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Hi, Rusty!
If you wait for me to finish my puzzle, you might be waiting quite a while.... I am not having a good day!
Brain not properly engaged!
On the other hand , I have done some of it....so may be able to help you if my efforts so far correspond with yours?
What do you want to know?
Just maybe...I will have done it!
Btw......I especially liked 12a :" Popocatepetl"!
I arrived at the answer without having previously heard of the volcano - and had to look it up!
I also didn't know what BACS stood for!

Hello, Elle!
I do not know what BACS stood for, too!
I see it on a bank statement, though!
I knew the volcano, but "Nore" is new to me.
The mutiny I knew about was at Invergordon.
Do you know that BBC are showing several programmes next week to remember Passchendaele?
There are several events up here about it, too.
Right, this is my clue/problem!
21d, "Fabulous writer of a work about French art?" (5)
A?s?p.
i think it is "Aesop" the fable writer chappie.
But...!
"A" is in clue. work is "op", which leaves "French art" = "es".
Why is French art "es"?
It is not in Chambers.
Anne Bradford has it, but no explanation.

Can anyone answer ?
"tu es" French for "you are"
art (poetical word for are)

Yes, I could have answered Cerasus!

Hi, Rusty!
Goodness, I have had to do a lot of looking up today!
BACS stands for "Bankers Automated Clearing Services!!
I had never heard of that!
"Nore" is a sandbank at the mouth of the Thames estuary; there was a mutiny there in May 1797.
Now 21d.........
As I see it..."art" refers to "are".
You art /are = tu es, in French
So French art is "es"?
Now I need help , please , with parsing 13d.
I have "apartments" for "rooms" (def)
art men - male painters
apt - suitable
But the "s"?
Where does "quarter" fit in?
Could "S" be a dollar sign?
But even then, I don't get it?

Thank you, all, for the French "es".
It is something else I learned!
Elle, "S" is the quarter. South on a compass.
Have a look in your Chambers.
It should have quarters as regards compass pints.
Thank you again, Cerasus and Pigale!

Hello, again, Elle!
I see BACS regularly on my bank statement
But, I did not know the meaning.
But it confirmed "scab" for me.
I had not heard of Nore.
Quite a good puzzle tpday!

Hello Elle and Rusty!

A strange week without Le Tour! Withdrawal symptoms?
Still, not too long to La Vuelta; I need to look at the route
in detail, but they seem to be riding along the Pyrenees?
Quite a few mountainous stages?

Are you missing Wimbledon Elle?

Weather dull here too.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, the 15 x 15 wasn't too bad once I got going!
I got on a roll once I had passed a difficult bit!
I am stuck though, now, on parsing one in the QC........
I know you do not do this puzzle , so will give you the clue......
1D: Contracts minor illness and has financial difficulties (7,1, 4)
I have "catches a cold" ?
But apart from the obvious "minor illness" definition, I cannot explain the remainder of the clue?
What do "financial difficulties" have to do with it?

Hello, Pigale!
Nice to hear from you!
I have not seen the route for La Vuelta yet.
I hope there are plenty mountainous stages in it!
The Clasica San Sebastian is on this Saturday.
Hope it is good!