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Thanks to Philistine for this week's Prize diversion.

I found this fun and extremely well-clued, but finished in near-record time.

FOI (1,4) across, LOI 25.

Co-COD 8 and 23. Saw the long 8 quickly, which was a big help in filling the grid.
Also liked 24, 6, 21, 13, 15, (26,27), 22, 19 and 25, so clearly a pleasurable solve.

Don't see a theme or special feature at first glance, but hoping something will appear.

Record time for me too, geeker, and a similar experience to yours. My LOI was 20, which also vies for my COD.

Perhaps the fastest completion time for me as well, and faster than some of the entries for the previous week. No complaints on what is a busy day for me, one that might not have been able to fit in an Enigmatist or Paul. FOI 2d, LOI 13a.

Some nice wordplay here and there. 20d is clever and I liked the construction of 8d.

A record day by the look of it. Fun, but not a Prize. Only a couple needed a second or third read.

Hi Guys,

As you say, very much on the gentler side but fun nonetheless.

20d - The answer is clearly a definition of "ranges" but, given that's the only word in the clue, I'm struggling to see why it's in a cryptic crossword but, as Rog made it his COD, it's obvious I'm missing something?

Thanks to Philistine for balancing the scales following last week's Enigmatist:-)

Fun with some laugh-out-loud moments. Loved 8 and 20 once I figured how to parse them (Brendan - you will see it soon). Many thanks for Philistine for a great start to a Saturday.

I'll be honest, my FOI did take a while but once you get going this is more straightforward than the norm but very enjoyable nonetheless. About 75% done. Is 20d even cryptic? I haven't properly pieced together 25a yet either.

Hi Brendan and Rocky7
Yes, 20d is cryptic. Otherwise there would be a mismatch between the clue and the solution.

Hi Rocky,

Unusual for you to post while neither going to or coming from an airport:-)

2a - I think it's meant to be "pulses" but with the "essential part" or core reversed/"sent back" which then gives you an "author". The problem is, though, is that Chambers gives the authors name as an alternate spelling for the pulses so it doesn't require any wordplay, just a straight double definition.

20d - I finally get it - I wondered why it was plural:-)