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Hi Simon,

Interesting that I should read your post about being offered a discount even after there'd been a fixed price quoted.

Back in the day when I was in a band, our guitarist made a point of always asking for discounts, regardless of the type of shop or product. For example, he'd see a pair of shoes he liked in a high street chain store and say "yes, I like these but what's the lowest price you'll take"? Most of the time the bemused staff member would just say something like "err, that's the price so....." but every now and again they'd call the manager and, wouldn't you know - he'd get a discount.

I say it's interesting that I should read this today, because said band member moved to Sweden several years ago (You mean you didn't go on to become chart-toppers Bren! 😢) but was back in England visiting family and friends over Chrismas and so we met up. Then, a few days ago I saw a nice pair of jeans and went in to buy them but, at the till there was actually a sign that read "we do not offer discounts so please do not asK". I couldn't help but think back to my old band-mate and, almost tongue-in-cheek, said "I really like them but I'm a fiver short, is there anything you can do"? The lady looked from me to the sign and back, smiled and said "sure":-)

Thanks Bren, that's 5 minutes of our lives we'll never get back!

Hi Brendan,

Not wishing to hijack the thread, I'll be brief. Interested that you were in a band, I was too (bass). Re the subscription, I originally paid whatever the offer was at the time. The subsequent renewal seemed quite a hike so I rang them and got it renewed at more than the original offer but significantly less than the renewal.

Hi Simond9x. Thanks for the heads up (do people say that nowadays?). Sounds like it will be worth it for a year and then I shall have to deploy my rather limited negotiating skills.

I didn't find the clash resolutions ambiguous, woodlouse. They are all thematic.

A good puzzle, with some sneaky clueing. Thanks, Charybdis.

Full grid with the necessary changes and highlighting - 37a is a little sneaky, but eventually sussed it.

Am I right that the changed string results in 4 non-words ?

My thanks to Charybdis, too. Very neatly done and the consistency of the clashes and thematic resolutions was really impressive.

Son of Rover, no. All real words.

re: times puzzle club
my subscription is monthly & puzzle club only and cheaper than the saturday paper

Cockie - not sure if you've resolved your careful highlighting issue. I too initially thought this, before realising that's not the right cell.

Very pleasant I thought. Usual couple of wordplay issues I can't figure - 1a and 40a (I can see how 40a works if dope means a letter word beginning with g, but I can't see that it does?).

Oh, and I also used to play bass in a band many years ago.