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Hi, Rusty!
Oh, I have the rain gear....... but my husband did not want to go out again, and I do not drive.
Walking to the park or over to the woods puts an extra two miles on my journey.
I will happily do that in fine weather......but two more miles on top of at least three over the fields did not appeal to me this afternoon in all this teeming rain!
I decided to curl up on the sofa and see how Bill liked Ayers Rock!
Btw, I'm puzzled over your reference to 5d?
It's an anagram of "ten heroes within"?
I 'm still stuck on my parsings!

Hello, Elle,
5d, I thought it was "The Nine Hostages" at first, before I twigged the anagram.
You will have heard of "Niall of the Nine Hostages"?
Is it still rain with you?

Hi, Rusty!
No, I hadn't heard of "Niall of the Nine Hostages", but fortunately I'd assumed straightaway that 5d contained an anagram!
But I can see why you were temporarily misled , as you knew of "Niall"!
Google tells me that he is a prehistoric Irish king?
Yes, still raining!
It hasn't let up once, since starting this morning!!
Dog and I didn't go further than playing ball in the garden for a bit!
I have made great inroads into "Down Under"...……..
I shall probably finish it this evening.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, but a couple of things.
"The Nine Hostages" does not really work without "Niall" being in the phrase.
And I was doubtful if the setter would use it anyway, as the majority of The Times readers would not know of him/them?
(But I am supposed to know of "Hereward the Wake"!)
I had, though.
Then I spotted the anagram, but I have not heard of "The Nine Worthies"!
Had you?
And I was stuck for an answer to 25a, until I got rid of "hostages" and replaced it with "worthies".
How are you getting on with Down Under?

Hi, Rusty!
No, I had never heard of "The Nine Worthies", either!
I did not do very well with today's puzzle - leastways, not by my standards, as I still have seven clues to parse!
I filled out the grid fairly easily though...with letters from crossers and definitions to go off.
But that will not suffice to satisfy me!
If I can't parse it.....it remains "incomplete" in my eyes!
I am doing well with "Down Under"!
Bill and Allan have just left "Ayers Rock" after a 600- mile round trip...and are heading back to Alice Springs.......
Three more chapters to read......

Hello, Elle!
Keep at it. The parses will come!
I was ages getting the parse to 25a, then it jumped into my head and I wondered why I did not think of it sooner!
You are doing well with "Down Under"!

Hi, Rusty!
Funnily enough, 25a is one of those remaining that I cannot parse?
I have "imagine" = "picture" as definition
But cannot see the rest?
And what about "Verdi" in 7d?
How do you explain that?
Yes, I am greatly enjoying "Down Under"!

Hello, Elle!
I shall help!
"Imagine" was a musical number by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band.
7d, Verdi wrote "notes" as a composer.
"Papers" are "ID".
Minister is "Rev(erend)"
Reversed, giving Verdi.
Glad you and Bill are getting on!

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, thank you!
I did not know that "Imagine" was the name of a musical composition record by John Lennon .
And yes, I can see "Verdi", now that you have kindly explained it!
I think I have out-thinked my brain !
Or should that be "out thought"?
I am going to make a coffee....I obviously need it!!

Hello, Elle!
I am surprised "Imagine" is new to you!
It was a very popular song by Lennon.
And Verdi's "business was notes"!
Is that you finished your parsing now?
A coffee sounds a good idea!