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Re 11... The definition is 'Old Ruler- - you start with a two word phrase meaning 'conspiring' and take off the 'cries ' of an owl. Hope this helps.

7 D is in the Oxford and Collins dictionaries.

... and it's in Chambers! I took your word for it not being there, then checked for myself.

Thanks. I thought the old ruler would be a person. Wimmin is indeed in Collins, but I couldn’t find it in Chambers on-line.

I'm resolutely stuck on 12a and 27a (despite all the hints). I've got a word which fits the def. in 12a, but I can't work out the wordplay (it should be a "themed" solution, I think). Any pointers would be welcome. Thank you.

12 and 27 both contain ???? (themed words) that I'd never heard of! 12 involves using a (comparatively rare) single letter abbreviation for Take and also a hot, evening, drink.

Thank you, Malone, I'll struggle on.

You're welcome, Martin. I forgot to say, I couldn't add anything to help with 27, but the earlier information on this thread might be worth re-reading?

I thought (as a one-time stamp-collecting boy) that I was quite well up on this theme, but the thematic bits of 12a and 27 are way beyond my range .... And may I, in as un-gestapo-like a way as possible, refer Pendragon to the title of this thread ....

Sorry, prospero, I hadn't even realised what I'd done. If someone can delete it, then thanks.