It’s good to hear from you. [I was just thinking that you hadn't commented for a day or two.]

I do hope you had a good Christmas and that things will soon be going better for you.

I don’t know where ‘here’ is for you, you fortunate person, [though I think 37º is rather much for me!]. ‘Here’, for me, is the British Midlands, which Hilaire Belloc described as ‘sodden and unkind’, which I’ve always rather resented, but at the moment it’s really rather apt – much less pretty than the sparkling snow we’ve had but we must think of the travellers.

As I think I said earlier, Gaufrid’s Chambers link was more useful for 25ac – it’s probably from the Elvis song that my distant memory came.

Hi gm4hqf

I think you’re quite new here [please forgive me if you're not]. Even if you don’t think you’re on the same wavelength as Orlando, he’s certainly one to stick with and learn from, because his cluing is so fair.

Had to go back to this one two or three times before I could complete it. I don’t think my mind is on the same wave length as Orlando but it was a very entertaining puzzle.

Happy New Year to everyone.

The only trouble I had with Orlando’s enjoyable puzzle was why y=playback in 12a: it’s obvious now. I got 25a at once, from Jailhouse Rock:

Sad sack was a sittin’ on a block of stone
way over in the corner weepin’ all alone.
The warden said, “Hey, buddy, don’t you be no square.
If you can’t find a partner use a wooden chair.”
Let’s rock Everybody, let’s rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock.

Today a splendid puzzle by one of my favourite setters.
More than an average share of misdirection today, ánd the famous ‘lift & separate’ clues (like ‘Leading man’ (9ac), ‘Mad Hatter’ (6d), ‘computer game’ (24d) and the fantastic ‘Timber frames’ of 16d).

Just like many I knew it had to be FUME, but couldn’t explain the UME/EMU part – was looking for an Australian river (‘runner’).
Only thing I wasn’t completely sure about [although I do understand it] was the use of (I think) the noun ‘content’ to indicate that we should put ALL inside HAW<.

And guess what, on the last day of the year, I fully agree with Paul B. [#14].
We had the X on Y discussion many times, and Paul explained it (again) very well in his post. Not that every single setter does it like that, and certainly not Araucaria (who doesn't always stick to rules anyway [in a positive sense] and who even invents his own words sometimes, like a few days ago 'more or lesh').

Yes, Orlando is one of the best that the Guardian has in store.
But let's not only thank Orlando for his contributions in 2010 – all the others did a fine job too.
Of course, I have my preferences and the level of Guardian crosswords is not really consistent, but let's face it: 365 Araucarias, Rufuses or Pauls in a row wouldn't be a good idea either and certainly not serve everyone's taste.

Happy New Year to you All !!

Cheers…