Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

.... can I add

45a - This tumbler heard recent gossip (6)

I have it but don't get the "this tumbler" part?

Brendan, for 45a read from @66 to @71, and for 34a read @137 and @138

For 28a, hairy is the anagrind. Remove the extra word, and then use first word, next three words grouped, and then next word

Not sure if you have 7a. It’s a type of letter, with any traces of Iodine removed.

Many thanks Quisling, I get them all with the exception of 45a, I don't have Bradfords and, as far as I can see, Chambers shows no overlap in definitions between the homophone for a gossip and a tumbler.

Brendan

7a - Mineral of certain type, sort of any iodine (5)

Sorry, I can't parse this too!

34a - Dacosta, say, lacks European skill levels (3)

The escaped letter goes from the clue. What's left is also a name. Check out the list of people with this surname on Wiki — you're looking for a profession rather than a forename. 'European' leads to THREE letter, not one, and 'lacks' is misleading: try looking at is as (result when XXX lacks).

28a - A hint of adult troubles is hairy palms (4)

First letters of 'adult troubles' + 'IS' is the fodder for 'hairy' (anagrind).

Many thanks Jif73,

28a - I've got the A coming from the letter in clue rather than "adult".

Bradford’s is useful for some things, Brendan, and is on Kindle, so I use it on my phone. It probably cuts my solving time by 20%. It’s an alternative spelling of a type of Dutch glass. The normal spelling has the middle letter doubled., with U as the second. The alternative has the third and fifth the same. It’s an odd looking homophone, but Chambers gives the pronunciation as identical to the gossip

Jif73, I fear you are forgetting the extra word in 28a. Brendan, you have my parsing

Thanks again Quisling, I had the 2nd and 3rd letters the same but, If you understand you correctly, the 3rd letter should be the same as the 5th?