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I'm all done. Thanks for a great workout, Dysart; some tricky clueing in parts.

I have the definition and solution in 5ac but cannot parse the wordplay at all. For the sake of completeness, would someone kindly give me a hint?

An unusual word for playing cards less an abbreviation for Ezra

Thanks cd. That woz doin' me 'ead in!

Can someone confirm that the category begins with P ?

Arcticpenguin, there are no Down clues beginning with P. So the category can't really start with one?

arcticpenguin...re identifying the initial letter of the category, the letter you need is one of the 8 that does not have a repeat in the list of 22.

This was a fine puzzle. I still cannot parse the final down clue and would appreciate a nudge.

I've completed the grid but can't find the path. Would some kind soul please tell me where the 'L' is located and then I'll look again.

Thanks from the sandbank.

William, in the final down clue the wordplay is a 4-letter word for despatch & a 3-letter word for plan from each of which "a" for Australian is eliminated. The resulting 5-letter word is Aussie slang for "unlawfully"

L comes halfway down column 1.

If you've filled the grid you should already have the 'L' in column 1. The 'L' I think you're looking for (in the name?) is in row 10.

Silly me, William. Obviously drxx is quite right and you must already have the L in column 1 and the L you're seeking is one in row 10. Personally, when I was looking for the "path", I sought the first letter and continued from there.

I see that, unlike previous puzzles, this one hasn't given rise to a debate about what contiguous means. Clearly Dysart has a definite - if not definitive - opinion and we can take it or leave it!