Spectator 2597 (A Couple)

[klazomaniac]

I am finding the end game (one clue) too tricky. Unless I have erred.
Breezed through the clued.
Got the theme
Got the link to both
Got the five for the second part
and 3 out of the 4 for the first part
Really struggling to see the last one at 2d (I have 2 options) and neither make sense (unless i'm looking for a Name) ?
I don't want the answer. But a nudge would be nice.
Thank you :-)

[klazomaniac]

But there it is part of the group of four

[klazomaniac]

Sorry. Yes its fishy. And it belongs in the group of four

[klazomaniac]

I feel I may have sent you down the wrong path.
The answer to 2d id fishy and belongs in the group of four.

But the theme is not fishy.

[Tilly2]

Is 23d sponge?

[klazomaniac]

Yes Tilly

[Tilly2]

Yippee! Thank you. x

[klazomaniac]

Lol. You're welcome :-)

[johnpiper]

Thanks

[klazomaniac]

Sorry for the confusion johnpiper. Hope you got sorted. This was where I stumbled before the penny dropped.

[Tilly2]

Two more to do here.

27ac Detailed plan for fish. I?E
29ac Some Nigerians find one chief a bit off. I?OS

I can't find anything to fit.

[roslyn251254]

idea would be the plan ...lose a letter for the fish
i boss is the 1 chief ...lose an S for the Nigerians....

[klazomaniac]

27 Ide(a)

29 Ibos (alt to Igbo)

[Tilly2]

Thank you both!

Can put it away now. :-)

[klazomaniac]

Well done Tilly :-)

[Tilly2]

Bored now...

[klazomaniac]

Matakari put this up the other day. It's not the Speccie. But it is worth a try.

It just might keep you out of miscief Tilly ;-)

http://www.stephaniepiro.com/Crossword%20Page.htm

[Matakari]

Hi there, Tilly2, bored? If you found The Very Logical Prize
Puzzle a walk over, and still need a challenge, you may want
to try your hand at High Bar by Hawk. This gave us a run for our money recently with a plethora of threads on it! Perhaps you have already seen it?
www..crossword.org.uk.highbar.html

[klazomaniac]

Hi mate, How did you get on this week ?
I thought it was better constructed than previous weeks.

[Matakari]

Salut Klazo! I thought I was about to sail through this one, but it’s not meant to be!
Some hints would be appreciated for the following, Thanks!
I think I’m near to solving them.

26a Track aircraft losing pressure (4) : P??N ( PLAN )
40 a Fellow took sick and died (6) : ?EANE?
44a Band member, perhaps star I twice smashed in stomach (9) : ????A?SS?
33d In plant, half of speech I sound hesitant to follow (6) : E??I?? (ERMINE )
39d Giant electronic web falls over (4) : ?TE?
41d Decaying and dying old trees, yews principally (4): D???

[klazomaniac]

26a Track aircraft losing pressure (4) : P??N ( PLAN )
Close. Think motorway (you've removed the wrong letter)

40 a Fellow took sick and died (6) : ?EANE?
I'll give you this one as you're quite away off. ( F Ailed)

44a Band member, perhaps star I twice smashed in stomach (9) : ????A?SS?
It's an anagram of 13 [minus] S [but] + U

33d In plant, half of speech I sound hesitant to follow (6) : E??I?? (ERMINE )
(spe)ECH I UM

39d Giant electronic web falls over (4) : ?TE?
E + net [over]

41d Decaying and dying old trees, yews principally (4): D???
First letters (principally)