Oldie Genius 303

[jeraldo]

Nearly there! 54d Circle in a whirl. Got ???R?C and 39d (unclued) ?N??U?? Annoying! Any help, please?

[scorpiojo]

Cleric?

[factor-fiction]

cleric?

[jeraldo]

Hmmm yes, but why ...?

[jeraldo]

Is a dog collar a whirl, perhaps?

[ubasses]

anagram (whirl) circle

[factor-fiction]

I thought the in a whirl was an anagram indicator. Maybe this one is unclued , if some are in this one

[jeraldo]

... Is 39d related to 45a, also unclued? ?L?????E perhaps related to the mouse?

[factor-fiction]

Sorry, i meant undefined rather than unclued

[jeraldo]

Thanks ubasses and ff. May well be right! There are some convoluted unclued and partial clued answers.

[factor-fiction]

What mouse? Sorry, I haven't got the crossword

[jeraldo]

So did I!

[jeraldo]

Mouse - oh long and involved and referring to The Night Before Christmas and visitors and stuff. Doesn't help doing a complex one after a good malt whisky!

[factor-fiction]

I thought the reference to 'annoying' was a comment on the crossowrd, but now I'm wondering if that was the clue for 39d.
And is 'perhaps related to the mouse?' a clue rather than a comment?

[jeraldo]

Yes, annoying was a comment on the crossword and 'mouse' was part of an answer. Sorry if I've been a bit confusing!