Thanks NAC.
I had those 4 letters for feature through crossers. But why give such an obscure def?
I cannot parse 15d.
I'm this cautious with dodgy final bids (5)
I have the answer as C???y. I don't see bids.
I see two 5 letter words in the middle somewhere.
A dry one and a wet one?
May have to give up on end game.
Thanks, Hankir. You'll kick yourself about 15 D- check the setter!
Your two 5-letter words are probably right (I'm not sure about the dry and the wet).If you tie them to the answers to the obelised clues, it's not too much of a leap...
Thanks NAC.
You are right about 15d.I am kicking myself for not seeing it.
I see two parts of a calendar.
But need to think more about how the four words connect to them.
As regards 'Feature of renting a let', Chambers does give a definition of 'gale' as 'a periodic payment of rent'. So I suppose you could consider it an &lit.
I echo NAC - the endgame here and the light it shines on the title are really lovely and worth persevering with.
Thanks, RickGDG. Because the 'Feature...' clue worked thematically, I just assumed there would be a good reason for it, a proper definition and so on. I was too lazy to check!
Thanks, Hankir.I was working on a reply to steer you away from the animals, and towards the showers! It sounds as if you have got there. Finding all the examples was great fun, and educational for me!
I don't understand what it means in the preamble...."two examples (3) and(3) must then be highlighted at the beg and end of the 10 cells....."
may and ers ????
I have all the others highlighted...
The really lovely thing about this one is that, having had to destroy most of the main item, you then get it back by using its shortened version. All of the other candidates then fill up the gap between the extremes. Great setting by Charybdis (I think).