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I’m still not too familiar with Kite, but I found this a relatively straightforward, but nonetheless enjoyable, mix of write-ins and misdirections needing a bit of lateral thinking and firing of the synapses.
FOI 1, LOI (I don’t know why) 8.
COD - I’ll go for my penultimate one in, 25, which I thought was lovely when the penny dropped.

Thanks to Kite. Struggled a bit, as usual with relatively new setters, until I got on the wavelength. Took slightly longer than the norm, but I'm ill today which didn't help.
FOI 20a, LOI 25.
COD 13, can't say why due to spoilers. Also like 10 and 25. Agreed on PDM for 25.

I liked your COD too, geeker, as well as 10.
Get well soon!

Hi Guys,

I struggled a bit with this but, thankfully, there was some low hanging fruit that allowed me to get a foothold.

The clue I had the most trouble with was 17a, where I didn't know the word for "near the ribs" and, even though I had both crossing letters, I just couldn't see how any of the possible words could mean "injury"! I get it now, of course, but I just couldn't see it for the longest time.

COD - Has to the brilliant 13a - outstanding:-)

Thanks to Kite for good challenge:-)

Brendan, that was exactly my experience with the low hanging fruit. For quite a while, those were the only clues I managed to solve. I had the most trouble with 7, 10 and 25.

Evening, gentlemen. Like Brendan, 17 was my LOI. Had to look up the word for near the ribs. Also unfamiliar with the clay in 21a. However, 21d gets my COD for the definition. I have to nitpick with 13a though. The second s seems forced. "Being unsupported" feels like it should be in regard to just one person. I won't go further for fear of a spoiler.

Speaking of COD's,

I was close to making 21d a joint COD but would have preferred if Kite had used "Euros for starters" rather than "easy for starters" - IMHO it would have improved the surface.

Morning all, I think I've beaten my speed record of a few weeks ago. First in 7 again. Agree with cod. Cheers.

At first I thought this was on an Everyman footing. I was writing in clues all over the place. Then I realised it was a lot harder and cleverer than first thought.

A level biology helped with 17a and I also didn't know the ancient clay either.

But I'm stuck now on 10a, 3d. I have a perfectly acceptable answer for 10a but can't make it parse in any way shape or form. 3d I'm just staring at it until it blinks.

Hi Rocky,

10a - 2 letter "like + 2 letter acronym for "Charles" + 2 letter "at home all go inside "father's" - definition is "wraps" (new word to me)

3d - part anagram + single letter "dated at the beginning" - definition is "went on union trip"

I made a right meal of this clue!