Extraordinary swell died - hit with bookish old dame (5,7)
Fight with others about islands (6)
Alien swallows a swallow! (3)
Baffle good man with university representitive (5)
Retiring irishman has number available (2,3)
Please can you give full explainations as im not very good at these! dont think im ever going to get the hang of this cryptic lark, got lots more to do but dont want to annoy everyone too much by asking for too many answers!!! Thanks
Don't worry about asking for help you won't annoy everyone. Asking for explanations was how I learned how to do cryptic crossword puzzles many years ago.
The second one may be an anagram of swell died hit, but haven't got it yet.
Eastern plaything sent back to island (4) from what you said before if island is IS and 'sent back' means reversed so ive got SI....and then got stuck!! haha, not got very far.
Party on left is without heros (5)
Comedian Roy draws the french crowd (6)
Headgear gained success with out being on list of attractions (5,2)
It would help us if you numbered them
7. I've no idea at all
8. Maybe tanker, but not sure, this is where the letters from crossing clues come in handy
9. no idea
13. Headgear gained success with out being on list of attractions (5,2)
You can try that one. Look ffor a word that means "gained success" and put it outside ("with out") a word that means "headgear". It gives you a "list of attractions"