Cryptic crossword No 1,136

The annotations obviously reveal what is happening with the "Special Instructions" so don't go there if you don't want spoilers.....

Goodness me, jugular. This is a remarkable achievement. Well done to you on both the idea and the execution. I have never tried to do anything quite like that nor, I think, seen it done. It defeated me; that is the risk, I guess, with a novel idea. I hope more folk drop by and I am sure some of them will clock what you've done, whilst solving. I needed Annotations which were a pleasure and a marvel to read. Very interesting experiment. Don't do it again! 🤣 Thanks. PM

I agree with PM, jugular, this is an extraordinary achievement - well done! I almost 'got it' - but missed a crucial detail, which was a revelation when I read the annotations. You can be fully forgiven for the odd slightly strange surface given the 'unconventional' nature of so many clues! My favourites were: 15a, 20a, 6d, 13d, 16d and 24d.

That was an awesome puzzle jugular, great fun and while I cheated by checking the anno to 9a to see if I'd "got" the trick after solving 3d and 9a (I had not!), that only increased my enjoyment throughout the remainder of the solve by proving quite useful and allowing me to appreciate the depth of your innovation across the grid. I particularly liked 9a (neat), 12a (neat), 15a (smooth), 23a (neat), 1d (very neat), 5d (fun), 6d (nho but satisfyingly gettable), 7d (neat), 16d (nice), 19d (very ...

Thanks Jugular, fabulously inventive and a well-executed idea with lots to enjoy. Spoilers ...

Well this put me to work - but as others have said, a fabulous idea and execution. I successfully filled the grid, but the trick evaded me! Favourites were 6d, 21d (my LOI), and 14a. Spoilers...

Thanks, jugular! Very good. You wouldn't think someone would fail to realise what was going on even after getting the 2 relevant answers, but I did for a while. My top 3: 24A, 25A, 16D, though frankly any of the 16 would do (totally agree with Coot that the occasionally curious surfaces can be forgiven).

Well that was magnificent, even if the true genius of it all only revealed itself with your notes! I managed to misdirect myself with which two clues held the key, which meant I correctly identified the ‘unconventional’ clues without spotting the trick! 🙃 Masterful work, chapeau 🎩