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Hi just finished with unsatisfactory guess
17ac Backward looking nation cut adrift for periods in Washington say
Penetratiuon Punctuation Dunno Any help or PARSE appreciated
Regards to Grandma Thea(o)

Hi Thea, you've missed a word in the clue. It should read 'Backward looking leading nation...'

PUNCTUATION (Periods (Full stops) in Washington, say)

Leading = UP so PU (Backward looking) + an anagram of CUT NATION.

Up, back _ anag. cut in Nation

Punctuation

Periods = full stops

Sorry Penda, I glanced and saw 'Thea' mentioned and mistakenly assumed you were him/her.

Grateful thanks Mamya and Brendan. Hi Brendan I got in an awfulmuddle when reregistering with a new user name so relapsed back to Penda who lives in our garden. Actually being mostly male I am Thea(o). Hope you have avoided Thunder and Blitzen Cheers T

Glad to help Thea (aka Penda), cheers.