Author: branch

This would have been easy if not for 13 down!

Monty Python rules, OK. I didn’t know of the Python sketch obliquely referenced at 17dn. That explains much.

This puzzle asked us to reverse letters many times. 

It is sometimes suggested that the clues at the end are easier than the early ones, for some reason. Certainly, with this puzzle, my eye fell on the last across clue, and from there I flew through the SE corner. Overall a quick solve, apart from the limerick writer.

This was a delight, but a challenge. Clever wordplay fitting smoothly into the surface readings of the clues, uncommon words, slippery definitions!

One clue stretched my general knowledge. Otherwise a typical Saturday.

You’ll go faster on this one if you just biff in the likely answers and don’t sweat the tricky parsing.

Eating and drink made a good showing in this one. Little by the way of obscure general knowledge, happily.

Some very nice clues here. Thanks, setter!

A few interesting and unfamiliar words here, including one I didn’t realise came from Cockney Rhyming Slang.