Hi Everyone
Sorry Brockwell, both for your loss, but you are my least favourite setter because I have trouble parsing the answers. I managed about half today before resorting to looking some up on Dan Word. Often, I have the right answer, but don't know why. Basically you are too hard for me.
I fill the answers in the newspaper, so circle the ones I can't parse. There are more than half of them today. Some are explained above. Also I hate football (sorry Rocky) and had to look up the Arsenal boss, but still have no idea why the last two letters. I've never heard that word for "bowl" is that from cricket (in which I have no interest)? There were one or two that amused me. I've no idea where 22ac comes from.
I haven't spotted the Pauline answer, but I've just noticed that I haven't done 17ac, which will be my LOI. My FOI was 18ac. My COD 6D
Once again very sorry for your loss Brockwell. It is very sad when a pet dies. The house feels empty. It leaves a big gap.