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ChrisE, I think the Nett = final, clear, conclusive etc (I can't remember exactly what Chambers said!), insert = put it inside the Give anagram.

yes, that works, malone.
Any idea why ELSIE is well-positioned? Might she be collecting water?

Thanks, ChrisE. No, I've got nowhere with Elsie (though that is short for Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth II could be said to be 'well-positioned'... a ludicrous stretch, but I am trying!).

Thanks for the replies.
I guess for now ELSIE will remain a bit of an enigma.

Elsie is one of the sisters in the story the Dormouse told Alice and other members of the Mad Tea Party in Chapter 7 of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

She lived with her sisters Lacie and Tillie in the bottom of a treacle well.

Nett is an alternate spelling of net.

Final as in net result (Chambers).

Hotelwhiskey7, thanks for the Elsie information. Some of these old puzzles have very old allusions, references etc - the Elsie one isn't too bad, but I don't think the clue would be used (as it is) today.

Good detective work HW7! Rather an obscure reference but there you go, cheers.

YES! AT LONG LAST!!
I finally managed to complete a times cryptic without having to look up any of the answers in the back of the book!
I read somewhere that the Monday puzzles are the easier ones, so maybe it was one of them.
Thanks for all your help to get me to this point.
I will continue to post my future queries on this thread.
Cheers

21a. Peace has withered- it must be sought in New Year.
SERENITY

7d. Simplicity of full Christmas accomodation in the old days around church
INNOCENCE

18d. Assemble close to archdeacon in church
CONVENE

Parses for the above please.