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rogerm

17th January 2026, 00:28
Was I on Imogen’s wavelength or was this just easy? Only time will tell. A very quick solve though, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
FOI 6, LOI 22
COD - I’ll go for 12 because it gave me a chuckle.

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geeker

17th January 2026, 00:52
Roger, I was about to post something along the exact same lines.

I did feel on the wavelength, but solving time near Prize record minimum. Great fun, still. Thanks to Imogen.

Lots of witty clues.
COD 7 by a narrow margin. 12 was runner-up. Also liked 4, 23, 20, 15 and 6.
One naughty Pauline entry. Another solution has major Pauline potential, but Imogen (mercifully?) spared us.

FOI 8, LOI 7.
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brendan

17th January 2026, 01:02
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:-)

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geeker

17th January 2026, 01:08
Brendan, in 5d "still" (n) is a well-known 3-letter slang abbrev.
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ilippu

17th January 2026, 01:12
Imogen, good fun, thanks.

Lots to like.

Brendan,
5d think photo.
18d is ok as it is.
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geeker

17th January 2026, 01:16
Per reputable source returned by Google, "The primary function" of 4d is " the extension of [redacted to avoid spoiler]".
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brendan

17th January 2026, 01:27
Thanks Geeker, thanks Ilippu,

In 5d I got led astray by only knowing Ohio by the 2 letter abbreviation.

Any ideas on the 22d wordplay - I can't see how the wordplay gives us the 4th lettrer?
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geeker

17th January 2026, 01:32
Parsing of 22 still baffling me though I wrote in the solution straightaway. 🤣
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brendan

17th January 2026, 01:36
same here Geeker,

My thinking so far is that "maxim" is doing double duty as definition and part wordplay, but I'm far from convinced as, like I said before, it doesn't give us the 4th letter.
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ilippu

17th January 2026, 01:40
Brendan,
22d - your 4 letters with nothing in it.
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