Saturday Times Jumbo Cryptic 1374 Saturday April 6Th 2019

[stevenj]

Hello again. I am back after a couple of weeks' absence. A little tension between His Nibs and me. He said that I cared more about the crossword than him . I had to prove that wasn't the case and I promised o give it up. Which I have done but he has now relented, saying that I had proven my point. So I am allowed back. Glad to be here!
I have sort of finished but some I don't really understand, as always!
12d Subject of most original palindrome. I think the answer must be "madam" which meets the palindrome. But the rest?
53ac In peculiar way how swindler is selected for side. The answer seems to be "oddly" . but where does the swindler come into it?
55ac Oblivion achieved ultimately in drink in this? "Bender" fits but I really don't get it at all except that if you go on a bender you pass out.

As always I shall be glad of help please
steven

[Mamyalynne]

55 End i Beer

[Calibax]

Famous palindrome - Madam I'm Adam

[Mamyalynne]

^ in

[Lie-in King]

Hi Steven - good to see you :-)

53a Oddly - how 'SwInDlEr' is selected for 'side'

55a Bender - '(oblivio)n (achieve)d' (ultimately, in) 'beer'

[Mamyalynne]

odd letters of swindler - Side

[Lie-in King]

Oops, missed 12d, sorry

[fiction-factory]

odd letters of SwInDlEr

[Captain2]

end of oblivioN and achieveD = ND inside BEER = drink

[Mamyalynne]

Ignore my first attempt , wrong totally

[Calibax]

53a s-i-d-e odd letters of SwInDlEr

[stevenj]

Thank you all so much. As ever when you explain, it's all so obvious but I just could not get them.
I hope you are all well. I should have said that at the beginning. Sorry!
steven

[stevenj]

btw I presume that it IS the "Southern Hemisphere", not the Northern one which also fits...
s

[Captain2]

To which clue Steven? ^^

[Mamyalynne]

All well ta Steven.

[stevenj]

Sorry Captain. It's half a world away from where we are here

[Mamyalynne]

Yes - Southern

[Captain2]

Southern looks good - unless you are doing the crossword in Australia, then............. ;)))

[stevenj]

Thank you Mamyalynne.
Has the weather been as miserable up there today as it has been here?