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Finally finished itFOI 8a LOI 26d

COD 27a 24d 20d

Thanks Brockwell for an excellent crossword

Hi everyone
Once I saw it was Brockwell, I didn't try very hard. I'm really not on his wave length. I looked up a couple to get me going, but still haven't done very well. It's been a bad day for me. I usually do laundry on Saturday morning, but was misled by the weather forecast. So tried to do other chores, but couldn't find a file on my laptop. Eventually I found it on my hard drive - wasted an hour looking for it. So I've wrapped some things for posting on Monday.

When I have got the answers, I can't fully parse them. So I shan't worry about it.

Is it just me who can't do Brockwell?

FOI 8ac

I found much of this demanding, but eventually did all but one clue. As I find happens remarkably often, it's one which nobody else has mentioned, so it's probably a really straightforward clue, and my brain has slipped out of gear. It's 11d. Any hints?

FOI 8a, which I saw within a couple of seconds. LOI will obviously be 11d. COD 12a, because I like the way all the different bits fit together to give a unified surface effect. 1d is a close runner up.

Hi Micky
11d - the first word is the definition. It parses as 2 within 2, the middle letters being an abbreviation.
Hope that helps!

Hi Roof

It's not that I can't do Brockwell. His style does mean there are a lot of clues that need a lot of thinking over. His puzzles always take me longer than most but I do find them enjoyable. But I do also consider the Guardian prize an integral part of my Saturday so probably in my case other chores take a back seat until I have finished.

Thanks Rogerm. I'd allowed myself to get fixated on the idea that the definition was at the end of the clue. I have no idea why. As soon as I read that the definition was the first word, without reading the rest of your message, I looked back at the clue, and saw the answer immediately. Yes, brain out of gear, as I said. I've been doing cryptic crosswords far more than long enough to know to consider both ends of the clue as contenders to be the definition. Duh...

We’ve all been there, Micky! It’s amazing how, with all the solving experience I’ve had, I can still get fixated on the wrong bit of a clue as the definition. I suppose that’s what misdirection is all about, and why the cryptic crossword never ceases to engage us.

I found this v hard but quite satisfying although I needed help at the end.
I still dont get how 5d works, and although the answer is obvious for 14d I cant find any link to the definition

14d without giving it away the first word is the clue definition, and look the last word of the clue you should then be able to see how it works

Just dropping in to say how much I enjoy Brockwell even though I find his crosswords difficult. I remember the first time I managed to complete a Brockwell . I love them because they have the wow factor when you finish. Still have the NW corner to complete, it may take me rest of week but it will be worth it.
Thank you Brockwell.