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Hi Unclued

The bottom half is blank.

Thanks djawhufc, I was so close, having got six correct.
I agree with you Woodlouse, it should be Ditch, as it corresponds with what has to be done, and also corresponds with the difficulty of the puzzle, as in obscure words. I suppose Hitch could be correct, as in hitch up. Personally, I would prefer Bitch, to describe the puzzle.

Short story by Roald Dahl, XIJ

I found this the toughest of the year so far. The second time this year we have had to look for these thematic objects. Interestingly only one, the most obvious, appeared in both puzzles.

Agreed now about the ditch/switch. Thanks for the clarification.

I've just come back to this after a day, and am needing help with the last three lines of the grid. Especially:
Recalled container with layer (of nuts) crusted.
18c alternative for the baron, one in pickle.
Letter in German from fan of fire.
Thanks.

samovar

Def Of nuts crusHed wordplay a container (often of rubbish) 3 letters reversed + 3 letter word for layer (often of rock?)

def 18c alternative for tIe. B + I in a 5 letter word for soak

Def fan of Eire. Wordplay could be "moonshine, but five not soft to start with"

Thank you so much, Turast. I'll get cracking. I must say I think these are some of the best clues ever. Real artistry !

I'm WAY behind on this and, to be honest, starting to struggle with the solving. I have a lot of Acrosses but only half as many Downs so grid placement is proving a problem for me. I thought I'd tentatively filled most of the top half in and had drawn in the corresponding bars in the bottom half. I hope this isn't spoilerish but I had the top across row as 1d followed by the first 2 across solutions both of which drop a letter. From this, I deduced that the bottom across row must be a 5 letter solution followed by a 7 letter solution, followed by the last letter of a down clue. As the last across clue is also 7 letters, I assumed that it must be a misprint clue rather than an 8 letter solution which dropped a letter. But my solution to the last across clue is NOT a misprint - I have a straightforward 7 letter solution (which ought to drop a letter before entry) which fits with a 3 letter down crosser (at the 4th letter). I'm confused!

Grateful if someone could clarify any of this for me please without giving any explicit answers. Thanks

simond9x, If you look at my last couple of posts, which are just before yours, you will see that Turast gave me some help with the last across clue. and it does have a misprint and is seven letters. I am about to ask for more help, as like you, I am way behind !