Guardian Christmas Special

[kiddlytivey2]

Rather belatedly trying to finish it. I can't go through the instructions for those without the original - apologies. I am stuck with my last three on the rh grid.
23d. ...bringing expression of surprise from Homer, The grid entry will be four letters C?R? but the actual answer to the clue is 3 letters (eg COR, but why?) what letter to add? perhaps M
24ac ...empties toilets- left one out. L?D?? (six letters to go in grid, with one added) somehow involving ladies, but i don't see how.
18d ...popular groups making maps. 6 letters. ?N??TS. I imagine it is INSETS (are these maps?), but what letter to add for the grid? I have used C and R already.

[Toorak]

23 cor and Homer are biblical measures. Add m
24 ladles - take I out of ladies and add l as extra letter
18 - I have insects

[kiddlytivey2]

Thanks Toorak. I have run into problems with my extra letters, but mustn't get too obsessional. Enough is enough.

[Toorak]

Where did you have the other extra c?

[Simonbxl]

If you use the L in 24ac, what was the extra letter in 21ac on the left side? I had L for that??

[kiddlytivey2]

I had c in cage (lh grid 12 ac). Could be rage, but already had R in contractors in lh grid 15ac. And so it will go on. Thanks for taking the time, but as I said, enough is enough.

[Toorak]

I had gage for 12a

Simonbxl - the extra letter in 21 a is k - okra

[Castafiore]

OK, I now get ladles - many thanks for that. So my only left over leter is v, so can 18d be invents? I've checked 'ents' and it seems to be something to do with Tolkien.

[kiddlytivey2]

7ac left grid is valleys. (all eyes less e - touch of expertise). Alleys are places for cats.
18dn right grid is insects (insets with c). I thought c was going to go in 12ac rt grid, but apparently that is gage not cage (as in greengage).
It all gets very complicated!

[Castafiore]

Aha! Had GALLEYS but it should be VALLEYS. And CAGE but it should be GAGE. That leaves a C, so INSECTS, but I to am not happy with INSETS for maps.