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It's been tough but fun.
I am finally there, apart from 3d, if someone can give me a steer...I have most letters of course but just can't see it, or the definition even. Regal ruling, I assume.

Hi Lumen,

3d - 4 letter "monkey" + single letter "king" + missing letter + 4 letter "spirit" - definition is "regal ruling".

Cheers brendan. Tricky one! Well done for getting it.
I'm finally done.

Thanks Lumen,

I did find this really difficult and had to keep stopping and coming back to it. In the end I managed to do it over four sittings.

Thanks to Sabre for a most enjoyable and rewarding puzzle:-)

I finally staggered home without using hints. It was certainly the hardest puzzle for a long time, and I am still not convinced about the wordplay in 13a, though crosschecking seems to make anything else impossible. I can see the type of blood but not the small drop, unless it refers to a drink which is often far from small, and particularly after a hard day staring at a grid.

The code was easier than I thought it would be, but not aided by one of the pertinent websites which opted to mis-spell 10ac. However, I had at least heard of the thematic items, though I fear that my chance of sampling any of them in the coming twelve months may be stymied by safety measures and our decision to commit international suicide in 2017.

Foinaven, check Chambers for the first and last letters of 13 A.

Still haven't found 5d. I believe I know the entry, but I have tried putting every (thematic) letter in and can't find a Scottish word that fits. I presume "Jock" means Scottish; over here it means athlete. Obviously I missed the correct removed letter. Will someone put me out of my misery?

Mprs,

It's the other long letter beginning with O

Thanks, muraria.

Wow, that was a struggle. Was determined not to look at the forum until over the line. Took longer than usual, as it did with last year’s Selfie. Thank you, Sabre, but you need to get out more!