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andyp, I you have correctly placed all the bars there are 47 initially blank cells + the 9 grey cells within it, therefore the 4 orange cells are part of the structure - they are not contiguous. Think of what happens to it.

gitto: the E in the central column is my dubious one. I don't think it should be colored, but it is certainly within the structure. The whole thing is beautifully symmetrical, so there must be an odd number of brown cells in the central column, and the E is the only one which I can justify (unless the thing is - shall we say - horned. Surely not, for there's no bars there either).

I have cold-solved a good number of clues, but cannot get the grid-fill going. At the top, I have 1, 7 and 10 across and 4 , 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12 down, but nothing seems to gel there. At the bottom of the grid I have 24 and 29 across and 18, 19, 21, 23 and 25 down. Where would be the best to start my grid-fill?

0pt0: 25D crosses 1A. Start there.

cockie, that E is one of the 43 brown cells, but I cannot see how you have 44 in total when, as you say, the whole thing is beautifully symmetrical. Without meaning to offend, have you checked that you actually only have 43 cells shaded?

gitto - I've counted enough times to satisfy myself! I'm obviously missing something. May we do this offline. If you email arthurswan "at" btinternet "dot" com I can reply with my thoughts. (I'll be out for the next hour or so scraping ice off the car before venturing out to Mr Tesco's fine establishment.)

Cockie - E-mail sent.

thanks gitto - will recheck my bars

Having slogged my way to an almost complete grid, I discover that the theme is something that I detest. Shame, the completer-finisher in me wants to keep going but my dislike of the theme is such that I won’t. Good luck to the rest of you in completing a pretty tough puzzle.

Cockie - 2nd E-mail sent