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Hello Everyone,

Well, I can do the 1st one but blocked on 2nd clue !

Elle, the first clue was easy to solve and parse, the second clue was easy to solve but I can't parse it in its entirety.

Pigale, for the second clue, have an F for the first letter.

Malone...it sounds as though we are on the same page... I cannot parse no 2 in its entirety......maybe later we can "share" ideas?
When everyone has had the chance to "have a go"?

Hi, Rusty!
I used to read the Thomas books first to my son, who is now 38, and then in turn to my grandsons!
So Thomas and I have been acquainted for quite a number of years!
Hoskins has become a kind of Cockney indicator...... (as in 'oskins)
At least that is my understanding? Malone may help out here?
My parsing of the rest of the clue is dicey to say the least!
However, I have now done the first clue with Malone's additional crossers added - that is very straightforward.
I'm annoyed with myself that I didn't get it straight away without any letters!
Take another look?
Let me know how Victoria gets on - and good luck with your bet on Phil!
Horses? did you go to the Nature Trail?
We are just about to go and meet the sun!
"I shall return......"

Thanks for the helpful first letter Malone - I think I have the answer but certainly cannot parse it as yet.

On second thought, I think I can just about parse it !

An East End person "may" say "frill" for "thrill".
Not sure of the rest.
And why does Hoskins mean East End or London?
That is a mystery to me!

how about frill + i (first letter of 'in') + es (extra small) ?

Re Malone's clue.......
Hoskins takes ecstasy in extra small doses (8)
I thought I had come across ' Hoskins' related somehow to Cockney ('oskins).......and have since found
http://www.hoskinscrosswords.com/cockney-and-eastenders.html
also I had
'frill' as in cockney from 'thrill' - ecstasy
I took 'es' to mean extra small? but couldn't account for the 'i' ? unless it comes from 'in' which doesn't seem very satisfactory?
frillies = undies (def)
I'm not much impressed with my parsing - does anybody have anything better to offer?

Elle, I thought it was 'extra small undies' ?
Anyway, that is the parsing that I suggested in earlier post - but like you I don't know why 'i' from 'in' ? there is no indication in the clue is there?