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Would appreciate help with the parsing for these.....

5d About to be involved in a commotion over variablable old pharmacist (10) - APOTHECARY (Old pharmacist)

6d Oppose relinquishing initial spirit, one hears (7) - EARDRUM (One hears)

I thought it might be 'Spirit' = RUM + a word meaning 'Oppose' missing it's initial letter, but there's only a few words the ?EARD pattern and none mean opposed.

7d Inept writing possessed by the writer - had to restrict that (3-6) - HAM FISTED (Inept)

I think 'Possessed might be HAD and 'Writer', ME - but as for the rest I'm at a loss.

18d Very much in character, shedding pounds picked up award (7) - ROSETTE (Award)

I think 'Character shedding pounds' = RO(l)E, but that would mean 'Very much' = SETT so I think I've gone wrong somewhere.

5 A, in clue,Pother,commotion, Ca/circa/about y,unknown.
A pothe ca r y.

7. I think Fist = writing.

18 Letter = character, shed the l,pounds, you get rette. Put 'so', very much, inside.

For 18, the 'so' is reversed- not sure how that works.

6, Beard can mean opposed.

Chambers has "beard", oppose resolutely.

That's excellent, thanks Rusty, thanks Malone, much appreciated.

Glad to help, Brendan!

You're welcome,Brendan. Parsing has never been my strong point, so sometimes I welcome the chance to try!