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The Chambers definitions of lark and the answer to 7/25 are close enough in the sense of frolic, I think.

my Chambers is in France ... there are online definitions that seem to chime but I don't see where long-tailed fits in ...

Thanks Prospero, I had the answer for 18d but couldn’t see the theme word in the middle.

Loge, yes I was thinking that too

Long-tailed is a variety of the bird in the first half of the answer. It doesn’t refer to the lark.

ahh - thanks loge. I can submit now at last.

I’m so impressed by those who’ve done it already! I’m completely stuck on the SW corner, apart from 19ac which I think is an acronym. The letters I have for 17ac - - E - G don’t yield any word I know.

your e in the middle is wrong, henkeeper

As is often the case, I had it almost completed before I knew what the theme was. However, I can't parse the only sensible answer to 17D (and I am Welsh), and18A would appear to be parts of the face, after taking the 8 off, although changing the first vowel would make more sense of the definition. Any hints please?

pendragon - you are right about 18 - have you grasped the flowers? 17 is a giant (I believe one of the guardians of London?) cat "eating" a good.