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The only candidates for m from 'first principles' were 4d and 22a ...

Don’t follow, why couldn’t it go in 1A from first principles as the other M and D could have gone in the four with 2 Unches at the start?

Or in the 7 or 5 with two unches at the start

Because as the second cell of 3d contains L or C, its first cell must contain C, not X which would necessitate 9a to start with an impossibly low letter.

Actually 4d wasn't a candidate either, as its second cell had to be X.

I fear we’re now at cross purposes crosswhit and it doesn’t really matter.

I think I just disagree with the principles you outlined for the M and 2 Ds in post 18 as I don’t understand why there couldn’t be a third option with M and D in the same entry in one of the three spots where both the M and D would be unchecked and then the remaining D could go in any other checked cell in the grid

Yes, I should have included a third option to cover that possibility at the outset :-)

Thanks for your help everyone - hope I am now home and dry!

Is anybody else having problems matching p and n to s and t. I'm going round in circles.

No worries crosswhit, I was just trying to make sure I understood your post.

I have found this puzzle more interesting, the more I have thought about it.

Pretty impressive I think to come up with a unique solution like this with just 6 equations and only 16 of the entries actually referenced.