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Thanks, Candledave? So, a K for 1 across? Does that put me on the right track?

Yep - you’ll realise why at the end

Hi!

Thanks to some earlier help, I finally managed to fill the grid and find the mystery man. I just have a couple of parsing queries left. They are 18d and 20d. The first has me totally baffled. The second I can see a possibility, but I can't quite work it through.

Cheers,
Suzy x

18d - expert is definition, wiser is surplus, about can be ON and casualty in the US is ER

20d - goad is definition. Me can be US and the three initials from the other words.

Morning Candledave!

Thanks for putting me out of my misery! I got fixated on Angus for 20d, but I now see the error of my ways.

Nice to put this one to bed - finally!

Cheers,
Suzy

Hi Suzy,

20d - I was quite surprised to see that Chambers has "me" as one of the definitions of "us" - I'd always assumed it was just slang.

It surprises me, too, Brendan. But the Golden Rule of the Listener, which I ignored on this occasion, is to always check everything in Chambers! I have to keep reminding myself about that all the time. So often, it will clear things up...

Woe, woe, and thrice woe (Wales, Arsenal and Cardiff Blues all lost over the weekend) and despite the generous hints from all above, I am not getting very far with this one. It is the theme that bothers me.

If I am right both the fourth cell of 4 across and the sixth of 10 across contain a clash involving three letters. I cannot get any sense out of the threes as a group - should I just select one of them as a constituent of a nine letter name?

Also 14 across, if I read an above post correctly, is adjusted in some way. I cannot see how and cannot parse my answer. Suzannah is evidently several laps ahead of me.

One last look at the thread before I go and have a cry on the sandbank. Fish and Chip restaurant in Cromer opens again this week so I will try again next week.

WS, the nine thematic clues have two letters (two different variants of this) replaced by an "untouched" single letter. 1A, 5D and 14A are thematic clues as you have already identified. The replacements always result in a real word.

Thanks Malone

I believe tht I''ve seen a little light after your hint. Not unconnected with Arsenal's weekend loss in an old way (for anyone who follows the game!). Hope I'm right

Your assistance is much appreciated.