Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Re 22d and the 2 letter acronym, aren't we just talking pencils? Maybe I've been in the pub too longwatching rugby ...

I was trying to hint that without being explicit, redpete. "Helping bear", referring to Pooh?

Chris, I read Winnie the Pooh as a child but didn't reread and memory faded.
Alice in Wonderland and Gulliver's Travels were my preferred stories and I've retained more of those due to revisiting.

All done , not one of my favorite compilers , some very clever , amusing clues others too complicated for me. Find the discussions on various points interesting but just glad to see a completed grid. FOI 7,LOI 22 , COD got to be 21.

Re 19d
As Kevin Bridges would say, takes the pleasure out f sherbet dabs.

Sorry Chrise @82, I missed your deliberate obfuscation.

I have to say at this point without really adding anything of worth that 'lead form' for that abbreviation was one of my highlights and nearly made it to my COD on that alone.

Absolutely, spot on Rocky7 and redpete.

The post count stands at 88 (89 with mine) and I just can’t handle the terrible negotiation of the threads (last being first and all upside down - I’m sure I read ages ago the way to correct this? Can’t remember). Apologies if this has already been answered.

Very enjoyable crossword - FOI 1/9 and then the western side opened up nicely. Enjoyed misdirection at 28a and also ‘lead form’ in 22a - I might pick 21d as COD just because I like the mental image of a rosy-cheeked Brigitte in a cape. Who knows. All done and parsed in 2 x 40 min sessions, apart from fully parsing 20d. Any help appreciated with the exact wordplay.

Thanks Tramp

Ha ha but tarantulas don’t spin webs, surely?