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OK Brendan I get that now. Thanks.

But I think that clue sums up perfectly why I didn't get on with this crossword. I'll stress again that's definitely just me not being on their wavelength. Always likely to happen every now and then.

... I think the 'boatman' is a 2 letter abbr. rather that an acronym, either way it's a commonly used by setters to indicate a sailor.

Thanks Rocky,

Growing up we had a cat, Snooky, for 19 years also. It was so weird, every day at 6pm she would get up onto the windowsill to watch for my Mum coming home from work:-)

I did get the final two with the cat on my lap. He's 20, but can still jump up. He doesn't stay long as he doesn't like me doing the crossword and not paying him attention.

Anyway Rocky, I'm not on Boatman's wavelength either. I much preferred the easier crossword from Paul last week. I think I won't bother trying it next time. There is so much else I can do. We had a splendid time Walking with Alpacas yesterday.

A very enjoyable puzzle. Like some others, at first I didn't notice the special instruction, and found it difficult, but when I did notice it, suddenly everything got better. Fir several of the SI clues I had already thought of the right solution, but had been totally unable to think why. However, there's one thing which still puzzles me. Although I have filled in all of the solutions, I have only counted 10 specials. I can't see where the other two are at all.I have got 9,19, 27 ac & 3, 4, 5, 6, 18, 25, 27 dn. Any help on spotting which ones I've missed?

Fir = for. I really should learn to proofread.

Try 29a and 21d

Thanks, Quisling. I now realise I had the wrong answer for 29 ac. It was an answer which I didn't think was very good, but it was the best I could manage without seeing what the special instruction meant, and once I had got the SI I didn't think to revisit the clue to look for a better solution. As for 21 d, I had the right answer, but I interpreted the wordplay as a 3 letter + 4 letter Jewish ceremony, not as a 3 letter special + a 4 letter ceremony, as I now see is what was intended. Interestingly, both readings work, and give the same answer.

Hi Micky,

21d - I just had to dig further following your mention of a Jewish ceremony and, having Googled it, now know it's the 'ritual of the red heifer'!

Honestly, the things you learn doing these crosswords 😀

It ruins my week-end when I see the Guardian Prize crossword has "special instructions", "missing words" etc. It puts me off so much that I never bother starting.

The Guardian prize is normally the one crossword a week I do, and always finish. So not having one to do is very disappointing.