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Hello, Elle!
I have no idea if you are right or wrong with "&lit"
It is not something I would be interested in.
Best kept simple, I think.
Right, 24,
Newspaper is "i" or "I" is it, the mini Independent.
"Rit" is an abbreviation of words for slowing down in music.
One is "ritenuto", the other is ritardando, I think.
"Is" is in the clue.
Hydrogen is an unusual one, but I liked it.
If you remove wise bird/owl from "howl" you are left with "H".
H is chemical symbol for hydrogen.
Any more questions, just fire away!

Sorry, Elle.
Yes, it is "iritis", a painful eye condition.

Hi, Rusty!
Well, I would never, ever, have got 24 across, Rusty!
I didn't think of "i" for newspaper...and I've never heard the word "rit", so that was me up the creek without a paddle!
You are clever to know that!
Now.... we won't talk about 27a .......okay?
We shan't ever, ever, mention it again.......?
Honestly, I couldn't see that one needed to take "owl" away from "howl".......leaving "H"..........even though I already had "hydrogen" as the answer.
And me a Biomedical Scientist, too!



Ouch, Malone!
Er......is this the point where I admit to being a scientist?
I guess I couldn't see the clue "backwards"!

Elle, I really liked the Hydrogen clue - and was surprised that you hadn't got it instantly.

Hello, Elle,
Yes, there is an "i" newspaper.
I've bought it a couple of times. Not Bad!
I think it had a not too bad crossword, too.
Often the newspaper is the "FT", Financial Times.
"Rit" should be added to your list of cricket and other abbreviatons.
It crops up occasionally!
Was there a 27 in the paper?
I never noticed!
But the setter uses the word "gets" as in "goes away" to remove owl from howl.
Subject closed......!
You clever scientists are entitled to off days as well, you know!

Hello again, Elle.
If you have a wee look at Anne Bradford's "slow", she has "rit" and a few other musical terms for "slow" in music.
May be a wee help in future?

Elle, I get the 'i' on a Saturday for the Inquisitor (themed, often difficult) crossword. I think Diablo's questions are from the weekday issues (but I think the crosswords are old ones, recycled from the Independent). It's a good paper, costing only 50 or 60 pence to buy for a train journey - enough to read and a quite good crossword!

Hi, Rusty!
I have been taking a break from crosswords and have been making up beds!
BB has decided that, as his cousins have just been to stay with us for a week, it is high time that he himself has another "sleepover"!
So I am now ready for the onslaught...... whenever!
(Bring it on!)
I've just had a quick shiftie in Anne B's book...under "slow"......
I didn't know most of those words!
Yes, cricket terms are another problem for me......but I managed "in" for "still batting" this morning!
Are you up-to-date with all the info on your new car now, after perusing the manual earlier?


I can just about manage Diablos' clues, Malone!
But I had no idea where he got them!

Hello, Elle!
That's good you have more family arriving!
I think Bradford's is a smashing book!
I am learning slowly about my car.
It is reasonably straightforward.
It is the "info screen" that takes a bit of learning.
It is a fine car to drive, though.
The seat is quite a bit higher than my Rover, which is good.
The buggy and me are going to my dentist tomorrow!

PS. Queen "Salote" in English is "Charlotte".
And "vaka" is "canoe".
That is all the Tongan language I know!

(I'm confident that elle already knows this)

I've just seen an Admiral insurance advert where they decide not to name a new product after the place where the inspiration struck - Pratts Bottom.

When we used to drive back into London from Kent, we used to pass, in quick succession, "Badgers Mount" "Pratts Bottom"!