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Thanks s-simon, My answers to the questions are rather terse, but now I know where the theme is set. Rather clever of Ifor to lead me into a dangerous trap.

Indeed Gitto. Ifor always has a nasty (clever) sting in the tail of his endgames. His Magpies are always interesting, if hair-pulling, and many “bl***y Ifor” expletives usually follow. His “11” in August was particularly good, especially with my RAF connections. But his one about Sagrada Familia last year had a very naughty final touch.

moffat - (for 14) abbreviation of a Latin phrase for the 3 words after the def goes around your answer.

Thanks loge, for advice on 20d - for which I've kicked myself, as last week I ran a quiz featuring the said individual,

and to Gitto, for his reference to "terse answers" - I then twigged it immediately!

Happy Christmas, and thanks for all the support through the year. A friend with whom I collaborated on the Listener died recently, and I would now be totally stuck without you lot!

Thanks drxx. And, as ever, to the Dropboxers.

I found this comparatively gentle (by Ifor's standards) but have to admit that I was relieved that not all clues were as tortuous as 14 & 20 down, both of which I thought brilliant. I made quick and lucky stabs at the top and bottom rows, so add me to the ranks of bemused delimiters, since I still have no idea how I achieved a full grid.

BC, I would suggest considering posts 15 and 21.

Can I have a hint for my last clue 5 down? I have the definition as the first word but don’t understand the rest.

'set back' alphabetically.

That's my definition. Difficult without giving it away too easily, but the critical word for me was "ultimately".

And thanks, gitto!