Daily Mail

[Louie]

Hi again all ! I'm back after a break away and i'm sorry to say it's got me today ! Some of bottom still not completed, I know I will kick myself when the answers are revealed in a few days !! C'est la vie !!

Thanks for all your help anyway it is appreciated.

[dannyk13]

Come on Louie, lets get you started on the bottom.

[retrocop]

Louie
We have the time if you have! :-)

[MargoTester]

Louie - 22d is an anagram to give a London theatre

[Louie]

Oh Guys !! 29a. people put a pole up (8) *O*U***E

31a. Note supporter with arm tangled in cable (8) *E*E***M

18d. Render useless? it's faulty if changed without adult (8) *T*L****

24d. Damp nasty smell I start to detect (5) H**** ( HUMID ?)

30a. Last of poppy fields not starting to produce crops (6) **E***

26d. Special talent just captivates lecturer (5) NO letters

25a. Uncertain moment after judge leaves (4)

[retrocop]

31 telegram
lyceum
stultify
humid
yields
flair
iffy

[dannyk13]

Populate
Telegram
Stultify
Yes
Yields
Flair
Iffy

[retrocop]

29 populace

[Louie]

Fantastic !! THANK YOU SO MUCH !! You've put me out of my misery !!!!

[dannyk13]

Populate Retro (anagram) Lyceum?

[retrocop]

typo
a pole up= anagram populate

[Louie]

Crikey am so thick today !! Ahaa !!

[retrocop]

Louie
No not at all. It was difficult (for me ) today. How long have you been doing the Mail crossword if you don't mind me asking ?

[Louie]

Years !! But i'm a blonde with off days !!! Love The Mail On Sunday the best !! What about you Retro ???

[MargoTester]

18d anagram its f(a)ulty without a(dult)
24 hum (smell) I d(etect)
30 y (last of poppy) (f)ields
25 (j)iffy
Hope that will help to exolain

[dannyk13]

I don't think it matters which crosswords you do.Skill comes with experience.I have been doing them for over 60 years.

[Louie]

Blimey !!many more years than I've been on the planet !!!

[dannyk13]

:-)

[retrocop]

I started this cryptic about 12 years ago.Looked at it many times before that but thought no way are cryptic for me. I was housebound for a week or two nd decided to have a crack out of boredom. I wasn't going anywhere.Completed a few clues more each day and checked the answers 3 days later. That way I could start seeing how the compiler's mind worked and what he/she was getting at. Just a matter of perseverance. Some General Knowledge and English vocab helps but I am no Einstein. Wife and I always used to do the Mail on Sunday Prize. We printed it out and competed with each other. :-)

[Louie]

That's why you're a dab hand at them !!

[retrocop]

Danny and I both know our whorls and loops still. :-)