So much for the fairly gentle Wednesdays we had when Dac was setting. This was as hard — for me, at any rate — as anything you ever see in the Independent. My initial feeling was irritation with what seemed to be rather loose and vague clues, but it grew on me: the meaning of most of them is clear and at times Filbert has been remarkably clever and imaginative. The fact that some of them still seem to be a bit weak is probably down to me rather than to him. Or her, although the name suggests a man.
For various reasons Filbert was derided a bit to begin with but then he became much liked. This crossword looked initially like a reversion to his old habits, but I suspect I’ve missed some of his subtleties.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.