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''...some information in the preamble (not the 'grid') is very helpful...''.

Thanks drxx, and it is an odd looking 4 letter word - I'll see if I can make a little progress now.

A couple of hours in and I have the first and last acrosses entered and 7 others cold solved. No idea yet about the endgame. At this stage, the effort/reward ratio feels rather discouraging.

Jack, How do you know where to place the last across since it could start further to the right and continue off the grid to the start of its row?

ja - how have you managed to enter the first (or last) across - my reading of first sentence of preamble meant that you wouldnt know where 1 across starts?

I have 18 solved - and most of the thematic adjustments to the remaining clues, and still am struggling to progress, and have a blank grid!

I don’t know if the last entry is definitely correctly entered, particularly as it could well describe a different method of entry. Just taking a punt in a rather desperate effort to convince myself that it’s worth carrying on.

It’s all done in very light pencil, as you may imagine!

Can someone drop a hint for 2, 6, 7 please - i am hoping that having the first few across and down entries will help!

6 - its the first word throwing me - i can only think of one short synonym for it and that doesnt seem to yield any words.

I would be grateful for help with 2d and 4d
2d Look! Songbird nibbled court summons (7)
4d My name is something old-fashioned (4)
I have solved a lot of clues but I can't fit them into the grid