Confused Kiwi

I just want to say that (with some look ups) I have just completed my very first EVER Friday crossword!

Well, I have successfully solved my first grid where I knew none of the trivia names with no look ups. Wahoo!

Made this harder for myself by spelling it 'HUNNY' at first but another solve with no look ups :)

That was HARD! I had to resort to google for New York Clubs but given I am two long haul flights away from it I feel I can be forgiven.

Really not my cup of tea - so many bits of trivia that I just didn't know and strange clueing - resorted to google for a good 50% and feel unsatisfied. Luckily only 90 mins to the next puzzle :(

Okay sharing my excitement that not only did I get the theme; I also only had to look up a handful of super American references. Woohoo getting better.

Solved pretty much the entire puzzle with a couple of look ups, still didn't get the theme and probably never would have without the column.

TIL how to correctly spell that particular ice cream flavour.

The Pear clue got me - I had to look it up. They're called Nashi Pears down here. But - that's two weeks in a row of Wednesday solves. Woop.

Can someone explain COO to me - I don't understand :(

Spoiler: I have obviously been on the internet faaaar too long as my first thought was CAKEORDEATH rather than the eventual correct answer.

Not a fan sorry - just wrong balance of too much US specific trivia for this to be fun.

I have never in my life seen that dish spelled like that, ruined my solve trying to work out where I had gone wrong. Oh well :(

I have just now realised the pun in 'What's opera, doc." I actually enjoyed this one even if I didn't quite get as much help from realising the theme as I'd hoped.

I did not get the theme until I came to read the comments - slightly slow on the uptake today. Not too bad an effort considering I can still only reliably manage Mon-Tues without help as a hopelessly overseas human.

Didn't really enjoy this one, just a few too many terms I had never even heard of to really get into it. Had to resort to a word checker in the end. Did like the theme though - loved the trick with those crosses.

Absolutely beyond me in pretty much every way. Oh well, Monday isn't far away.

I had a very good giggle at 'Make up of a joint' :)

Absolutely loved this one - had a giggle once I got the theme.

I enjoyed this one - only a few looks ups. Was completely stumped by the Fiji clue and didn't understand it even afterwards.

What is a scad? I am so confused :(

I loved this one - had to do some minimal checking of names and trivia but I clued into the theme and had a good chuckle. Thank you :)

Unexpected appearance of my home town in the crossword today - finally a direction clue I just know! Otherwise, very much enjoyed this one even if I did go through many iterations of musical encouragement to get there.

I really enjoyed that one - I actually got the theme and managed it with minimal look ups (only gave up with BRAPADS in the end as I had no idea what the original or the replacement word was getting at)

Am I going a bit crazy or is there a Midi crossword in the works?

This is going to really annoy the Brits when they wake up. I actually solved this with pretty much no issues (aside from a foolish extra S in dreams vs dreamt) I must be getting better.

I didn't mind this puzzle actually - even if I resorted to checking as I couldn't find my error. The one that that made me complain out loud to my empty office was the answer to 'Mild-mannered characteristic' which I really did not appreciate, but we live and learn.