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After a flight to Bari and then a serious head down session I knocked this on the head. Still undecided on the strange words clues because you only get them after you solve the clue. But, when you get them I quite like them. Strange puzzle all round I thought but that is kind of Paul's way.

FOI after two read throughs I might add was 4d. LOI 15a. Not a word I knew.

COD probably 10,24.

Hi Jvector, I just finished this and apologies if you have already parsed as it took me a while but I think for 6,2 the non-word in the clue is a 5 letter + 1 letter parse ? For 20,21 I can see a possible hint to the answer within the 2 non-words ? Tony

Sorry everyone. I know this is late, but we do this on Sundays.
We're totally stuck on the SE corner: 22a and c, 23 and 25.
If anyone's still looking at this, hints would be appreciated.

Hi JossyP

22a - remove last letter from 'someone gasping' (e.g.. a smoker), include then usual abbreviation for 'old', and definition is 'seat' - something you might sit on. I remember references to these when I was young but not recently!

I am stuck on the NE corner (4,6,7, D 11,15, 19A), so perhaps you might give me a gentle hint or two? Thanks.

23D Definition is 'spirit', first 4 letters are 'pretty'....

25A Definition is 'country'. Reverse 'feels pain' and put eggs (not sure why they are poached) and 'killer' originally inside.

7: defn. "flexible", anag. of 2 words in clue (4 and 5 letters).

4 def is clean with a 3 letter moment and a 2 letter empty pocket.

Got it, thanks geeker.

One other Q: 13D can only be one thing but, to me, it doesn't parse at all. Teacher = two letters (never heard of it). Why 'pro-' portion?

11 def is toy with 4 letter inspection backwards containing 4 letter water

Hi Pauly,

But 3 + 2 = 5 and the answer is 7 letters.
Time for my breakfast (almost 8 a.m. here) so I'll be back later and will check previous posts also.

Thanks.