diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_dark.rc.in b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_dark.rc.in
index c7a736c38e..ecb5aba412 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_dark.rc.in
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_dark.rc.in
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ style "medium_text"
 
 style "medium_monospace_text"
 {
-        font_name = "monospace @FONT_NORMAL@"
+        font_name = "monospace @FONT_SIZE_NORMAL@"
 }
 
 style "red_medium_text" = "medium_text"
@@ -919,25 +919,27 @@ style "small_red_on_black_entry"  = "small_bold_text"
        bg[ACTIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_base
 }
 
+#
+# Clocks: "text" is the clock digits; "base" is the bg
+#
+
 style "non_recording_big_clock_display" = "medium_entry"
 {
 	font_name = "@FONT_MASSIVE@"
 
-	fg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_control_text
-	fg[ACTIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
-	fg[SELECTED] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
-	fg[PRELIGHT] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
-	fg[INSENSITIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
+	text[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_control_text
+	text[ACTIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
+	text[SELECTED] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
+	text[PRELIGHT] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
+	text[INSENSITIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator
 	
 	base[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_base
-	base[ACTIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_base
-	bg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_base
-	bg[ACTIVE] = shade(0.5,@@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator)
+	base[ACTIVE] = shade(0.5,@@COLPREFIX@_bright_indicator)
 }
 
 style "recording_big_clock_display" = "non_recording_big_clock_display"
 {
-	fg[NORMAL] = darker(@@COLPREFIX@_arm)
+	text[NORMAL] = darker(@@COLPREFIX@_arm)
 }
 
 style "transport_clock_display"
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc b/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
index e6684e3c23..83a0b8719b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
@@ -915,8 +915,10 @@ AudioClock::button_press (GdkEventButton *ev, CairoCell* cell)
 }
 
 bool
-AudioClock::button_release (GdkEventButton *ev, CairoCell*)
+AudioClock::button_release (GdkEventButton *ev, CairoCell* cell)
 {
+	cerr << "button press, cell = " << cell << endl;
+
 	if (dragging) {
 		gdk_pointer_ungrab (GDK_CURRENT_TIME);
 		dragging = false;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/time_info_box.cc b/gtk2_ardour/time_info_box.cc
index a58aa071c0..8319db94ef 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/time_info_box.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/time_info_box.cc
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ TimeInfoBox::TimeInfoBox ()
 
 	set_homogeneous (false);
 	set_spacings (0);
+	set_border_width (2);
+
+	/* a bit more spacing between the two "sides" */
+	set_col_spacing (1, 10);
 
 	Gtk::Label* l;
 
@@ -199,12 +203,13 @@ TimeInfoBox::on_expose_event (GdkEventExpose* ev)
 		if (win) {
 		
 			Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context> context = win->create_cairo_context();
-			
-			translate_coordinates (*window_parent, 0, 0, x, y);
-			
+
+#if 0			
+			translate_coordinates (*window_parent, ev->area.x, ev->area.y, x, y);
 			context->rectangle (x, y, ev->area.width, ev->area.height);
 			context->clip ();
-			
+#endif
+			translate_coordinates (*window_parent, 0, 0, x, y);
 			context->set_source_rgba (0.149, 0.149, 0.149, 1.0);
 			Gtkmm2ext::rounded_rectangle (context, x, y, get_allocation().get_width(), get_allocation().get_height(), 5);
 			context->fill ();
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/wscript b/gtk2_ardour/wscript
index a5962f6f7b..9f0262f736 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/wscript
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/wscript
@@ -430,7 +430,8 @@ def build(bld):
                 'MASSIVE' : '60'
         }
 
- # Set up font substitution dictionary
+    # Set up font substitution dictionary
+    # @FONT_XXXX@
     for style in ['', 'BOLD', 'ITALIC']:
         for sizename,points in iter(font_sizes.items()):
             if (len (style)):
@@ -443,6 +444,12 @@ def build(bld):
             dark_rc_subst_dict[key] = fontstyle
             light_rc_subst_dict[key] = fontstyle
 
+    # @FONT_SIZE_XXXX@
+    for sizename,points in iter(font_sizes.items()):
+            key = "_".join (['FONT_SIZE',sizename])
+            dark_rc_subst_dict[key] = points
+            light_rc_subst_dict[key] = points
+
     # RC files
     dark_rc_subst_dict['COLOR_SCHEME'] = build_color_scheme(
         'gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_dark.rc.in', 'ARDOUR_DARK')
diff --git a/libs/gtkmm2ext/cairocell.cc b/libs/gtkmm2ext/cairocell.cc
index 79b5a673b4..97c806752a 100644
--- a/libs/gtkmm2ext/cairocell.cc
+++ b/libs/gtkmm2ext/cairocell.cc
@@ -116,9 +116,16 @@ CairoTextCell::render (Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context>& context)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	context->save ();
+
+	context->rectangle (bbox.x, bbox.y, bbox.width, bbox.height);
+	context->clip ();
+
 	_font->apply (context);
 	context->move_to (bbox.x, bbox.y + bbox.height + y_offset);
 	context->show_text (_text);
+
+	context->restore ();
 }
 
 void