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Hi Elle, hi Rocketman - I couldn't agree more. I was about to say that you will find virtually no instances of me criticizing a clue or setter, but I've just done exactly that in regards the 'April ending - May near' homophone clue - but still, it's very rare :-)

I think we are all guilty of criticising a homophone (or two), Brendan!
No, I was thinking more of the kind of criticism that is appearing in your weekly "Everyman " thread, where there seems to be a definite trend on the part of some folk to denigrate the setter, if they personally cannot solve the clues!
It does not seem to occur to some would -be solvers that the "fault" might lie within themselves......
"A poor workman always blames his tools" comes to mind.....

I`m confused now - I never thought of `May - near` for mania.

There is a (Tibetan?) word mani ...
... Any of various sacred objects or aids to prayer; especially a prayer wheel containing ‘ Om maṇi padme hūṃ ’ or other mantras, or a stone slab or wall of slabs inscribed with this or other mantras (frequently attributive in "mani wall").

I saw it as `mani` for `saying` plus `A` for April to give mania ... on reflection the homophone is probably right!

Tyke51, I'd love a better solution/parsing to Mania... but I'm not sure if yours is it!

Malone, I`m only relating how I got to the answer - both solutions seem weak!

Thanks again, Tyke. If yours is correct, I think using 'April's ending' to give an A is very iffy!