Cryptic crossword No 444
Sun 8 May 2022, set byBlah
Special Instructions: Each solution is in at least one of two categories. Some may 'qualify' more than once.
Type to enter letters. Use the arrow keys to move between cells, Tab and Shift+Tab to move between clues, and Escape to leave the grid.
Across
Down
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Crikey! The 'check word' button got a lot of use from me there! 🤣
Thanks Blah, was enjoyable to unravel the different layers to this - though I will confess to needing some assistance along the way. I didn't see the Nina until the end, very impressive to work that in with the other constraints. Favourite clues were 11a, 12a, 20a, 25a, 2d, 23d and (especially) 26d.
I think I solved the original, Blah, but I’d totally forgotten (and missed the theme - again!) until I read your comment after solving this one! Well done on a very impressive feat of grid construction and some really neat clues. I particularly liked 18A, 22A, 25A, 13D and 19D. I saw your comment about giving others the chance to quibble but the few quibblets I could muster are so minor that it would be churlish to air them!
I consider myself only a mediocre solver, so this gave me some trouble as you can imagine! Some new words to me (DEUT, DIAPORTHE, NATANT). I knew something else was afoot because you could easily have used other words at 4&8d so looked for a NINA. It then began to make sense and once I got a few down answers in the top half, the bottom became MUCH easier! Two minor gripes/questions, OUTFACE = BEARD? How's that then?! And it was always THE Beautiful South, they were never known as just BS!
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