Spectator 2599 -Slow To Change

[Matakari]

Good morning,
A real challenge from Mr Magoo this week! Anyone completed it?
Gave it a rest yesterday, and am back at it today! A handicap with
no ODQ!

[teacher1]

Please ....... I need a hint for the proverb. ;o(

[Neveracrossword]

Boethius, glad I could help with 4 A.

[Neveracrossword]

Teacher1, I'll try to to come up with something - it's hard to hint without giving too much away!

[klazomaniac]

It's a variant of a Mark Twain quote.

And the three others are not as you would normally read them. Tread carefully !

[jazzgirl]

Phew! Almost finished. I have the proverb which I found in ODQ 7th edition and two items connected with it, but still not solved four clues right hand corner. I will take a break and return to it.

[klazomaniac]

Last night I was averaging 1 clue per hour Jazzy. It certainly was a Brain teaser. Glad I've got it put to bed. Although I must say. Some very clever clues indeed. Keep at it, You'll get there :-)

[Neveracrossword]

Klazo, I'm sure you got a great deal of satisfaction when you entered your very last letter? I felt battered and bruised after doing this one... but also a little triumphant, having got there in the end!

[klazomaniac]

I'm still battered and bruised. But I agree with you NAC. It was frustrating, but most enjoyable when a parse to a clue fell into place. I had many answers before I put them into the grid (unsure of parse) But as the game went on, I could see the deviousness of Magoo unfolding. My last to go in was one of the three. Thought I had a conflict (But the big Red book sorted that out for me.
Truly the hardest and best Speccie yet.
I applaud Mr Magoo for the efforts that have gone into this fine crossword.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Klazo. I'd like to see more of Mr Magoo, but he appears only rarely.

[klazomaniac]

Again, I agree. I would like to see more from Magoo. But to see something as good as this, must take an age to compile. Maybe that's why his offerings are scarce.

[jazzgirl]

I need to out this marathon to bed and have visitors tomorrow. I have found a third "item" at 13d . There are now two unsolved 9d L*HR and 15d I*TIS* . Are my letters correct please?

[Neveracrossword]

Jazzgirl, your T is wrong (in 15D)

[jazzgirl]

Thanks NACW. I didn't read the clue properly. All done.

[hankir]

This was a tough puzzle.
Some new words.
I guessed 8d and 20a and when googled with 'proverb', those 4 words revealed the proverb.
I have two questions.
I have 24a as a word for 'up to'. Cannot parse it.
I have 37a as a word for beast. Reverse of plate. But cannot find the meaning to be 'gross' anywhere.

[hankir]

sorry. meant 8d and 29a.

[Neveracrossword]

Hankir, we Brits put notes/money in 24.

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry, Hankir - and another meaning of the answer (24) is 'to work, work the land'.

[Neveracrossword]

Jazzgirl, thanks.

[Tilly2]

Hankir,
From Wicki.

It is used in both gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy to describe structures.

(Don't want to put the answer) :-)

[hankir]

Thanks NAC and Tilly2.
Makes sense now.