Apologies in advance I know this is a nasty one! I'm anticipating a low rating; I'm testing a theory with this one about the way we solve grids in order to improve future grids, so would appreciate honest but constructive feedback, especially if you solved it- but I am expecting some to hate it! Bear with me, I'll do a medium to make up for it! :) xx

We managed the first three but stumbled on the iron group. Liked the idea of using tense but it was a little repetitive. Kudos for trying something different though.

Thanks. I was thinking of the grids I've solved despite not knowing the subject matter, based on the feel and flavour of words- and ones where I've been tripped up a bit by inconsistent grammar. I nearly only put 2 tense groups, using the "both" verbs as red herrings, but that would have been beyond fiendish, I thought. Thanks so much, as always, for your feedback :)

Clues were too samey for fun solving.

Apologies in advance I know this is a nasty one! I'm anticipating a low rating; I'm testing a theory with this one about the way we solve grids in order to improve future grids, so would appreciate honest but constructive feedback, especially if you solved it- but I am expecting some to hate it! Bear with me, I'll do a medium to make up for it! :) xx

Tricky, ran out of time but got the gist. Good grid as usual. The Medium was a breeze.

Honest feedback? I really, really hated it. No idea whatsoever where to even start: didnt make a single attempt at solving a four. I've just come away feeling thick.

I get what you mean about picking words based on grammar without really getting the concept, which I've done many times before! However, I couldn't do it with this one (my failure, I'm sure) because there was too much overlap.

Think I get what you mean about the shape or feel of clues. For me that never feels a nice way to identify a group: if you can spot the group but he e o idea whatsoever why it's a group, blech.

yeah- I do agree with you Mr Tom. It's less satisfying and doesn't feel earned. thanks for your honesty- this is not a legitimate attempt at a good grid like I said so apologies for "experimenting" on you but I'm hoping it makes future attempt better- I'm interested mostly on how hard it is, what makes a group stand out to the hind-brain, as it were.Thanks for commenting all :)

Welp: I loved this.

Nothing more annoying than when inconsistent tenses or parts of speech make the group seem wrong (or right). I knew what those three groups were right away, and got them after a few missteps. Found the cook group easiest by miles.

I didn't get the iron group, and as much as I'd love to blame American spelling, I have to admit I was not close.

:-)