Guardian 25550

[stephenj]

Particularly baffling: I can get what are I am sure are the correct answers to 24 26 27a by elimination, ditto 3 7 and 22d, but no idea why. And is 6 a
"How to work with the "foreign" author of a 23 [diary]" m-i- (4) mail?

[Zhukov]

Adrian Mole?

[dannyk13]

Mo=method of working + le foreign the =Mole

[stephenj]

Thanks very much.. I had idolising for lionising.

[maurice]

Never found "G" so difficult in my life,tho' theme is clear! Can't even see 27a or 22d! Any other tips? Am working under time limit bunfortunately, and have only 9 now after 2 hours! D E S P E R A T E!

[greencj01]

I think 22d is niece but agree this is a tough one today.

[owdippi]

I agree, very tough

[maurice]

Can you explain NIECE? Must be incredibly thick this morning! Still as lost as ever!

[roslyn251254]

Maurice - just emailed you!

[stephenj]

Sincerely but no idea why. Ditto Jarman (?)

[greencj01]

I think where you have Jarman its madman - draper is lerad character in TV series Madmen.

I'm struggling with 12a and 19a. Ideas?

[roslyn251254]

19a syzygy - syz odd letters from soyuz ygy- not sure?

[greencj01]

Sure you are right with syzygy - not a word I use regularly!

Can anyone help with 12a? Doctor? If so why?

[roslyn251254]

2nd bit of syzygy Y G Y ( gravity between the "Y"s wise)

[rrc]

niece odd letters of noises these days common era ce

[geo0939]

I think niece is- Odd letters of noises and CE common era etc:

[roslyn251254]

doctor looks good and fits with red giants downwards

[Pete_the_teach]

12a POOTER (diary of a nobody)

[greencj01]

Thank you - pooter for 12a!

[roslyn251254]

thanks for pooter - that's helped with all the SE corner now! What a struggle today!

[maurice]

Thanks to all your help, just finished --- but what a slog! Too late to have any chance of winning from abroad.Shall look on my own d. (now in its fiftieth year) with/through different eyes from now on! Who the hell is Crucible? I know, I can look it up.................Merci once again!