I see the connection now, pretty lateral that one me thinks.

Nothing wrong with yer faculties!

From the same corner of the crossword I have this final clue.

'Couple picked up food for early birds' (4 letters)

Y*L*

The answer is clearly YOLK and I can see how it works with birds etc. But I can't get the connection with 'couple picked up..

The part regarding "couple picked up" refers to a "Yoke", the way that one person can carry two buckets, so the couple are the buckets and they are picked up using a yoke. The yoke is also used to keep two oxen together.

Rosemary

Hmmm.... I'm sure you're right but I would like to see a 'sounds like'.

ETA couple (as a verb) meaning yoke and picked up as in 'heard'

Now why didn't I think of that?

Agree also with jimenatos comment.

I've got one crossword that I've had on the go since May 9th. It is by a compiler I have seen numerous times but I keep picking it up and putting it down and generally make very little progress.

Try this one.

Show actor, quietly leaving, has little hankering to return. (3,7)

T*e/*******

If you get this I'll be proper mad

PS the only thing I got was 'the shadows' and I don't even know how or why.

No reason at all for this but like you came up with The Shadows I have just thought The Hustler, no idea why and cannot now get it out of my head. I will try tomorrow.

Rosemary

Now I have The Phantom in my head. Note to self, do not look on expats if you want to sleep or read.

Breaking the word up I have the "han" of hankering, the "tom" could refer to Tom Hanks' so you have part of hankering once again. Clutching at very thin straws here. Feeling foolish.

Rosemary

I know what you mean. I was going down a similar road with Hank Marvin

Bed time here too

Jimenato, we need you to do your cheating bit to put us out of our misery.

Rosemary

The second letter of the second word might just be 'w' if that helps

The clue that gives me the 'w' is 'Andrew hit town'. 6 letters and the only thing I can think of is Darwen. (Lancashire).

Got it.

Come on, tell me.

Rosemary

The Sweeney

Little (wee)
Hankering (Yen) to return ney

How about this one

Tin hat to wear in viciously nasty place (5,3)

S*a**/***

a) I did try to cheat but it wasn't having it on this one
b) I was on to 'ney' = yen reversed but that's as far as I got
c) Well done, that was difficult
d) Next please...

Try the tin hat one above. I've a feeling it ends in cap.

I also had snake pit in mind but can't see how apart from Tin (Sn) and pit (helmet)