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Hi everyone

I started after lunch as usual, but unfortunately my back went suddenly and without obvious cause so I've been in a lot of pain. Despite that I've done most of it apart from 26ac and 20d and much of the north west corner.
I thought I had answer to 7d but couldn't see why. I'm a bit more confident that it's right now I've read the long thread. But I can't see the cattle. Funnily enough 3d was my FOI.

I shall go back and work on a couple more now I have hints for 20d and 26ac. A hint for 11d might reduce the agony. I have A???E?E??

I'll be back

Hi Roof,

Sorry to hear about your back, make sure you rest it properly.

11a - A + 4 letter "tendency" goes around 4 letter anagram/'but different' - definition is "disgrace" and all your letters are correct.

THanks Brendan

I did in fact get the answer myself after a little thought and having confirmed my answer to 7d. I've checked the cattle now, which helped with13ac. I'd have got 6ac quicker if I stopped looking for "Old instrument".

Thanks for the hint for 20d, Jono I think. I don't like 26ac.

So finished. My LOI was 2ac. CODs 15d, 16d and 27ac

Thank you to Brendan for your sympathy about my back. Unfortunately, it "goes" regularly and usually takes five days to get better. Coincidently, I have an appointment with the spinal people at the hospital this week, though I'm not hopeful as I'm pretty sure it is muscular. I'm already seeing the physios for my tendonitis in my hips. Old age is I suspect the root cause of all my problems

@teewens: yeah, I had ended up with that solution earlier based solely on the wordplay, but was completely unaware of an ancient city with that name. Should have googled it, I supppose.

Quite tricky but enjoyable - just stuck on 9d - any hints appreciated

Got it! Not sure I understood 27 a.

Hi Dismantled - 27: odd letters of the first 2 words then the end of a word reversed. Type of typeface.

The other one - follow the clue literally - 4,3,7.

Late start again for me but well worth the wait. Enjoyed the challenge , didn’t find it easy but very enjoyable .
FOI 10
LOI 18 only because had the answer but wasn’t sure of parsing
COD loved 1a but have to include 14 ,15 and the tricky 7.
Thanks to Philistine for an entertaining Sunday morning.

Sorry to hear about your back, @roof.

Finished it last night, very much joint effort with husband (who hasn't yet solved 18d despite having all the crossers). Completed before looking at the forum but had been mystified by parsing of 7d until a post made me twig that "3" is the definition! Very clever clue.

FOI: 13a
LOI: 26a ( both crossers were in the last 5 to be solved)
COD: perhaps the splendid 7d

Enjoyed this puzzle.

Dismantled @66
27A particularly relevant to us old Guardian readers: an island group featured during April 1st editions