Correct on both counts mxm, and herewith the Belt:
===[**CDM**]===



..and yes thanks, we had a good time: I hope you did likewise.

Thank you Lex

Live east of Romania's capital--it's unusual (4)

Rare - "are" ("live") to the east (the right) of R(omania)

Well done UW ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxman!

A clue of the type our Denis used to occasionally throw into the ring. All parts to be solved for the belt, please.

1 Final year student becomes nosier (6)
2 Battered shrub no longer right for President (4)
3 2 1 (5) - 2 "e"s

Is the letter count correct for #3?

A very wise question to ask with me, but yes, afraid so, Cheryl - want to let me have the first two under a spoiler?

(I did get it wrong to begin with but changed it almost immediately - the correct letter count is five)

See your thinking Cheryl, but if that was the answer it wouldn't really be a cryptic, more a trivia question

Ahh, I see your point. Jumped on that because it was just too easy to. Ha!

Alright, here's another go with my thinking cap on straight:

1. senior
2. bush
3. elder

Amazing what a straight cap can do! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

With no time to lose, someone occupying the kitchen doesn't start to remove lid from spicy dish (2, 1, 5)

There's a lot of moving parts to this one! Direct on the left, no e's.

I have been trying to justify "in a hurry" for this, but failing dismally...apart perhaps from removing lid from curry

(BTW I was stuck on Rog's clue in the same way as you)

In a hurry is the correct answer, Lex. You've taken the lid off of curry, now you just need to find the "someone in the kitchen doesn't start" part. Who might you sing about that's in the kitchen? It might be more of an American folk song.

It's usually mama's in the kitchen in a few old blues songs, but with that hint and a little help from google and You Tube, it would be Dinah in the kitchen not starting

That's the one! And, here's your prize. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Cheryl, and a very happy and healthy New Year to all!

A couple of medical clues to help further addle the brain amid the over-indulgence (or hangover, as the case may be), along with a third clue I could not resist as a vocabulary tester:

1. Infection resulting from Spooner's Scottish legislation? (7) - two vowels and all letters different

2. My company has something in the blood that causes pneumonia perhaps (10) - six consonants with one appearing twice, as does a among the vowels, and all letters otherwise different

3. Pompous official judge's first with spirit to support censure (10) - three vowels of which two are a, one consonant appearing twice and all other letters different

1. direct on left cvcccvc

2. direct on right cycvccvccv

3. direct on left cvccvcccvc

First and last letters in alphabetical order ALMMPW

Alright, I'll bite:

1. lockjaw (jock law)
2. my/co/plasma
3. pan/j/and/rum

Correctly bitten!
===[**CDM**]===

Mmmmmm….. thanks, Lex!

Monkeys without clothing I note (7)

Direct on the left. No e's. 3 vowels, of which 2 are the same.