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Thanks, Jigjag. I didn't even look at today's Times crosswod so was glad to see your clue. I have one for Grunger (from a current, prize puzzle, so won't share the answer...)

Grunger, if you're looking in... I saw this and thought of you. It's from Sunday's EV.

Chard seller, confusing users with sketch (11).

This is a thematic puzzle. In some clues a letter should be removed before solving.

Malone

I didnt do the EV. I suppose it ends in -ess and begins with h. Assuming it is an anagram of users, sketch.

Thanks, Jigjag.

To answer your questions - yes and yes. Isn't it a good one for Grunger? I think she'll be keen to add that to her CV.

Re Lady Mondegreen -
for years my wife J. and I listened to the intellectually surreal lyric in the eponymous track on Judy Collins LP 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes' - "Sad as Bernard Shaw, your fickle friends are leaving..."

Finally she came to the UK and we went to hear her live at the Albert Hall
(incidentally I sent her a bunch of violets - goofily sentimental about 'Young men holding violets are curious to know if you have cried' in 'Albatross' on 'Wildflowers'
- later I she wrote about having to wade through hundreds of bunches of violets piled outside her dressing-room that evening...)

Anyway - she comes to 'Who knows...' - J. and I look at each other in wild surmise as, clear as a bell:
'Sad deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving...'

Quixote
You may have come across it when sung by Judy Collins, but it's actually one of Sandy Denny's most famous songs, written when she was only 19 (also probably her most covered song).

I've not been able to find the recording I'm familiar with. Below is a live BBC one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsqztvHIB9Y

chrise - thank you - lovely.
The good die young.

Some pet pedantic hates:

Careening down the street

A bacteria
(Even on the BBC! Even by scientists! Even [can it really be true??] from Chris Packham!!!)

A criteria

Bored of
(I can't logically fault it - cf. 'tired of...' - but I still hate it)

I thought you guys .... and guyesses, of course, might get a kick from this clue in today's Everyman

26a - Has another think about Spooner’s women who see future (10)

Malone

I hope you had a good Christmas. I forgot to say that I loved the "Hucksteress" clue, no doubt Grunger will like it too. I am sure she has been one, or perhaps it was hustleress. Interesting clue, as I wondered if it was c or h that was dropped from "Chard". I suppose either might have been right, though it was c that was required.

Brendan

Sorry I cant solve your clue. What is the answer please.

Hi jigjag
It was REASSESSES - supposedly a Spoonerism of SEERESSES.

I didn't like it!