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Thank you. But 100% the answers to 5 and 9 are also part of the theme. Why would he choose these words if not? All theme words are specialised / not very well known examples (5) of a meaning / interpretation of the answer to 9.

Ok, I have 9A now. I also have 7D from the wordplay and note that 1D's other definition and 7D's definition are definitely related. And I agree with snowhite that they are both 5D types of 9A!

Sorry for the late reply, rogissimo, I had to cook dinner.

Is it a homophone of a synonym of take? I'm feeling pretty obtuse.

Re 9a again, would it be a specific metal which is a homophone of a word for take?

philo: Yes.

Or more precisely an alloy.

Ok ok I think I see what 5/9 refers to.

But I still insist that the solutions at 5d and 9a also refer to the theme b/c they are all 5d varieties of 9a, no?

Phew! Thanks for the help and patience.

boson, I had that same roundabout notion of the theme for quite a while.

But after the PDM regarding the "slash" or "meta" route to the theme, the latter seemed so much more elegant, funny and direct that I assumed it was intended.

Hi Jono

I did wonder if Paul had something to do with some of the Quick crosswords last week. I've thrown away 16,681 now so cannot check. We actually do the crosswords in the paper. Many of the answers seemed more appropriate to a cryptic than a quick. Some days it took us a long time to finish, but then they went easier again to the end of the week.

I'm still hoping for a hint for 16d. Can you confirm that 13d is a specific piece of dance music - a waltz I think.