What an absolute treat we have from Imogem this week. Like Rog, I was very much on his wavelength so finished fairly quickly, albeit with a few queries which I'll outline below.
FOI was 8a followed by the crossing 2d.
Queries:-
5d - Have the "head back" bit and can see a very obvious "canal", but can't see how that's arrived at from "still up in Ohiol"?
22d - My answer could be "maxim not the first", but then where is the instruction for the 4th letter?
18d - I get that the answer "gets a new leader" but shouldn't there be an instruction as to how to work out what it is?
4d - I'm not keen on the definition "one extending", seems ultra vague.
COD: A 4-way tie this week. Firsly is the very Paulinesque 12d, then the clever and witty 16d, followed by the brilliant 7d and 6d.
Thanks to Imogen for a first-rate puzzle that ticked all the boxes.
Let us know in the comments how you got on. Did you find it on the gentle side like Rog and I or more difficult?
Stay safe:-)