Christiana, look in the BRB for the 2nd word of the 39a clue in the BRB, there are 2 options, take the latter, there you will find the hyphenated grid entry.
For 2d, the entry into the grid could also be what was an affectionate term for an early portable radio. It starts life as an affectionate term that your children's children might use.
There are definitely only 10 missing letters, which read as you would read a book really do set the scene!
Canary42, the game plan for these EV threads is to give hints rather than direct answers, so posts tend to be a little cryptic/obscure, which also makes it more fun providing hints. Twit-Who gave several hints in the initial post, I gave one hint and dr b another, despite his short post. These hints also indicate that to others we have actually solved the EV. At times the thread may well be better placed in the Drinks section of AB!
That said, it's time for a preprandial, will be washing dinner down with a shiraz cabernet sauvignon! Yes, even on a monday!!!!!!!!!!!
Devadolly you do yourself an injustice.