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Thanks jbird54 ... Might have mentioned previously ... my late mother-in-law (who took part in Times competitions) ... could never understand me needing to know a parse if crossword completed ... I guess there are still some of us who are 'a dog with a bone'! ...

Hi, completed grid. Got the message, got the five words.
The grid stare looks daunting. Is it worth it?

Removing any bars you may have pencilled in to assist the grid fill might help (together with the previous posts relating to pregnancy).

As usual (whenever stated bars not to be included) ... I work from a copy with bars included ... after following the instruction for six of the letters to be changed making real words with location indicated by three of the omitted words ... I then transfer to hard copy without bars and final two letter changes become apparant ... then find phrase using words from the changes ... finally change 1 word (using letters from 2 remaining omitted words representing 'it's letters and those of it's replacement') ...

Thanks Crates,
crystal clear now.

And to Mooncow, carte blanche - your link didn't work for me but QXW is a brilliant program for trying out bars and sorts out all the rotational issues (and it's free and seems to have all the words in the BRB).

I enjoyed this. Was just about to start getting cross with the endgame when I spotted it. But I have sympathy with those that found it a bit frustrating.

Loose end for me is 22a. I can see wordplay for the first and last letters, but not the middle 2?

Thanks

Sorry, also meant to say I didn't understand 30d til I read the thread, and agree that clue is obviously unfair.

crack is ai as in excellent

30D seems likely to split the community, Smellyharry. I thought that it was very clever and fair, albeit tricky.