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I have a full grid (which was an enjoyable challenge) the thematic changes and a 6 letter word (or name?) from the across clues and the three wordplay only answers and what looks like an obscure instruction beginning with a number from the down clues. It all means absolutely nothing to me, however. Perhaps enlightenment will dawn…..

The endgame is straightforward if you have the requisite specialist knowledge, but obscure if you don't. If you can't make anything of it, you might note the first sentence of the preamble and see what you can find.

Thank you Deuce. Took us back to university days and many splendid, ale- fuelled evenings.

Thanks Jack Aubrey.

Thanks Jack, much appreciated:-)

Can I get some help with 27a, which looks for all the wotd like a straight anagram (I'm presuming it's also referenced, or at least the final letters, in the preamble) but I've tried literally every anagram solver on Google and got precisely nowhere.

Also, the crossing 25d, I've tried putting "Jewish date" ino Google, as per Jack's advice, but again, nada! I have the first and third letter so am only missing one but I can't find anything in Chambers that comes even close. There is a Latin word that has both a vulgar meaning but can also mean "with the addition of" and if you are with someone you could be dating them but, I don't know, it just seems wrong - I'm sure I'm missing something.

Speaking of anagrams, 23d seems to be just that but, assuming its one of the 3 mentioned in preamble, what letter am I meant to forget that is parsed by "time they start"? I asked my younger brother, who's a lawyer, and his reply was "whenever the judge gets there"! Which I thought was quite witty but not helpful:-)

23d - I didn't one of the three mentioned in the preamble - I'm trying not to give too much away.

" I'm trying not to give too much away" so thought I'd write jibberish!

"I didn't 'mean' one of ....'

Brendan, if 27a isn't succumbing to anagram solvers then it might not be a straight anagram. Perhaps look to the preamble? That was one of the very last clues to fall into place for me as the penny did its thing. It'll solve your 25d problem, too. Perhaps easier that way round.

23d is a nice bit of work. Look for a word for the subjects that can be treated accordingly.

Trying to keep on the right side of nudge here. Lovely puzzle. Thanks, Deuce.

Okay, thank you Barnacle, I'll think on them a while longer, maybe put it aside and look again tomorrow with fresh eyes, that very often works for me:-)