Fresh ground

Across 1 ABCDEFGHIJKLM’s used to show what we’re made of (5) 6 Promises from fools about endless imprisonment (10) 9 Party regularly held by showier fete (6) 10 Revolutionary dropping conservative, heading away from the centre (6) 13 One angry clue, of this type (6) 14 Compare prices without, old bean (6) 16 It’s steeper for hot, wet leaves! (6) 18 Princess I’ve nearly returned to capital (6) 22 It’s a small apartment: dust all over before ten (6) 24 Team seized by regressive anger gets cure-all (6) 25 Type of 14’s a monkey, say? No (10) 26 Rule the Maori on the web (5)

Down 2 Cover up penetrating extremity and hand (6) 3 Become agreeable, if partly deficient (6) 4 Sees pros drunk (but not on this type of 14) (8) 5 Murdered a type of 14 (4) 7 Post for employees (5) 8 Sound of natural, loud noise (4) 11 Time in the evening for a 14 (5) 12 Confronted uplifting type of 14; doesn’t have the usual effect (5) 15 What wise people know about constant matters of belief (8) 17 First and last letters to investigator of Mexican Empire (5) 19 Type of dark film negative with iridium (4) 20 Some French penetrating spy unit (6) 21 Secure imperilled! (6) 23 Info from idiot (4)

            

Frost flowers

Across 1 Frost (say) result of freezing point in Labrador (say) (4) 3 Baby’s fat, soppy about standing? Not so (5) 7 Gold earrings for live-in nannies? (2,5) 9 Support is supplied during Fall (9) 11/26 Composer of “Prelude” and “The Fireman Likes Dancing” (9,9) 12 Acquire “Landfall” extract for Kevin, a 1 across (7) 13 “Poetic Depth” by Sam Cook (5) 14 Bill from male escort agency? (7) 15 He had a plum job, once (6) 17 Badinage (with the N crossed out) for James, a 1 across (6) 21 Article about narration (7) 23 Take off – from here? (5) 25 Hone tips from the unusual water-rush (7) 26 See 11 28 I’m a soldier, not one to like certain types of numbers, friends, or dragons (9) 29 Carelessly stacked a 1 across (1,1,5) 30 Exploratory vessel heading east to a 1 across (5) 31 Infection caught in first year (4)

Down 1 Basic political issue: scheme number 11? (5) 2 Discourse at length to one who lives abroad? Not right (9) 3 Menu of fare with fillet (5,4) 4 Church leader, prudish, at ease initially (7) 5 Submit to the crop? (5) 6 Uniform, electrically charged lines (6) 8 “It’s all about the vibes,” laments a Rolling Stone to audience (7) 9 My tea’s brewed to be spicy (6) 10 Blair disheartened Mr McEwan and hence Mr Turner, a 1 across (5) 16 I entrance marshal with fruit (9) 18 Element obtained from nacre is unstable (7) 19 Portray soldier and leader (not unconscious) (9) 20 With heavy steps, endure entering Cyprus (6) 21 Original measurements reverse conflict following a minor matter (3,4) 22 Thanks follow article from letter from abroad (5) 24 Decline to scrap (6) 25 The second offer secures one taker (5) 27 Artful tactic of a 25 down? (5)

                                                                 

For this is no ordinary son or daughter

The Circular Ruins

Across 1 Smoke is confusing Northerners (7) 7 To be full-bore, regularly; that’s what I’m after (4) 8 In these transports, you might rule the World! (6) 11 World realised in one of 18’s best longer works (4) 12 Wraps each island amazingly (10) 15 King’s directions to royal subjects, originally novices (8) 16 Against Pauline Réage’s protagonist: so might Harry Flashman or Don Quixote be described (8) 18 “2nd rate revels? I’m outta here!” – a realist (Harry Potter’s type, perhaps) (6) 19 Master Simpson’s all right as a composer (6) 23 Small idea? Emery edges away – may be experienced, in the main (3,2,3) 25 How to get “PETS” in the other type of clue: resign (4-4) 27 Knight breezed in, careless of speed (10) 29 Lover of Chopin and 18’s interminable book (4) 30 14 structure found in Brabant-le-Roi (6) 31 One might find a 14 one of these in 18’s garden (4) 32 The Cosmic Balance is on lines of 18’s imagined Paradise (7)

Down 2 Fearful feature of a big cat that needs to be put out? (8) 3 Fashionable dictator to bring about… (6) 4 …dutiful order? I tend to rebel (8) 5 Relative receding, and abruptly waving (10) 6/28 18’s avenger, Elmo Mead, united with Zhuangzi – what are the odds of that? (4,4) 9 In place of worship, I star (6) 10 I take in “The Edges of the Alphabet Puzzle” (4) 13 State of a Medical Association under a research centre (7) 14 Eating patriotically? (7) 17 Exercising pet on piano is unsuitable (10) 20 God sitting on Big Apple is problematic (6) 21 When I led fashion capital (3,5) 22 One who tries, timelessly, to mitigate (8) 24 Ogle King, reportedly (4) 26 18’s “abominable multiplier”, which “the Giftie gie us” (6) 28 See 6

                                                                 

I have another blog

Please have a look at my other blog, which is here: Māyā of Auckland

Eco-Logical

Across 1 Herbal tea, a popular blend (8) 2 Clean, as may happen to driftwood (4,2) 10 Nothing in ramshackle inn’s quite clean, not that it really matters (15) 11 Nettle perfume (7) 12 Young bird to pucker up when embracing Labour leader (5) 13 Slate a computer with a LAN backup to high-speed connection (6,5) 16 Vehicle knocked over junior editor (3) 17 Wise person’s inside knowledge (3) 18 Knowing better than to spoil a shared resource? (6,5) 22 Not quite deceiving Auguste (5) 24 Aunty is embellishing Western Australian Christmas tree (7) 25 For each child left in protection – and the young at heart, such as I (8,7) 27 Two guys? That’s decadent (6) 28 Say, I react badly to dairy product! (3,5)

Down 1 Paying more for the Upper Crust, perhaps due to the cold? (5,2) 2 Girl student embracing ICT, like Lisbeth Salander or Snow White (9) 3 A hedgehog’s type of screwdriver? (5) 4 Distribute cocaine to, like, two-thirds of the planet (7) 6 Articles about Italian city, or one in the US? (9) 7 A poetic form, for measuring lines of verse; maybe even this (5) 8 Prefect’s system of exercise (7) 9 Originally named routine for reversing vessel (6) 14 Mother mixing tonic with mashed core. (Apple, no doubt) (9) 15 Give weaponless fighters a hand? Almost (3) 16 Outlaw Pussy from Indian city (9) 17 Relating to a complex character? (7) 19 Handy guide (6) 20 Games, kinky? I comply! (7) 21 Add toxin? Bad omen, after almost having a reason to turn Green (7) 23 Proust’s lost in Upper Dublin (5) 25 Is it ‘cos I’m oddly lacking? – Cold, impassive? (5)

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Strangers in the night, exchanging glasses

Across 1 Irritated at purposeless resorts (8,5) 9 Good queen no fun until ravished (in a spirit of generosity) (13) 10 Headless battleaxe rent last bit of lace (5) 11 Wild dancing in a disco? Yes, at first (9) 12,20ac Children’s story character’s low – got wind eating herb (11) 14 “Plant with gas” – a 70s hit (8) 15 Stand back! No introduction required for superior (3) 16 Atlas is, for example, detailed about slope of mountain (8) 17 Remove parts of hollow log from Mysterious Island (6) 19 Ultimate qualification takes you as far as possible (3,6) 20 See 12 21 Creature known to 12 reportedly bigs up “Carry On” star (13) 22 Dark mystery dispelled by youthful expansiveness (6,7)

Down 2 A judge reflecting on time of maturity (5) 3 Just some Count I’d yearn to make promiscuous (6) 4 Opponents overthrow predator; Queen to decorate (8) 5 Hostile reviewer tellingly embraced Cromwell, say, as eternal optimist (9) 6 Mystery story I’ve endlessly indicated (3,4,2,4) 7 Mother (12’s?) hiding headgear, note, with greeting for spiritual leader (7,6) 8 Shrink Weird Al’s cyst with a phony additive (13) 9 Tear up label giving admission to lesson beside popular Edinburgh landmark (8,5) 13 I’m adding note after summary: “Not 100% accurate” (9) 14 Definition of concealed appendage (3) 15 Reptiles made observations, so to speak, of Lavender and Fleming (8) 18 Deity made chaps ethical? Nothing odd there (6) 20 Grasping implement to take to one’s archipelago (5)

PDF … 040814

There is no depression in New Zealand….

…and I like to think the GIANT MATARIKI CROSSWORD is in some small way a contributory factor! 😀

Across 1. Flying Nun rose to briefly aid explorers? In our dreams! (11) 7. Religious practitioner take note: 10 is like Able (6) 10. Alex G. used to indicate when we should gather to the chapel (4) 14. More chance of hurt feelings if mastery rejected and taken in by a woman (7) 15. Type of film in which supporter loses head to cheerleader (5) 16. First four seconds count – ranch-hands are embracing the Spider Woman! (7) 17. Also not without 31 (3) 18. Lie like a lounge room lizard to a friend backing enclosures as outstanding examples (13) 19. Gave lessons in any branch of learning, say? That goes without saying (9) 20. I get an encore! (5) 22. Chewed cud, joined with herd – an ersatz agrarian experience (4,5) 24. Break in servile gesture? Yes (3,3) 26. Paramilitaries infiltrated by intelligence service jerk – what a pain (8) 27. Meant old attire, worn to rags (14) 30. Puzzle of piston pursuing piquancy (7) 31. Roadie had rock musicians (9) 33. Do computers and perfect letter insertion make this symbol redundant? (5) 34. Late bird with no self belief is cast out (5) 36. She’s from a sober society infiltrated by intelligence service (9) 39. Flat I’d spin one around in (7) 41. Where better reception is obtained by rearranging letters (7,7) 43. Drive to let off energy stored in revolutionary cold fusion product (8) 45. Anchor me in beds seen at princes’ funerals (6) 46. Looker finding inspiration before unusual trees (9) 47. Yokel turning straw to spectacles (5) 50. Writer and investigator having great time at festival (9) 51. Use head-spring to ensure still sane? (6,7) 53. Loyal hearts change sides, exchanging loyal heart for diamonds – troublesome business (3) 54. Diet number ten? I’ll say goodbye (7) 55. Time to leave online nuisance (5) 56. In principle, fish unite (7) 57. Heavy gas found aboard small vessel (4) 58. A “sly fem” perhaps? (6) 59. Listless after shuddering orgasms? Drop party pill, and feast! (11)

Down 1. Acidic prophet, almost finished, was tragically drowned (7) 2. Scrub leaves dropping on the ground (11) 3. Dip quill, say (5) 4. Wisdom for heartless Darcy: “Try to achieve position of Overlord!” (8,8) 5. Strange about student leaving every other Sunday for a day in the Sun (8) 6. Wild wind alerts Zulu entering lair of Gnomes (11) 7. Heads, she speeds; tails, I hang on amidst ominous warnings (5) 8. Death reported of chap who croaked beneath bridge (6,8) 9. I transport American high flyer… (6) 11. …and French doctor keeps diary, in his mid-forties, for student of culture (11) 12. Get the chills from noisy psychedelic guru (5,2) 13. Scene in which neither parent appears! (8) 21. Hawthorne found on mountain that’s neither flat nor sharp (7) 23. If violently torn, I will explode (5) 25. Principal seizing cocaine? Sensational! (8,8) 26. Dogs like me (7) 28. Last moment rejection at 12 (7) 29. Supporter giving early cheer may signal end of impossible beliefs (9,5) 32. Paramilitaries held back by paramilitaries (3) 33. Fate of the French minute (7) 35. Chap left before tea to attend university like Oxbridge (11) 37. Carpenter may use this to increase tension! (5) 38. Fond of small charges; they’re less likely to make you cry bitter tears (5,6) 40. Clown hitting chap endlessly, just short of midnight (11) 42. Hypothetically, where you’d look for G-spot during an orgy (2,6) 44. Watery fluids and slippery one general returned to inner court (8) 45. Young dude follows policeman to imitation of a 25 offence (7) 48. Like the cat in “Shake, rattle and roll”, able to look at a King (of the Land of the Long White Sticks?) – but only just! (3,4) 49. Diarist unlikely to appear in “Midsomer Murders” (6) 51. Tom Foolery‘s central riff (5) 52. Vegetables, say, found during half a year at sea! (5)

                                                                           

A form of embroidery

Across 1. Watched over small spacecraft? (4-3) 5. Impressionistic 27, about 50, to join my Roman star cartographer (7) 10. 27 King in unsuitable accommodation (4) 11. Dissolution of life counts as the most dramatic departure (10) 12. Magician’s no-shower (6) 13. One of 3 heads victoriously removed – half way to virtue, but only half! (8) 14. Thumper spirits insect away from doe’s head (9) 16. Supposedly, baby carrier supporter exchanged one metal for another (5) 17. Perhaps amphibians originated within the Cat’s Paw nebula (5) 19. Computer control programme swings either way, with a bit of fetishism? (Yes, you’ll need virus protection!) (9) 23. Bag used by lady copper during bathroom revamp (8) 24. All mod cons except the last may be made into a manhole cover (6) 26. A chemical reaction with nitrogen? Boring! (10) 27. Frost, say, resulting from freezing point in (for example) Labrador (4) 28. The power of persistence? (7) 29. Leave when tipple’s exhausted (4,3)

Down 2. It’s worth a lot to take in friend, right? (I don’t get paid for this, you know) (7) 3. You’ll take both ends and place them around a work by 27 to make a sound like Tarzan (5) 4. Initially, Pinaceae Abies could be found in middle parts of coat stand (2,5) 6. Get good vibes from cask and what comes in a stein (4,2) 7. Like 27 in this crossword, it’s in the French word “whether” (9) 8. French star cartographer, relatively untidy (7) 9. A form of embroidery used by 27 (6,7) 15. Over emotionally damaged ilk and shy, following mother’s lead (9) 18. Stop the spin doctors’ show! (7) 20. Man of the world rushes back with full heart, at heart (7) 21. Is 27 a god of Vichy water? (7) 22. “Make a surprise attack between 6 and 29” – Marshall’s advice (4,2) 25. Plump Finn regularly performing reverse of acrobatic spring (3-2)

PDF … Embroidery

An accidental crossword…

…see comments for the sorry tale.

Across 1 Note king chasing cleric westward to get powdered 23 (9) 6 Thanks dads for appetisers (5) 9 Refuse to be terrible in conversation (5) 10 Employed staff to influence storm (9) 11 Ode to Lorna, novel writer and all-round genius (8) 12 Time to record Scottish exclamation? (5) 14 Horrified to find that Silver has Tonto’s head (6) 15 Uncle, say, has right to happiness (8) 16 Swiftean work of satire? Definitely! (3) 17 Fortified by a short dash, perhaps (8) 19 Indigenous person to echo Oscar: “Move lightly in between!” (6) 22 Chairman pushing Bible study for indigenous people (5) 23 HagS without a verbal prohibition to evildoers (8) 25 Worry over misplaced emphasis (6,3) 26 Head of poem? Tail of poem? Tibetan lake! (5) 27 Family took drug to become shapely (5) 28 Replaces drink factories (9)

Down 1 Instrument I’ve hidden in book (4) 2 Training for new student in the act of seeking advice (9,6) 3 Rocks net aboard space station (7) 4 Centre seeking location of patient (6) 5 Squeezed, so liquid gold flowed uphill (8) 6 Fabric used to make raised fat cheese (7) 7 Epitome of erotica in Spin Doctor (15) 8 Rocket scientist cried foul in a 15 ac (10) 13 Was “Singing in the Rain” written for King George? (5,5) 15 Two-tone description of nature’s projections (3) 16 They tend to respond concerning those who do (8) 18 Lawbreakers making TV appearance for a deep singular 24 of 15 dn (7) 20 Remove pate with letter opener (7) 21 How part of foot marches? (6) 24 Chaucer’s uneven shades (4)

PDF – Accidental

Unlatch the door and scratch holes in the night

The title is from a song by the magnificent, luminous Pete Sinfield, best known, I imagine, as the lyricist for the early King Crimson, a wayward jazz/rock band that had quite an influence on my childhood in the years before punk rock came along and blew everything upside down and inside out.

But enough about me. Here’s another crossword.

Across 1 “2nd rate revels? I’m outta here!” – a realist (perhaps 25’s type) (6) 5 Vicious sort of argument for a flyer (8) 9 See 11 10 Spoils marsupials’ pubs, I’m told (5) 11,9 1’s avenger in labyrinth, nearly swallowed by flightless bird near home of many such (4,4) 12 Repent around lunchtime (5) 13 The Cosmic Balance is on lines of 1’s imagined Paradise (7) 16 Youngster relishing third conjunction of tongues (5) 17 Henchman’s been stolen, according to report (7) 19 Target audience for “C’mon, baby, do the Locomotion” ? (7) 21 Drug one eschewed to obtain long-legged colonist (5) 24 Eating patriotically? (7) 25 Dumbledore, perhaps, to add 32ed silver infusion (5) 28 1’s interminable book found on The Strand (4) 29 Methods of getting to secretary; so non-U (5) 30 World realised in one of 1’s best longer works (4) 31 Fearful feature of cat (one that needs to be put out, I hear!) (8) 32 1’s abominable multiplier, which “the Giftie gie us” (6)

Down 2 We have operation before work (4) 3 Journal of edgy letters owned by magnate; almost first edition (7) 4 Knight and three Cardinals, with hooters (6) 5 Metals one returned to marked killer (4) 6 Start with one guy, add some more – Boris and Yuri, perhaps? (8) 7 Discover secret of Fantastic Mr Fox (7) 8 Regard an art idiom with perplexity (10) 14 Warning: Grant ate 10 tuna (10) 15 Nanny missing point of Ancient Greek centre (5) 18 Ensure weed takes root, in here perhaps (5,3) 20 Outmoded UK territory? (7) 22 Circle around the Ball, as in a 32 of habit (7) 23 Don’t answer, I’m all over the place (6) 26 Break prop (4) 27 Party, party like you’ll soon be dead as! (4)

                                                                           

Coffee break!

Across 1 70s, single, without love and dates, gave toast (3,4,3,5) 8 Yellow bounder: “I heart mum!” (7) 10 Copying, though not to a ‘T’ (5) 11 May follow Marx or Capital (3) 12 Ne’er has Dr Who alien been ancient one (11) 13 Band leader Thomas is right in the frame (5) 14 Anklet used to settle account with Einstein (5) 15 Will had much for one party (3) 16 Hose fault featured in cricket (3) 17 Thus, limit of Hamlet’s flesh (5) 18 Instant model gets food… (5) 19 …telegram follows: DONE WITH BIBLE CLASS. “Take it back!” “I can’t!” (11) 22 Chop, behead, masticate! (3) 23 Back Arab able to hide elephant (5) 24 Return sacred syllable to free a 14 dn (7) 25 Sufi gives clue for “shrived” (8,7)

Down 1 Force peace-loving type of warrior to imprison head of state in Thomas’ work (8,7) 2 What Boccaccio wrote of French P.M. (9) 3 Chip-in time for Heather (5) 4 Overactor’s a witty endorsement for spirit (9) 5 Bolt as the French Bishop returns (7) 6 Hot water’s rising for Piaf (5) 7 Riotous howlers by longtime fan of bad spelling (5,10) 9,15 Divine comedian Hergé, Italian? I’d say otherwise (5,9) 14 After cutback, Ötzi becomes Bobby (9) 17 Quite a few are cut off, Einstein! (7) 18 Hollow treat containing short message (5) 20 Hopper detailed to become priest (5) 21 Captured? Escape with a Mighty One! (5)

PDF version

Just another crossword

Not particular themey this time, and not based around one particularly abstruse clue … (but I hope still fun) 🙂

Across 1 Cambric and lead accommodate what may be called guttering (6) 4 How I got into talk earlier? That’s The $64,000 Question! (8) 10 Mars Rover: not a restorer? (9) 11 Disreputable scion of prickly hero (5) 12 State in which there’s no mind, primarily (4) 13 Roughly sum up hi-fi enthusiast (10) 15 Tested composition of recently created currency? (7) 16 Trauma follows the French militiaman from 6 (6) 19 Accommodation for journalists investigating the Shard (6) 21 Covering everything? (7) 23 Idiot ruled without being sent elsewhere (10) 25 Doctor’s assistant heads into garden of remembrance (4) 27 Bishop kept in animal accommodation made his mark (5) 28 Provides most accommodation (using these?) (9) 29 Orbital imagers resolve model sandals! (8) 30 Plaster covering cuts, backed by cotton tips (6)

Down 1 County nurse swans by to get contents of ears (8) 2 Relative’s remote about atomic scale (9) 3 Start to evolve … back into baby? (4) 5 Like “The Luminaries” – gold rush heading to Roberts (7) 6 Godfather and adversary reflect about a good man, where the best is like the worst (4,2,4) 7 Healthy extremities can be useful (5) 8 Cool, like a 1 ac? (6) 9 Medication makes broadcaster lose rotundity (6) 14 Whoo! Presley’s Throwers regularly play this! (10) 17 Cure for a pain in the bum? (9) 18 Coal fires burning? No, I eat out (8) 20 But 26 toppled a tower! (3,4) 21 Not that remote from lifting a vow of silence (6) 22 With popular support, Queen returns to the country (6) 24 Covering article about street-walker (5) 26 Enthusiastically attack butter (4)

PDF version

-e to the power of i times π

Across 8 Tolerate trim wildcat for a 1 (8) 9 Almost startled to hear wee calculator (6) 10 Bill singularly objects to an entrance of mine (4) 11 Inventor of a type of 1 has diamond riding crop (10) 12 Remove offensive content from organ, say (6) 14 A couple of places where this might be heard (but only if they’re 1 ones!) (3,5) 15 1’s two times a lady (4) 17 “It’s a 1 for the shows!” (5) 18 Argue with opinion (4) 19 A 1 later overturned in court (8) 20 Pilots of Thunderbirds? Ace chaps to have around! (6) 22 Expert’s dissertation on e.g. a dental 1 (10) 23 Pen cross letter to gloomy 3? (4) 24 The whole lot’s eaten by a friend of Dorothy! (2,4) 25 After 1, they positively ascend (8)

Down 1 Middle eight in “The Lady in Red” (Chinese version) ? (6) 2 Measure a type of 1 (4) 3 About to gobble up cream (6) 4 Careworn sophist failing to revere the dead (8,7) 5 Cutting edge sound effect during wash cycle (3-5) 6 Might one be permitted to use a beam and pivot to move a type of 1? (10) 7 Could become inflamed (like a 1, perhaps?) (8) 13 A type of 1 is, in other words, stolen from Susie at the boarding house (10) 16 A type of partner (not 1) knocks back the band (8) 17 Coin half broken by something like a scimitar (8) 20 Potential purchaser of 8 1 gets less grand possessions (6) 21 Gloomy pessimist good at dropping 23ac, say, from a 1 (6) 23 Decline a central character from “The 1” (4)

→ PDF . . . 130214 ←

PS I like to flatter myself that the late, great John Galbraith Graham might have enjoyed this one.

Well, here’s another clue for you all…

This is something I picked up from John Lewis*

Across 9 Edgar Allan Poe kicking Glad about (see how she flies!) (9) 10 Submit oneself to being crisp, firm and healthy (5) 11 See 6 dn 12 It perforates gut, feeling around extremity with head up backside (4,5) 13 Country heads towards middle ground; deal ends in a period of heightened tension (4,3) 14 Angle zip makes with rifle (3-4) 17 Only driven occasionally; hit once (5) 19 Will’s prince who refused to open doors? (3) 20 What you get from standing in the English rain: very hoarse, say, by end (5) 21 A demonstration of needling, giving one for one, is relatively easy (7) 22 In that musical instrument’s dropped fourth harmonic (7) 24 I am the Walrus? (9) 26 Didactic start and over-ironic endings, like many a column (5) 28 I am the eggman! (5) 29 Rio Tinto initially leaking “yellow matter” before protest group (5,4)

Down 1 Hamburger agreeing to join gym for a joke (4) 2 Heartless botanist skinned walrus; uncommonly harsh (6) 3 It’s important in an emergency to not harm influential person (5,5) 4 Hastier strip (6) 5 “I’ve had enough of ‘ringing’ fat-headed, uptight, lawless leaders…” (8) 6,11 “…and I am NOT the Walrus!” (Nurse keeps restrained) (9) 7 Overturning not-so-elementary penguin, with diamonds (8) 8 Where the dead lie (4) 13 Confines pigs with nothing to eat (5) 15 Once you strayed, sadly, to original sin; such occasions define our past (10) 16 Heard concealed source of music (5) 18 Got dirt on heavy metal – hidden backwards: “Destroy bishop for evil god!” (8) 19 Writer without PC to get printout (4,4) 22 Twice set about biting fly (6) 23 Sometime flyer earns wings with no help from Poles (6) 24 Rodent without small pout (4) 25 Mere rodent brought up? No (4) 27 Fetching beginners to climb up Tour Eiffel (4)

*John Lewis is a UK department store … but I was thinking of Lennon and Carroll.

                                                                            

Hall of mirrors

This is a slightly unusual grid that I got from The Guardian
(it was used for cryptic puzzle no 26124 by ‘Nutmeg’).

Across 1. Was once sweet, but is now prime (9) 9. Smear around scented water on chest (6) 10. Trousers can be used to redirect unwanted fluid (9) 11. Sticks to English county (6) 12. Start game of pool quickly, or make a meal of it? (9) 13. Aimless decision by referee (2,4) 17. Heard son earlier (3) 19. Care for railway and greenhouse (7) 20. Spar from wreck of steel whaler’s hull (7) 21. Heard Cockney cast as First Lady (3) 23. Rang for ma, headed off to get nanny (6) 27. Put off backing over quaint interior, and passed it on (9) 28. Cave right in to German leader, e.g. Bismarck (6) 29. Diseased amateur injected, gets bent back (9) 30. Team of nature spirits guards base (6) 31. Sentimental proposal to lay in a type of ale with no head (9)

Down 2. Fears headless misses (6) 3. Recording I almost describe as like Lord of the Rings (6) 4. Offer advice if I say that will be representative (6) 5. Whistle blower was an enigma (7) 6. Short underwear suggested for logician (4,5) 7. Throws wobbly about Galadriel’s evaluation of singular 8 (4-5) 8. Nature spirits we own have us finally surrounded – us! (9) 14. Treebeard tried for promotion, got too deeply involved (9) 15. Forecasts for grand organs (9) 16. Engaged in hotter action in bed (9) 17. Heard half a lemur? I see (3) 18. Heard solver, or heard member? So I heard (3) 22. Volcano is central to energy production of Asian republic (7) 24. It’s dim to fool about, wild-heart! (6) 25. Sticker for clever stand-up shows (6) 26. Wilder With Virginia Lake (6)

PDF … xw26124

“She’s getting more fiendish, in my opinion!”

I hope this does nothing to change that opinion. 😀

Across 9. “Eating doughnuts” – a clip, surprisingly well illustrated (9) 10. Like many, I have a standard encoding (5) 11. Florist circled oddly to obtain a drink (7) 12. Urban area giving clue for … Ow! (7) 13. Consumed, consumed, consumed by unmarried men (5) 14. Many blame senseless last item entering agreement (9) 16. Performed occasionally? (10,5) 19. A fighter, artist and politician, like the Arctic Tern (9) 21. “Yes, pal, go west” – ex-president (5) 22. A sorceress loses love to a roundabout arrangement (7) 23. Obscure blubber with short measure (7) 24. Freedom for commercials? (I just made that up) (2,3) 25. Music with haunting refrain? (9)

Down 1. “Swapped rounds from his severance!” (10) 2. A clue requires original study to interpret correctly (8) 3. Leave before drink leads to decline (2,4) 4. Nearly rest upon what’s used for relief work (4) 5. Tossed in meal tray – it’s good for you (10) 6. Imagine doctor is in, yes? … to probe blockage (8) 7. Type of power sent to sea at top of first column (6) 8. Ordered to prostrate yourself for king (4) 14. Finds final comfort in design of a square (10) 15. Visit everyone with fizzy cola (sic) earlier (6,4) 17. Attack withdrawal of assistance from small group (8) 18. True to basis of revolution, hides a spoiler (8) 20. Heartless young woman confounded lady with a will (6) 21. It’s clear lady has it after work (3-3) 22. One container’s open (4) 23. Elegant young lady, almost (4)

PDF version .. GX26116

Bottoms up!

Across 1. Mine get rough tonight for a portrayer of 9 (9) 6. Preserve, specifically, 9’s companion (5) 9. Programme every third mud burrower to laugh (2,3) 10. Ate much junk? Herein my prognosis (9) 11. Peace and majesty bestowed upon amphibian (10) 12. Porridge ingredient hot? My word! (4) 14. £1 in change to service receivers (7) 15. Briggs’ creation, currently wearing S&M article… (7) 17. …meanders to our empty House (7) 19. Shows Dot’s follower amongst seats (7) 20. Containers head to terminus on this day of the month (4) 22. An explosive device in a male ungulate sounds ghastly (10) 25. She talked about getting legless 23 of 9 (3,6) 26. Feel what body-building G-string aspires to! (5) 27. Tupelo found in Tony’s saloon (5) 28. Misbehave constantly (not half!) like a snake (9)

Down 1. Deist suffering regular ups and downs… (5) 2. …or very much in a troubled state; control would be a good example (9) 3. Neologisms cured the blues! (10) 4. Darker skin colour in fatty tissue reflecting muscular condition (7) 5. Colour found between ends of nameless songs (7) 6. Take successors to first 3 members of INXS to find delights (4) 7. 9 creature is son of deity (5) 8. Trumpeters’ toneless call to colonists (9) 13. Marilyn almost embraces writer returning to European country (10) 14. “Author! Author!” (9) 16. Show rear, a turn-on with tip of shiny footwear (4,5) 18. Roy’s mistaken to say they run takeaways? (7) 19. E.g. Maggie’s active in pursuit of little rascals (7) 21. Voice gives away origins (5) 23. Dash with Dot’s aunt to meet unknown antagonist (5) 24. Infant pop art movement (4)

I Should Have Known Better…

….but I made up another crossword anyway.

Across 1. Conveyance with two-stroke engine (7) 5. Hot, hot, hot high heels worn by Bret Easton (7) 9. Am I going to start for China? (5) 10. Requisition make up from nuns (5,4) 11. Shelley claimed to be “One Imperfect Allegorist” (10) 12. 17 goddess with power to char… (4) 14. …three pines, from which we get a 21 by a 1 down (4,4,4) 18. Ring leads Bilbo to dance around commercial estate (say) to a bouncy tune (2-2-2,2-2-2) 21. Boy George initially produces 18, for example (4) 22. Odd point, being made to pay to be at liberty (10) 25. Edgar – or William – rubs deviously around bully (9) 26. Maori tribe left twice to get a 21 by a 1 down (1,4) 27. Basic principle of detective show: eliminate three characters (7) 28. Took aim at saw (7)

Down 1. Be at least partly ex-prefab (6) 2. 24th 27 in 32nd? Wince! (6) 3. To oppose Cecil, say, would be a turning point (10) 4. When pre-gay, she bombed (5) 5. Surface designed to lift Henry’s margins; he’s lifted 19 (9) 6. Instrument sounds somewhat unreliable (4) 7. Not the Declaration of Independence! (1,4,3) 8. Site of record-breaking respectful imitation (8) 13. Gay feigned conversion to claim for skin care product (3,7) 15. Dr Who alien close behind in great prequel to “The Arms of Morpheus” (4,5) 16. Finding unnatural bliss in mystery writer is conceivable (8) 17. Do loners put out tongue once? (3,5) 19. Nation struggling to obtain oil… (6) 20. …plus light’s gone off (6) 23. Band used after ring (5) 24. Your “soul” requirement? (4)

Grrls just wanna have fun

Enjoy! 😀

Across 1 Pilot meets returning aliens; smart alec said flipping vast assemblage (13) 9 Expose to radiation, a dangerous setback for a 1 (8) 10 Foolish swine follow, you say, like fools? (6) 12 Bootless boss lost in my coat of many colours (6) 13 Usual cry of disgust over beheading ceremony (8) 15 New star taking a dip in drink returns to a 1 (7) 16 “Love rock?” (4) 19 He returns a 1 to the “Lazy Z” (4) 20 Separate ewes from rams (and whales) for a 1 (7) 23 Theologian finds Christian (Sir Richard) in river (8) 24 Swine’s first to be a pig? (6) 26 Violas played for Royal Family (6) 27 Cool body for each tower (8) 28 Pre-emptive closure from sparkling wine (tut!) and close friend (French) (1,6,2,4)

Down 2 East Ender: “Hope he swallowed drug!” (6) 3 Suited traveller to say: “Stop crowding me, dude, I need some ___, __!” (8) 4 Picket Uist, just in case (4) 5 Einstein has sources stolen, sadly; it’s settled in court (6) 6 Even tofu, fairly, has a small part in “This Is Your Life” (8) 7 Lock keeper went about with a greeting for every sailor at first (9,4) 8 Triumphs of style over substance in bestseller “Le Toff” ? (6-7) 11 Gomez’s cousin appears in epic 1 (7) 14 Deer departed, I hear, to go to rest (4,3) 17 He’s hiding cash-back, is labourer (8) 18 Support loose dentures (8) 21 Wearable bomb site? (6) 22 Ridiculous hesitation heard in “Hair” (6) 25 Re one dancing on pinhead: it was angel (4)

“The London Underground is not a political movement!”

(“A fish called Wanda”)

Another attempt, I hope well polished.

Across 9. An overdue encoding – to Morse, perhaps (9) 10. Copper found in the Spanish place (5) 11. Change when afternoon begins? (5) 12. Repay trip organised to faraway destination? (9) 13. Sabotage public relations exercise (7) 14. Bloom’s famous last word (7) 17. Beat journalist: “Like lift music!” (5) 19. Reddish-brown bark (3) 20. One to transport, on a bearing of 90 degrees (5) 21. Long ago, when Miss Gale arrived in Oz? (4,3) 22. See 4 24. Spouting her oral rubbish without a word of approval (9) 26. Capital M contained by Spanish knight’s leaders (5) 28. Girl returned after 6 to get old records (5) 29. Unbounded, as ability is to capability (9)

Down 1. See 6 2. Religiously follow point of billboard (6) 3. He heard dad resolve to be pragmatic (10) 4, 22ac. Tavern owner, almost irritable, edges away from hands-on Champ (4,2,7) 5. Possession of a real beverage, so they say (8) 6, 1. Herbal medicine is spread around love area (4,4) 7. Game with rapid hand movement? (8) 8. See the unknown after clairvoyance, perhaps (4) 13, 24. Crush tailless insect against baseless support with endless anger (5,4) 15. Child from P.O.W. camp found in cave… (10) 16. …imp is dreambound, oddly (5) 18. Intended course chap pursues to become loud and mournful (8) 19. “Slightly cold” – said spitefully (8) 22. Mild exclamation after sea creature proves to be cold and damp (6) 23. Spanish knight almost sounds like his squire’s mount (6) 24. See 13 25. Part of model organisation backed type of model (4) 27. Equating potassium with sulphur will get you a smack! (4)