I wrote down all the special clues in a table to which I could cross refer.

I had trouble with a few and don't understand the discussion here on 34ac. It is obviously a "U". There were a couple of words I'd never heard of, but I got the Bells early on. I think my FOI was 57ac and my LOI was 85ac. My favourite was 36ac - never heard of it before.

I look forward to something more sane next week.

I should have said that I do the crossword in the newspaper and it was didfficult seeing the numbers on newsprint.

Thanks Brendan.
Once I realised I’d got the wrong girl in at 15 the angel became clear.

All done now, the drink did indeed sort everything out, I was trying to find a kind of tea which just wasn’t working!

Lots of new general knowledge, and a few new words, for me. It’s kept me entertained through a rather strange Xmas - husband has flu really quite badly. But he seems to have turned the corner tonight. 🤞

Thanks Feebee, and I hope your husband has got over his flu:-)

Hi Roof,

I'm another who constantly lost track of the numbers for themed clues, I wish I'd followed your lead and wrote them in a separate list.

Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you next week:-)

Might be too late for most now, but there’s a helpful list of the themed clues in number order that someone has kindly posted here…

https://www.fifteensquared.net/general-discussion/

Hello all
I want to buy a crossword compiling app. Could any of you experienced setters or solvers recommend the best one for UK English and cryptic clue compiling?
Thanks
Hywel

Hi Hywel, Crossword Compiler is the industry standard. It has a subscription model and requires Windows, but you can download a trial I believe.
There are other options out there but I can’t speak with experience of any of them.

Great fun though needed a little help from the discussion above. Just can't figure out the two girl's names (15ac and 45d). Any hints appreciated. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year's puzzling.

Hello Jono

Thanks very much