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Yes indeed, worth waiting for. Quite an attractive theme, I thought.

Hi, I’ve got the explanation from the across clues and the thematic phrases but am unable to apply to the down answers, a hint would be appreciated?
Ta
Bob

well, I've been staring at this for some hours now. I have all the answers and have decoded the instruction - and even have the four theme words. But I cannot see how to make the instruction work - am moving N's and S's all over the place to no avail. Not asking for help because I'm sure it would involve spoiling!

prospero
Each column has two entries, each separated by a single blank cell. That cell plays the part of the relevant object and dictates how your Ns and Ss move...

I can see a way of getting an S and an N on either side of the divide but that leaves not only the down answers but also the across ones in a shambles ...

Prospero
Leave all the across solutions as they are. Then fit the down solutions by making the single letter moves as suggested by the theme. As far as I can tell, there is no ambiguity.

Thanks all, got it now.

Prospero, a key part of the preamble is “varying degrees of effect”. Only down entries are affected, Ns and Ss don’t have to be exactly at either side of the divide.

but sometimes - eg 16,17,23 - which all begin with S - the S's are further away from the divide ... I'm obviously being really obtuse here - sorry!

Hi prospero. Because that's the thematic effect that the thematic item would have on those particular letters given their positions relative to the thematic items. Hope that's not too vague.