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22a is a double definition, "aimlessly wander" (a usage new to me) + "where seas are dry". A more Pauline clue might involve the display of buttocks. :)

Apologies, definition of 20a is Animal. I always seem to get things reversed when posting here.

Many thanks to you all. I've only got two left now and think I will leave them until tomorrow as I'm very tired and need my sleep.

I would have got 7ac sooner if I hadn't thought "four four" was the answer to 2d.

In the end I think 19,25 is my COD, but I also liked 13ac and 18ac. FOI was 15ac followed by 9ac. LOIs will be 4d and 8ac, the two I haven't got.

Goodnight.

4d is clever misdirection. Squash is the key word. Paul has cleverly ushered us towards one incorrect meaning of the word. That is all to say, I think!

For the purposes of the clueing, 8ac splits 3,4 between gentle touch and scream and you just need to broaden the meaning of scream. The answer is a word for a loyalist which increased in prominence under the last US presidency.

Before I discovered this Blog, I never finished a Paul crossword, but thanks to your tips and hints, I now know I can do it. Found this one tricky but satisfying. Thanks all.

Totally stuck with this. Am with Mrs Munch! Sunday morning and still only have 4 answers and two of them came from the forum. Still, there’s always Everyman.
Could someone remind me what LOI and FOI stand for?Shouldn’t 10 across be two words?

Hmmm, I had the same though about 10a, but Chambers gives it as one word. When the first letter is ‘C’ it’s two words. FOI, first one in, LOI, last one in. Brendan previously posted a helpful list of TLAs (three letter acronyms) but I forget which thread that was ;-)

A very enjoyable puzzle this week, though I wouldn't have completed it without the many hints here, so thanks everyone. I solved the top half eventually, and it gave me an idea of the theme, but the bottom half remained blank for a long while. I had never heard of 20 23d, but it is on Wikipedia, you live and learn.

Thanks RichardK
I've got them now, but I'm not convinced I have the 20s. I've found two possible anagram indicators for 20d, but cannot find a satisfactory answer for 20ac. Is it a Scottish pudding made from oats - a bit obscure for me and where is the animal?

I usually like Paul, but I found this crossword a bit difficult a real challenge to my tired brain.

Hi Roof,

20a - You might find the animal in Canada:-)