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Smartie, the word's in my Chambers (revised 13th ed) - listed under the shorter word (ie without the last letter).

thicky ... a stupid person

Thanks Malone - found it now! I was looking to hard!

Too (note to self "turn off spellchecker")

Glad I could help, smartie.

Mullingar, I interpret 18 wordplay as AR (autonomous region) reversed (overthrown). The INT is not clued, and the definition for INTRA is 'within'.

But, in the other thematic columns, the stone is removed from the lower entry and added to the upper entry. This doesn't happen in column 3, instead the setter relies on the F and L above the entry.

I think you're unlikely to find the answer for 38 in a dictionary. It's a name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsieur_Hulot

mullingar - Re 18D - As this is one where an item is inserted (only part in this case) it follows the same rule as the other cases. A definition and word play only for the part that is not inserted. Last two letters for autonomous region overthrown and whole thing meaning within. (perhaps you were looking at 'in' for 'within' and 'Northern Ireland?)

I was indeed crates. I had Northern Ireland as the autonomous region I can see now thati it works better with AR and Int as additional unclued I had got Hulot at 38 but was idly wondering which entry could only be found in the ODE. Thank you both for your help

Well I enjoyed it - I found the previous week impossible but didn't moan about it - you just accept that some weeks are harder and some easier - I'm all for that, unless we want to totally deter new people coming in to the 'club' and just reserve the experience for the super-brains who can finish it off before the kettle boils
I have a book of old Listener crosswords, and agree they are just about the same standard and amount of variability as currently.

Stephen

Having said I enjoyed it, I realise that implies I finished it.
I'm just one letter short, which is the first letter of 15 down. As no -one has mentioned 15d in earlier correspondence its probably easy but a little nudge would be gratefully received.

This crossword took me 3.5 hours and I was quite proud of that time. (The first one I ever completed took 12 days)