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21a - Can I just check because Alwaypuzzled says it's letter, gap, letter, gap letter but I've got it starting with a gap because my 8d is only fills the first 3 cells - have I gone wrong?

Also....

12d - I have a fly and I can see a 4 letter word for "illness" that's "contracted" by 1 letter and repeated but it's also reversed but I can't see an instruction to do that in the clue?

You're right, brendan - by suggesting a continuation vertically from the gaps in 18a I thought that would be enough for alwayspuzzled to adjust his grid (hope it wasn't misleading).

There isn't a reversal in 12d - 'Vector of disease' (def) = what you have, and 'contracted' refers to the abbrev T.S.E ('illness') that's doubled.

Ahh! Thank you Drxx

Actually, while you're here, can I get a parse for 3d and 23a - I have what I think are the answers but can't see the wordplay in either which makes me think I might have gone wrong.

brendan -
3d R + S(ide) [on the ouside of] EVER = 'on record' - 'turn-up' is an eg ('say') of the def.
23a anag ('ground') of 'near' to the right side of S(hip) def 'catch'.

I swear, I never learn! 🤪

I couldn't see how "ever" could mean "on record" - I could of just looked it up, of course - but why bother? I already know what "ever" means.......Arghhh!!!

As for 23a I just could not make sense of "to slip's left"

Thank you so much Drxx:-)

Thanks, brendan - my 'slip' now has a scribble over it (I had the same problem as you with this one - it's amazing how context alters the meanings of words we're familiar with - and Ifor's had a field day here).

I've just realised I haven't got the required J for our "confused man" - Does it come from 38d? I see end of (caus)E and my answer can mean "something in fashion" but I can't make sense of "overturning" - and, yes, I have looked in Chambers this time 😀

My apologies Brendan. I looked at it too quickly. Thank you once again drxx. I will see if I can find the name then go to Wiki.