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No problem, rrrobbo. Thanks for your humorous insight...red cabbage and red wine sounds okay.

I've only been trying to do Listener crosswords since Christmas. This is the first one I've finished, after hours of struggle. Very pleased with myself as I find them stupendously difficult. Most discouraged on coming to this web site and finding that it was so trivial as to create indifference, banal and a walk in the park. It' s good that some are easier than others - I'd have given up by now if they weren't. So please to the elite solvers don't be quite so supercilious
Re showcasing someone with a supposed inappropriate interest in young girls- thanks for the hint- it was what enabled me to finish the crossword. (and my view is innocent till proved guilty)

Stephen- I don't think anyone was being supercilious , merely commenting that the puzzle was somewhat easier than normal. I am by no means an elite solver ... indeed I glance at the thread on answerbank which sometimes starts on a Fri evening or sometimes on a Sat. They are indeed the elite and if they comment that it's not too bad, then I "have a go". Sometimes the preamble is so confusing I don't even make a start!
The L threads on this forum are usually very friendly and helpful without giving too much away unless answers are specifically asked for. We sometimes reach 50 or 60 posts on here depending on the puzzle.
Hope you will look in again when you try another L - good luck!

Stephen, the written word is often misinterpreted. No superciliousness was intended. I think 'indifference' stands up as a genuine assessment. Look back to how many comments were made on 4388 or even last week's puzzle. 'Banal' was aimed at the theme, that was just my opinion. But I'm glad if my comment assisted you in finishing the puzzle.

I'm not really concerned about 'elites'. There are a good many people who sometimes comment on this site who are clearly, consistently good solvers. In general the site seems a more rounded balance of people than the other site, the puzzle is not necessarily a race to us, but simply a shared interest and we start it at various different times. I wouldn't say that the people on the other site are any better solvers than the ones on here.

Have like Stephen come back to The Listener...still a stalwart Times fan...Have nearly finished it and took time even though I guessed the Theme really early but cannot sort clashes in 16AC and 2DN. I have 2 "Ss" at start...Any prompts?

No clashes in 16. 2 Ss in cells 2 & 3, starts with a vowel, definition is 'coming up from another.' Clash in cell 5 of 2, definition is 'dependents.'

Thanks-- got it had a letter wrong in 16DN! So easy to make those sorts of mistake by not seeing woods trees or squirrels!

I think I must be wrong in looking for an animal to highlight because after much grid staring I cannot see one. In any event please can someone give me a nudge on where the 6 - presumably contiguous - cells start ?

beg of 5d ..... by the end of the conversation "they" are gone

Many thanks. I'd been looking for a flying pig !