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I have finally solved all of the clues, but I have a choice of two for the thematic item to be added at 4. I assume that OX UNDER LORRY will resolve this, but I'm blowed if I can see how it works. I have tried encoding it and de-coding it, but neither seems to work. Has anyone else had the same problem?

Thanks, tatters! I thought that I had the entry, but I couldn't see an anagram indicator. Didn't think of putting X in.

Yes, X in 15. I guess Y goes in clue 16 but don't see it. (Have answer.)

Clue 17 I meant.

lumen - perhaps I misunderstand your posts, but you seem to think the OX UNDER LORRY instruction refers to the extra letters in the 15 non-perimeter clues. Not so. Instead you need to consider the 12 unchecked perimeter cells. If you take the corresponding letters from the thematic items which are 'added' to the perimeter clue items, those letters can be arranged to get OX UNDER LORRY.

Non-sensical example: if perimeter clue 1 gives BARD and the corresponding thematic item was BUND, the entry would be DVFH and the U in BUND would take care of the U in UNDER.

Assuming you have the other five perimeter thematic entries, you would have all but two of the letters in OX UNDER LORRY taken care of. The remaining 2 resolve otherwise ambiguous (I know of at least three) choices for the thematic item for #4.

Lumen, Y is added to the end of the third word of 17 - the new word accounts for the middle four letters of the answer.

No, no I get that. Thanks though.
But I have a Y from the message that I haven't used. That's the one I think must go in clue 17.

Sorry Loge. Posts crossed.

0pt0, the only possibilities (that I've found) for the thematic at 4 across are variant spellings of the same word, which differ by one letter (the fifth). If you've got the answer to the perimeter clue and 7 down, you can work out which one is correct. by alphanumeric subtraction.

Finished!! 63 hours after starting.
OK I've had some sleep, done a bit of DIY, gone out for a meal, watched some penalties (with crossword in hand), and done paid work for 6 hrs within that time.
But have literally spent over 20 hrs solving this....