Thanks D3, I should be clearer when I start rambling
nicks is a slang term for small cuts by which I meant small pie shaped/wedge cuts on the side or top/bottom etc, to help it finish in the desired position, remove the small slice if on compression side and put sealing compound, wire it to keep the gap closed and once healed it sounds like it should stay closer to that position instead of fully returning to pre wiring position
-if on tension side of branch then cut, fill cut with sealing compound or grafting compound and do as above.....
-as I understand it the resulting scar tissue helps to keep in place
The top is very dense (already thinned slightly in picture, was v.v. dense before) and I haven't yet decided if I want to go with a new leader or jin the top and reduce it a lot so I can strip down the top 'knob'......not sure how far one can go in bark stripping/carving adjacent to branches one wants to keep......