my weekly xword 2317

[flowerholic]

just cannot finish this

27 & 31a is relative of an older generation
great fits in but the second part has me baffled

23d is seabirds I have ernes

great -e-l-

28d is rod lying under a car - axle?

viz

e
great
n x
?e?l?
s e

must have gone wrong somewhere - help!!

[kayakamina]

Could the relative be Great Uncle ?

[crofter]

Could 23d be Terns?

[flowerholic]

if I put in uncle then terns fits in but it scrambles the great part...
Have been picking this up and staring at it for the last 2 days....
Great uncle would fit in if anyone can suggest a word for sea birds -r-n-s
??

[flowerholic]

sorry sea birds should be ?r?ns

[burnhal]

Try WRENS!!!!! A bird and also the Female Navy- ie seabirds

[flowerholic]

Thank you - you're brilliant!!! I had thought of wrens but only in the garden bird sense not the WRENS

:) :) :) :) you've made my day I can now put this !!!!crossword to bed!