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If you want an early start here is tomorrow’s Everyman pdf…

https://cdn.observer.co.uk/media/documents/obs.everyman.20250907.pdf

I think the other Observer puzzle is due to be the monthly Azed Competition rather than a Gemelo.

Thanks Jon - good timing with the PDF as my laptop pencil has given up the ghost. I might not replace it, as there’s something so beautifully tactile with a pencil on paper.

Quickest ever solve! But would appreciate a parse of 21.

A homophone (loud) I think.

Ah - brilliant. Thanks Jon.

20a - Mark eschewed by the vulgar? (7,5)

Other than the answer and definition, which I'm sure of, the actual wordplay has me completely baffled.

Is it a 'thing' that vulgar people don't use or 'eschew' these?

Brendan, boomer geeks will hearken back to elementary school and recall "vulgar fractions". :-D

Thanks Geeker, I've somehow managed to go my entire life without ever hearing that expession.

I don't want this to come across as sour grapes because I didn't get the wordplay, but I can't help feeling there should be another word after 'vulgar' eg. 'kind' or 'type'.

Just 'vulgar' on its own doesn't even appear to be accurate?

Yeah, it's not a great clue. I was just proud of remembering the somewhat archaic term.

The usage in 2 was completely new to me. I wrote in the answer from crossers but had to google.

Geeker, I don't want you to think I'm jumping to conclusions about your choice of ahem... apparel, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest your gender is why you're unfamiliar with one of the meanings.

Please correct me if I've misunderstood:-)