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Should you wish to make an early start…
https://cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk/media/documents/obs.everyman.20251116.pdf

Just looked in at the Observer on the off chance that the interactive version might be up early (it isn't), but there is a message at the bottom of the page saying that they "are experiencing problems..... [and that] you may lose your progresss if you leave this page. We're working to fix it."

This explains why last week's filled grids vanished for so many of us.

Just in case it takes an age to appear, here is the link to the interactive version...

https://observer.co.uk/puzzles/everyman/article/everyman-no-4126

I found this more tricky than last week but still fun, nonetheless.

There are still two clues I haven't yet parsed, namely 13d and 22d but I am sure of my answers so will plug away.

COD: Quite a few contenders, with 5d reminding me of Fawlty Towers and the cleverly constructed 9a, but I'm going with 7d purely because I can imagine a sign quoting the answer greeting anyone who comes to investigate why "dam construction is incomplete":-)

Thanks to Everyman for a fun and challenging and enjoyable puzzle.

Let us know in the comments how you got on.

Stay safe:-)

Actually, I now wonder if I've got 22d wrong. I had thought the answer was a word meaning the reverse of carefree, but now I think the definition could be "Victorian greeting" in which case I presssed 'submit' prematurely!

Still no further along parsing 13d though 😡

Hi Bren

Agreed on 7d - not least cos it reminds me of my all-time favourite clue: 'Dies but doesn’t get into Heaven (6,3)'

I’ll add to your list of non-parsed; 11, 19a, 20, 8d, plus yours.

You’ve got me on the Fawlty ref?

I’m blaming Jon 😉 (thanks for the earlier link) maybe it’s cos I did it in the daylight

Hi Raffles,

5d - the "pretentious" reference reminds me of a scene where the sadly late departed Prunella Scales is telling a joke on the phone.

11a - "tries to win at tag" is 5,2 followed by 4 letter "stands" aroung "yard"

19a - first word is "the greatest" follwed by a 4 letter "pudding".

20a - first word is a synonym for "whips" then 4 letter "kit" - definition is "ch ch ch changes..." 😀

8d - Just think of the shape of the food items mentioned.

Sorry, 11a is "mostly stands" so first 4 letters of 5 letter word around "yard"

Your second thought on 22 is right. For 13 think nursery rhyme.

You've got me on the "Dies but doesn’t get into Heaven" clue Raffles - I'm not seeing it.