belatedly, thank you all for your hints, haven't had a proper look but nothing is screaming at me. The 11,5 I expected was a spicy sort of abode but am blowed if I can see it, am I right in thinking 16d & 18a have something to do with extra letters?
DD, yes - the entry for 37 IS an anagram of the answer to the clue. There's no 31 D, so I don't follow that bit - sorry! Yes, 16 and 18 involve extra letters. You're correct too about the abode.
Hello devadolly, I am assuming you can see the second word of the spicy abode! As normal with EVs that require grid gazing, symmetry is present, in this case vertical mirror symmetry!
I had the wrong letter in the first light of 26d whch initially stopped me seeing the abode.
Hope you, himself, GM and deputy GM are all well, and 3 of you at least are enjoying retirement! Any holiday plans?
The last two EVs have certainly shown their compilers desire to remember their childhood!
Thanks again to all for info, am trying my best but I think this lovely heat has fried what few brain cells I had.
Hello Doc, GM now slowed down considerably and the deputy continues to come and go a he pleases, Himself more or less finished as now only have one old tup as a lawn mower for the paddocks, sadly there is still a lot of admin until we finish completely. Nothing on the hol horizon until we sail up the Amazon.