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cockie - i started with what to do with the A, and it started out promisingly (5, 4, 2, 5) - but then falls down for me - am i on the right track?

Yes, but there's another bit after your second 5

thanks cockie - is it a long bit? i can see a potential 4, however the degree of the fourth A word is different to get it, and there doesnt seem to be any logical reason that it would be the last word.

I haven't got to endgame yet, but can see much of the messages appearing.
My gridfill is going well, apart from the very top rows, if someone could help with a steer on 1a and 4a?
Also 26a...I have all cells filled in the centre so have the letters, but can't see how that one works.

1 - first 5 words are the def, abbrev 'book' followed by 'alumnus' (2 words) minus last letter [last letter of answer is omitted].
4 - an anagram of the last word [+ one other letter].
26 - a 5 letter word for idiots with the 2nd letter 'o' changed to 'r' [2 of the 3 omitted letters go between the first letter and 'r'].

1A defn is first five words; alumnus is a school version missing the last

4A horrific is anagrind; definition is first two words

26A four letter word for idiot, then plural. Change to R then add x3 missing letters

andyp (@18) - I had used en- for part of the cryptic indication to the answer, I now have used another more sensible idea and now have that elusive word from the extra letters, which I am assuming is normally 6 letters long.

I now have a message (5,4,2,5,4) from the across letters but struggling as to what the down message means,

Whilst it's good to have a challenge after a few easy weeks, it's frustrating not to be able to do it!

I'm stuck on 3ac (I have an answer, but can't see where serf comes in) and 2d.

I'm also struggling to make any sense for the first few words of the Across extra letters.

Thanks in anticipation

dylan, serf is part of the definition and for 2d the cryptic indication reads 2, 3, 1, 1, and the last two words are the definition.