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smudgekent

26th August 2023, 19:22
Not doing crossword means plenty of time to listen to Jule London and Joni Mitchell.
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roof

26th August 2023, 19:30
Thanks Jono

The penny finally dropped and I've got the theme. So far, I've found one near me. Unfortunately, it misled me into thinking the theme was animals. I've had to go back through some answers and identify the theme words. So far I have identified three theme words as the answers.

I've still got lots to do but am making some slow progress. I don't think I'll finish today.

I am puzzled by a few:
51d I have ?I?E T?A I'd assumed the definition was a drink. Are my letters right?
29d I have an answer, but it is not a word I know and I can't see a theme in it. As a result I can't get 36 ac. I have ?N?L???R for 36ac - are my crossers right?

My top left (NW) corner is practically empty. Could I have hints for 18ac and 33ac please. I thought the latter was an anagram, but have failed to solve it.
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jono

26th August 2023, 19:47
Hi Roof,
51d you may have put the first ? In the wrong place. I?E? T?A is correct. Yes for drink, you can probably guess the second word. Three letters ‘reserve’ + anagram of date.

29d definition is pack, think cycling. There is a theme word here, but not one I knew.

Your crossers for 36a are correct. It’s the name of a company though I admit I haven’t fully parsed that one. I’ll have another look…
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jono

26th August 2023, 19:53
… got it, 36a contains a 4 letter theme word (one of the ones that is used twice). Around it is a reversal of a word for show, minus the final E (for east)
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jono

26th August 2023, 19:59
18a contains two theme words. The second one is one of those used twice. Formal term for where bells are housed.
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roof

26th August 2023, 20:48
Many thanks Jono

I'm impressed with you getting and parsing 36ac.

I'm not sure of the theme word in 29d, but I can see one (French?). I can't quite parse round it.

I've got 18ac now thank you. I'm hoping it will give me an in into more.

I can't think of the three letter word for reserve, but will carry on pondering in 51d

Only 15 minutes now to the new Scandi Noir, so I will go and see if I can get settled in front of the telly.
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twit

27th August 2023, 00:28
I have now finished this and generally liked it. A few clues that took me a while to parse, but I think I have now done so. However, while I have 3 clues that contain 2 theme words and 4 solutions to clues that are theme words, I have only 29, rather than 30, other clues containing one theme word. Do others find the same, or is it just me?
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jono

27th August 2023, 07:04
Twit, I just did a count and interestingly I too am one short. I only have 4 theme words that are used twice, so it must be one that has already been used that I’m missing, but I can’t see it and I’m sure I parsed everything fully yesterday.
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prospero

27th August 2023, 10:50
roof - the 3-letter word for reserve you find a lot up north, though less than before ...
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castafiore

27th August 2023, 11:12
Have now struggled through this but can't parse 54a. Any hints welcome ...
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