The CUK Christmas Crossword

[Platypus]

Your excellent crossword got promoted to sticky! Well done

[NotAllThere]

34a is 3 or 4 chars?

Chars! And you thought compiler was too geeky!

My sincerest apologies. It's 3 letters. I've adjusted the clue now, and will have my editor shot, forthwith.

[Pondlife]

Omitted due to my probable rushing to be first to reply, so as to appear smug or clever

When I tried to reply the smilie was missing (using chrome). They all seem to be there now though.

[TimberWolf]

What's wrong with the smilies? They've gone missing.

Omitted due to my probable rushing to be first to reply, so as to appear smug or clever

[Pondlife]

34a is 3 or 4 chars?

[NotAllThere]

19. Compiler is partly here. (3,3,5)

Too geeky for me, any clues?

You fell into my trap!

[Pondlife]

The author

What's wrong with the smilies? They've gone missing.

[TimberWolf]

19. Compiler is partly here. (3,3,5)

Too geeky for me, any clues?

The author

[Pondlife]

19. Compiler is partly here. (3,3,5)

Too geeky for me, any clues?

[Platypus]

It took me about two hours.

[NotAllThere]

And you got it right. Thanks for the grid. How long did it take you to solve?

[Platypus]

Public Service Announcement:

I created a graphical grid in the normal crossword style to help you solve it.

Linky

Thanks NotAllThere for your splendid work

[Platypus]

Solved! (I hope)

PM sent so as not to spoil the fun!

[AtW]

Looks like NetHack...

IGMC...

[NotAllThere]

The hard part is representing the grid. Where there is a "." or an "n", that's where letters go. "#" represents a black square. The "n"s are the clues, in numerical order. ( So, first n on the first row is 1, the second is 2 etc.)

Some of the answers relate to names on the forums. Other answers are IT related. Some were just what words I could fit in! They're all cryptic clues, but hopefully not too difficult. Most of them have a straight part.

Enjoy.

#n##n#n##n##n..
n..........n.##
#.##.#.##.#n..#
#.#n...n#n...#n
n.n#.##.#.##.#.
.#.#nn...#n....
n..##.#.####.#.
.#n......n...#.
.#.####.#.##n..
n....#n...n#.#.
.#.##n#.##.#nn.
.#nn..#nn...#.#
#n..#.##.#.##.#
##n............
n..##.##.#.##.#

Across:

5. Drink – perhaps 28a stuff. (3)
6. Ass crumbles before BN66? Forum thread says not likely! (6,7)
8. Server side script engine bites Cleopatra. (3)
9. Smidgen of Jamaican liquor inside trucker’s radio. (5)
11. Carbon like. (4)
13. In the UK, usually 8 hours ago. (3)
15. Calvinistic term? CUK says ‘crap’! (5)
17. Where to stay when contracting in California. (5)
18. Leading, doing business as information store custodian. (3)
19. Compiler is partly here. (3,3,5)
21. British IT? Initially, it can’t last. (3)
22. Confused drive found underwater. (5)
23. You'll see what to write when you put them on. (5)
26. Cow speaks of IR35 defence. (3)
28. Don’t know the meaning of 34a? You’re not imaginary! (4)
30. Singular fact handled by 18a. (5)
32. Under pressure to be telepathic. (3)
33. Please don’t run my agency – stick with CUK. (13)
34. Taking the pee out of the cure never happens to 28a contractors. (3)

Down.

1. By Surrey village. southern boobs are filtered. (5)
2. Administrator’s Polecat. (6)
3. Short first dainty. (4)
4. Normal CUK response to newbie. (5)
5. Permie disease meets in base jumble. (11)
7. Hit transient memory. (3)
10. Scrubber in Batman costume. (9)
12. Mixed up oval limo – now parked at the PCG. (8)
13. Dessert final expresses doubt toward female genitals. (8)
14. Agitated slavers rant crossing lines. (11)
16. Septic home. (3)
20. Short, temporary decline - sounds like a spasm. (3)
24. Feeling like going permie? Worm! (6)
25. Proverbially, accompanies the blame. (5)
27. Satire from 16d. We’ll stay with the Daily Mash. (5)
29. Sandy’s breakfast. (3)
31. South American swaps gravity for entropy, becomes aggressive. (4)