rte guide

[pinktwink]

17 contracted the unwanted part of the stick, we hear
?h?r?e?e? (9) sharpened , chartered maybe?

9 trench warfare, as always uncalled-for?
??e? the ??? (4,3,3)

8 0 t-t-theatrical!
?a?p (4) maybe camp?

7upright position
???t (4)

the second letter of 7 is the second last letter of 9

[mac44]

17. Shortened, short end.

[Lie-in King]

9 Over the top
8 Yes, 'Camp' (OTT = Over the top (theatrical), strangely!)
7 Spot (?) (<<tops ?)

[kettledrum]

7. post

[pinktwink]

helpful as ever lie in king

final query 28
reformed EEC trade with the spanish to slow down (10)

i have ?e?e?e?a?e

is it degenerate or decelerate??

[Lie-in King]

Apologies, I misread the last line...

Thanks kettledrum :-)

[kettledrum]

decelerate ... anag EEC trade + el (the in spanish)

[Lie-in King]

Decelerate - (slow down) - anag 'EEC trade + el (Spanish 'the')

[pinktwink]

thanks again lie in king thats me done on this one

thanks also kettledrum