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Thanks.

8a I've never heard the phrase with that first word. I had a different word to start with.

9d What's the justification for the 8th letter? It's not in Chambers.

Please please please can we drop the "Primarily" clues? They're no longer cryptic and the surface is nearly always very clunky, as indeed it is today.

Simon, I agree re 9d. That abbrev. is not in any of the main dictionaries. It is however listed in Collins online as “American English”.

Thanks, Jono.

I'm stuck on 9d, Happy - formerly - to take in brash nephew at home (O? ??O?D ?I?E?)
Are my crossers right? Does the nephew have something to do with family ties in general?
What's the American abbreviation referred to in the Forum in the last word?
I also have no idea for 11ac, Horses for children who ride motorbikes?

Crossers are correct.

Hopefully a sunny day where you are so you won't see any second words.

For 11a, mods rode scooters! Children start on .....

And I strongly agree with the earlier comment on primarilies - get rid of them - cryptics don't say 'here comes an anagram'. So why have this giveaway.

Ethereal, I'm just being nosy... Where do you live that you want to be tackling the puzzle when you do, ie about seven hours before the rest of us even see it? The link seems to appear pretty early anyway, but I think there' are always keen solvers waiting for it!

Brendan Behan declared he was going to drink it dry! (6)

I would be disappointed not to have the “primarily” clues. Agreed, they are often inelegant, but it is such a tradition at this point, Everyman wouldn’t feel right without them.

Agreed, I enjoy them and clunkiness is weirdly part of their charm.

At least with the primarily clue you are guaranteed to get one answer and can then give you a start into the more difficult ones. I like them. I always do that one and the hidden word ones first.