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Delightful rather than awful. Got everything but being slow to see why the omission is thematic.

Looked it up and found it. Sorry

I remain slow, any hint on the connection with the omission?

If you have a Chambers llook at the entry for the "omission".

I get the concept of what the pet does not have. What connection does the letter R have with that?

I am stuck on 12 across and 29d; three squares left and any help appreciated.

These 2 answers are 2 of the 12 thematics so from the letter counts and the initial letter being dropped you ,"know" how many "R" s are missing. In 12 the 9 is split (5,4l).
Look at the entry for "R" in Chambers.
Hope this helps

Oops, that should have been (5,4).

One letter left for me, can't see 20d. I think I have 12 thematics, so don't think it is one of them. Can someone confirm or correct my letters - I have F-HME for the entry. Is this right?

Many thanks

Your letters are correct, the finished word is in Chambers.

I found this clue (29D) the most obscure, but the little grey cells did yield a centuries-old term eventually. The definition is the first three words and the answer might be more familiar to you with a different first letter.