Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Well done Barry, glad you got it all sorted:-)

A corker indeed, and a fitting tribute to the Great Araucaria. Many thanks Paul, and as ever lots of thanks for all the helpful hints. I thought getting the 7s was key, combined with the direction indicators in clues like H and X: unfortunately my brain dried up tackling the 7s and when I got one (Y) it could fit the 8s in two places! Got most of it in the end (with a lot of help from you all, and a few where I am not sure of parsing) but still stuck on Q - what sort of still am I looking for? Poring through Wikipedia on Spanish Royalty has got me nowhere.
A masterwork from Paul, and I think the longest discussion on this forum I have seen.

Hi Luko,

Q - the definition in Chambers is royal 'partisan' but I checked on Google and it does relate to a specific Spanish royal as well.

5 letter "pretty" as an adverb like 'rather' or 'fairly' goes around/"dresses" a 3 letter "still" (as often used by poets).

Isabella II of Spain

I've just joined this forum and feel thrilled that I've managed to finish Paul's puzzle. I loved all Araucaria's puzzles and especially the Alphabet ones. But I was struggling with this one until I had your help. And I've learnt a new phrase beginning with B S!

Hi Aicram,

Welcome to the Forum - we look forward to hearing from you again.

You aren't the only one to whom this was a new word, I have a feeling Barbs may well need counselling after having to 'imagine' them:-)

Hello all. I've finally got through this one, though with a lot of illicit dictionary and crossword solver help. Try as I may, though, I just cannot parse E. Can someone help please?

Hi, anothertom,
I read it as EN(d) for edge cut. With the rest being line.

Thanks jono. I hadn't thought of our nation's capital.