Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

I should add that I did eventually solve 14 but it still seems a flaw to me because the whole entry is unches, effectively.

Thanks planks, got it now. That’s opened things up for me and showed one where I had a wrong entry.

Yes, the hint for 9d helped me get going again too. Thanks, planks. (Nice rhyme there.) For 5d I have long ridge as the definition, but in sand. I'm guessing the "eg" is missing a letter, but I can't see what it could be.

Yes it’s the eg missing a letter MPRS. It’s the second definition in Chambers for a word that also means a unit of work.

Thanks, loge! I didn't look that far I guess.

Numbskull (I feel awkward calling you that!), you've already got a hint for 9 down, so here are the other two:

1 The missing letter is in the third word of the clue. The wordplay is OO (rings) + a rare abbreviation for have (chop off a couple of letters) inside HH. H must stand for hands but it isn't in Chambers, as far as I can see.

6 Missing letter in fifth word. The wordplay is a Spoonerism of Kwai and a colloquial synonym for reviews (noun).

Thanks loge. I’d worked out 6d following the hint for 9d earlier from planks. For 1d I had convinced myself that fuss was ado. That’s opened up the the NW corner for me.

Loge… check out HH in Chambers

I hoped after a night’s sleep I’d crack this. This morning I have solved two and got the full message, after having only the last word yesterday. And I think I see the pseudonym of the subject emerging.
So I’m back looking for a final push.
I don’t have 4d, so having trouble finishing 4a thematic. I’d like second letter of item to be a U, but have used that elsewhere.
Still can’t see how to complete 26a surgeon one, despite info two days ago…
And tips for 2d and 18a would be very welcome too.

Lumen, for 2 D there's a very common six-letter word for a fungal disorder( affecting plants and so on). The last letter gets changed, getting 'note', giving a word meaning 'make soft'.