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Thanks to Tramp for a most enjoyable Prize.

I took a while to get going, in fact my FOI was 23a, but soon got into my stride.

If you do get stuck there is at least one hidden in the acrosses, and at least one long anagram in the downs.

8d - I wasn't sure of the definition in but it's in Chambers thesaurus as a colloquial term so no complaints.

6d - if I've parsed it correctly, it's 1,5 but I'm not entirely sure the 5 is word - at least it's not in Chambers.

15d - I've parsed as 4,1,4 but is that last 4 really a "flower" (and I know that can have a variety of meanings in cryptics) - I mean... sort of but ...

COD 3 way tie this week with the elegant 10a, and the witty 4d and the clever 22d.

Let us know how you got on in the comments.

Stay safe:-)

Hi Brendan,

Thanks to Tramp. After a string of tough Prizes, this is the second in a row I found fun but very gentle.
FOI (1, 21), the very first clue I looked at, which was auspicious.
LOI 19.

COD 5 over 25, 26, 23, 2 and 7. I enjoyed quite a few clues, but nothing really knocked me out.

Agreed with your comments on 6 and 15. I parsed the same way.

I sheepishly have to say that 20d. took me a while to parse. I think 15d. parses as 4,1,2,2.

Yes, mattrom, your parsing of 15 is correct.

You also reminded me that 20 is a rather good clue, in retrospect should have been my COD. Although the merits of that particular King have always escaped me (in fact, yuck). 🤣

Hi Geeker,

I think in 6d the 5 is used as one part of a term when referring to someone from a particular area - me for example 😀

I'm going to add 9d to my COD's - a bit Paulesque but none the worse for that:-)

15d - Of course, thanks Mattrom:-)

Well done Mattrom (Still can't clear my head of a certain Prince Andrew denial). I think 6 deserves a question mark. I can't parse 10 and wondering is I have it right. Any clues?

Def. is marry, and it parses 1,3.

Thanks Darla. Looks like my initial parsing was right.

Hi Brendan. In 15d the last 4 is actually 2 plus 2 with the first 2 of these being the "flower". All best.