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Rocky7 yes

Rocky I am stuck on my LOI 18a, I am totally befuddled whether it is meant to be one word or two!

I agree with comments about 8a, the definition seems clear and it looks like a double def but I have never known "smattering" to have a definition that provides the apparent answer.

Any help would be mucha appreciated

Otherwise a great deal if fun to be had. Thanks to Matilda for a prize that raised a few smiles.

Lucertola and Rocky7: you need to think of it as 1,9 rather than 10

justsolve: 18a is definitely two words. Not English and the first 2 letter is not what I would normally expect, but is perfectly good.
And NB importantly ‘spattering’ not ‘spattering’ - and see above.

Justsolve. I got 18a in the end. I am used to the second word being prefixed with a different two letter beginning. Think other language. But the play a part bit got it for me and I filled the rest around it.

All done. After last week that was a nice gentle solve. Thanks to Matilda.

8a is a device much favoured (perhaps even coined) by Philistine. I think this is the first time Matilda has set the prize. Enjoyable puzzle.

jono - revisiting 18a, I recall that it was one of the couple of clues I thought ‘a bit iffy’ in its construction (referred to in my OP). I’m still not completely convinced about it, more specifically how the first letter of the second word is introduced. It does work, sort of, but I don’t really like it. Matter of taste I guess!

(Sorry, the above was meant as a reply to Rocky7, not jono)

Straightforward. I'm a bit concerned by 13d. I can't think of any alternative answers, but wouldn;t be at all surprised if there were some. Perhaps the word play needs to be a bit tighter?
Favourite FOI 11

chrise: I can’t think of any other possible answer to 13a, and I don’t particularly like the ‘getting’ in the clue, if that’s what you mean.