Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Vlad nearly impaled me this time. Almost gave up, but was all the more glad to get there in the end without help, albeit in well over average solving time.
Can’t even remember my FOI, perhaps 12. LOI 25: obvious what it must be but the parsing took me an age. But for that the LOI would have been 19, which I’m going to call my COD as I’m too tired to review the whole thing right now.
Thanks (I think) to Vlad for the challenge and workout.

Brilliant puzzle by Vlad...so far, because I am still stymied by 13 and 18, even with all crossers except the one where they intersect.
Will set it aside and hope for later inspiration / PDM.

Hi geeker.
I had the same problem with 13 and 18. I could see an answer to 13, but didn’t think it was right in terms of definition. It does appear that it is a viable definition but I’ve always thought of it as meaning something quite different (the primary definition in fact). I now have a vague, and quite possibly false, memory that this issue has cropped up before.

Vlad, thanks.
Tough stuff, enjoying it.
Still a few to go in NW.
Have 13 and 18 though.

One in NW and one in SE to go.
Will sleep on them.

Got SE 19d. Great clue.

Got NW 9a, too. LOI.
Had to Google my answer with the definition. So, all done incl. parsing.

19d, COD
Also liked 3d, 11a, 18a, 13d, 25a, 24/21, 15d and 16d.

Finished upon resumption.
Definitely a challenging Prize, but worth the effort.
FOI 4
LOI 13
Some UK terms required Google to confirm.
Many great clues and difficult parsings.
My COD also 19, narrowly over 5d, 20 and 27.
Also liked many others including 17, 2, 9, 25 and 11. A clever Spoonerism as well.
Thanks to Vlad, who's contributed some impressive Prizes of late.

Definitely feel like I've been impaled. Finally completed the grid but have a few I still haven't parsed completely. I'll come back to it in the morning. Favorites were 1a and 12a. Numerous trips to Chambers were required.

After 20 minutes I've only got 26a, and that needed local knowledge!