Mini crossword No 299

Enjoyed this, though struggled with both 1s. 2d and 3d were my way in. Liked 4d, 6d & 7d.

Hi Sisyphus. I think this is a departure for you but good fun. I struggled with 1d and 4d (which I thought was great when the penny finally dropped). Also really enjoyed 7d and a topical 2d

Thanks Sisyphus, an enjoyable Mini. My faves were 5a, 3d, 6d. As it's a Mini, and as you are always so generous with your feedback to others, spoilers ...

Very nice Sisyphus. 2d is a very imaginative construction. I had to refer to your notes to get the parsing for 8a, having got the solution with the aid of the crossers. I do have a couple of observations. I get the gist of 1d but I think it needs a question mark perhaps, to indicate the CD as the WP seems to require the full name of the key (which it obviously can't be from the enumeration). I also thought 7d doesn't quite work as the 'beginning to' indicates the 'f' and not the 'w'. Maybe...