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RedPete, I believe it’s called the “rubber duck effect” … which I think comes from the observation that if you verbalise a problem to an inanimate object (like a rubber duck) you may quickly realise the solution yourself!

8 features a tricky device which is more often used with the : character.

Thanks Jono for a totally surreal 5 minutes 🤔

I saw your post, which follows a query from Rocky and, my eyes being immediately drawn to it, started reading from the "rubber duck effect" qoute - immediately followed by... just like in 8d - which Jono was asking about!

So, for the next 5 minutes I was sitting here thinking, "how, in the the name of [insert deity or devil of choice] is thinking about a rubber duck going to help Rocky"?

It was only when Googled it that I finally saw that it's a problem solving technique that could be applied to the previous poster, RedPete,

Cheers Jono, that was fun - I mean, it's not like it's a 100 degrees or anything 🥵

"... which Rocky was asking about"

Haha, 😂 sorry Bren … I see what happened there … !

Unfortunately Brendan it still hasn't dropped. Despite explaining it to my beer glass I haven't twigged yet. I don't think I have the wrong answer but the sun screen lotion gets it next. :-)

Despite being a copywriter for a good part of my career, and doing a considerable amount of editing other folks' work, I have not heard them referred to by that word before. To use a phrase I don't much care for, every day's a school day.

Hi everyone

I've spent a pleasant afternoon sitting in the shade and breeze in my garden doing this crossword. It hasn't been as hot here today.I started well, but haven't found it easy and am stuck in SW corner. I'm not sure I have the right answer for 17d, haven't got 21ac, 16d and 24d. I'm also short of an answer for 12 ac.

I also found the parsing of several clues difficult, particularly 13d, 17d and 27ac. Thanks for explaining 7d.

I'd be glad of some hints.

Hi roof
17d subtractive anagram
21a actually very easy! What is "family" usually in crosswords?
16d I'm not impressed by - the definition should be "strike (second word)", so I don't think it really works.
24d anagram "live"
12 a bit loose. "Role" reversed

Thanks Chris

I've got 17d wrong, so need to go back to my first idea - a subtractive anagram, then I may get 21ac. 12ac - really!!

I'm just going to tackle some ironing I've been putting off all week, then I'll be back.