No 2645, Sunday 31 Jul 11

ACROSS
1   - Win and celebrate (7) - TRIUMPH [DD]
5   - Popular - word describing one caretaker (7) - {IN}{TER{I}M} INTERIM
9   - Report coarse players (9) - {BROAD}{CAST} BROADCAST
10 - Awkward drunk (5) - TIGHT [DD]
11 - Commercial outlet in period before Christmas (6) - {AD}{VENT} ADVENT
12 - Viceroy, first to knock male club that's disreputable (7) - {K}{HE}{DIVE} KHEDIVE
14 - Poisonous plant, British, brought in by her boy (4,11) - {HER}{B} {CHRISTOPHER} HERB CHRISTOPHER

16 - Columbian one, one drunk very rarely (4,2,1,4,4) - ONCE IN A BLUE MOON*
19 - A giant, swine holding queue back (7) - {GO{LIAT<-}H<-} GOLIATH
20 - Say name of Island (6) - {STATE}{N} STATEN
23 - Love huge Greek character (5) - {O}{MEGA} OMEGA
24 - Not connected by marriage, a Parisian's told (9) - {UN}{RELATED} UNRELATED
25 - Swing - net added to facility, reportedly (7) - {TRAP}{EZE}(~ease) TRAPEZE
26 - Where youngsters play could make one spit, perhaps (7) - SANDPIT [DD]
DOWN
1   - Punch's dog in play about bishop (4) - {TO{B}Y} TOBY
2   - Appropriate batting line-up (2,5) - IN ORDER [DD]
3   - Fly military aircraft across Germany and Spain (5) - {MI{D}G}{E} MIDGE

4   - Sadness shown by audience coming from play (10,5) - {HEARTBREAK} {HOUSE} HEARTBREAK HOUSE
5   - Saying last rites, talk so differently (2,5,3,5) - IT TAKES ALL SORTS*
6   - Main part, perhaps, I retell to comic (5,4) - TITLE ROLE*
7   - Is lying in light rough that's deceiving (7) - {ROGU{IS}H*} ROUGISH
8   - Old French president needing hand with job (10) - {MITT}{ERRAND} MITTERRAND
13 - Rejected, we hear, in every part (10) - (~threw out)THROUGHOUT
15 - A new chair vandalised, and crockery? (9) - CHINAWARE*
17 - Yorkshire river passing over a large crater (7) - {CALDER}{A} CALDERA

18 - Dance on stage, saving energy (3-4) - ONE-STEP Anno pending (Addendum {ON}{E}-{STEP} - See comments)
21 - Ready to drop a couple of lines home (3,2) - {A}{LL} {IN} ALL IN
22 - This may turn up? Correct (4) - EDIT <-

GRID

No 10220, Saturday 30 Jul 11, Gridman

It's Manna from Monday :-(
ACROSS

1   - Podgy, poorly fashioned lady is disheartened (4-4) - {ROLY-PO*}{LadY} ROLY-POLY

5   - Chance to drink after a drunkard's back (4-2) - {TOS<-}{S-UP} TOSS-UP

10 - One to set the pros and cons (7) - DEBATER [CD]

11 - Champion, somewhat taut within, is to set in motion (7) - {AC{TUAT*}E} ACTUATE

12 - Please with blog that is all-crazy? (6) - (blog+ie) OBLIGE*

13 - Nothing left? On the contrary! (3,5) - {ALL} {RIGHT} ALL RIGHT

15 - Miss West, in retreat, taking cross-examination (4) - {E{X}AM<-} EXAM

16 - Where people are relatively in conflict (6,4) - FAMILY FEUD [CD] 

SEE THIS CARTOON

18 - Hindi gents all out for a prospective conclusion (3,2,5) - END IN SIGHT*

20 - Signal to leave no good (4) - {GO}{N}{G} GONG

23 - Plant crazy Cynthia in fashion centre (8) - {HYACINT*}{H} HYACINTH

24 - Deserter's tasteless articles knock (3-3) - {RAT}-TAT Anno pending (Addendum - See comments for meaning of TAT)  RAT-TAT

26 - Elderly relative eager for fabric (7) - {NAN}{KEEN} NANKEEN

27 - Routine extremely apparent in Gir, for one (7) - {HABIT}{A)(T} HABITAT

28 - Spiritual head at one leading retreat begins examining Mad speciality (6) - {S}{AT}{I}{R}{E} SATIRE

29 - Boss's stratagem in mere modification (8) - {EM{PLOY}ER*} EMPLOYER

DOWN

1   - Hot deal pioneers made for walkie-talkies (5,10) - RADIO TELEPHONES*

2   - Plant all I gathered around honour (7) - {L{OBE}LIA*} LOBELIA

3   - Thick soup — loses heart for thick soup (6) - POTtAGE Anno pending POTAGE

4   - Money for one rebel leader in U.S. city (4) - {L{I}{R}A} LIRA

6   - Babu must work if these are to fill up (3-5) - OUT-TRAYS [CD]

7   - Decoration for special fish (7) - {SP}{ANGLE} SPANGLE

8   - He conjures up loan for one unit by American eminence (15) - {PREST}{I}{DIGIT}{A}{TOR} PRESTIDIGITATOR

9   - Shadow, insubstantial, is at the rear end of car (4,5) - {TAIL} {LIGHT} TAIL LIGHT What I desperately need for my 1956 model FIAT. See photo below. Thanks to Gridman for giving me an opportunity to put my WANTED ad here!

14 - What a mischief-maker has in mind (3,6) - BAD INTENT [CD]

17 - Greene in rejigged manoeuvre (8) - ENGINEER*

19 - Daughter's garnet tangled in fishing device (7) - {D}{RAGNET*} DRAGNET

21 - Last longer completely with good man — yes! (7) - {OUT}{ST}{AY} OUTSTAY

22 - Have fun with doctor in prison (6) - {GA{MB}OL} GAMBOL

25 - Unnamed others in fort he manned (4) - THEM [T]

GRID

No 10219, Friday, 29 Jul 11, Gridman

ACROSS

1   - Dashing Russian woman footloose in middle age (7) - {R}{USHa}{IN}{aGe} RUSHING

5   - Loud knocker not finishing iced drink (6) - {F}{RAPPEr} FRAPPE

9   - Dog and animal doctor failing to complete turn (5) - {CUR}{VEt} CURVE

10 - Withdrawal from engineers' meeting announced (9) - {RE}{CESSION}(~session) RECESSION

11 - Courses of artist's instruments Poles removed (7) - {RA}{VIOLIns} RAVIOLI

12 - Supreme Court's cheer dissolved in sound of brakes (7) - {SC}{CREECH*} SCREECH

13 - Piece of land in motel site facing eastwards (5) - ISLET <-

14 - Keep the distance from old loofah that's dirty (4,5) - HOLD ALOOF*

16 - What you do when you retire (2,2,5) - GO TO SLEEP

19 - After endless tiff, station master gets twitch (5) - {SPAt}{SM} SPASM

21 - They report fresh Poles are going around the Middle East (7) - {NEW}{S{ME}N} NEWSMEN

23 - South Indian father to hang on edge-torn dress (7) - {APPA}{RELy} APPAREL

24 - Proverbially it catches worms (5,4) - EARLY BIRD [CD]

25 - Act in three quarters to settle (5) - {E}{N}{DO}{W} ENDOW

26 - A safety-first desi edited remarks we're not supposed to hear (6) - {A}{S}{IDES*} ASIDES

27 - Tolerate topless Eastern Railway's group of unpleasant people (7) - {bROOK}{E}{RY} ROOKERY

DOWN

1   - Deed writer that Abou Ben Adhem encountered (9,5) - RECORDING ANGEL [CD]

2   - Confess learner is dry (7) - {SHRIVE}{L} SHRIVEL

3   - Winter vehicle (7) - ICEBOAT [E]

4   - One who is stopped from paying debt here gains required letters (9) - GARNISHEE* New word for me

5   - Flying Officer's incomplete oath is the main concern (5) - {FO}{CUSs} FOCUS

6   - A scholar leaves one country for another (7) - AUSTRalIA AUSTRIA

7   - Book on no new card game (7) - {PRIMER}{On} PRIMERO

8   - When a woman is expectant (2,3,6,3) - IN THE FAMILY WAY  [CD]

15 - A member of a Finnic people, friend recalled space vehicle (9) - {LAP<-}{LANDER} LAPLANDER

17 - In the direction of hospital rooms (7) - {TO}{WARDS} TOWARDS

18 - Dog uncle and Scottish grandchild to end of Peterhead (7) - {SAM}{OYE}{D} SAMOYED

19 - Boss to drink more furiously (7) - {SUP}{REMO*} SUPREMO

20 - Cut a kind of loan (7) - {A}{BRIDGE} ABRIDGE

22 - Exemplar of slowness shifted small fasteners (5) - (-s)NAIL(+s)S NAILS

Photographs of Veer and his family

GRID

No 10218, Thursday 28 Jul 11, Gridman

ACROSS

1   - Somehow relate Government Officer to substitute (5,3) - {ALTER E*}{GO} ALTER EGO Government Order would have been better

5   - A little lower? (6) - HEIFER [CD]

9   - Bird gets information back in ace's place (7) - {COCK}{PIT<-} COCKPIT

 

10 - Factor big name in fashion having Latin power (7) - {DI{VIS}OR} DIVISOR

11 - Emile isn't worried about bookkeeping entries (4,5) - LINE ITEMS*

12 - A team boy from pole to pole (5) - {A}{XI}{AL} AXIAL

13 - Conduit of the French court (4) - {DU}{CT} DUCT

14 - Indian magazine's leading position (9) - FRONTLINE [DD]

17 - Examples in postures (9) - {IN}{STANCES} INSTANCES

19 - Hot flower in the Shimla valley? (4) - LAVA [T]

23 - Opposition leader's grim about smell (5) - {O}{DOUR} ODOUR

24 - Query that will get you the location of a thing (5,2,2) - WHERE IS IT [E]

25 - Small rooms — the Spanish stay at last in a slack manner (7) - {LOOS}{EL}{Y} LOOSELY

26 - Labour of a number in course (7) - {TR{A}{V}AIL} TRAVAIL

27 - Proverb, for example, in Gujarat's capital (6) - {SAY}{IN}{G} SAYING

28 - Lied about Sen's wrong — doing nothing (8) - IDLENESS*

DOWN

1   - Drink Cade distributed around gets praise (8) - {AC{COLA}DE*} ACCOLADE

2   - Skill in private investigator's chinwagging (7) - {TEC}{HNIC*} TECHNIC

3   - To go for mend (6) - REPAIR [DD]

4   - If you do, you can't reach the destination (2,3,5,3) - GO THE WRONG WAY [CD]

6   - Bali, even loose, is worthy of being desired (8) - ENVIABLE*

7   - Girl's short hit on style (7) - {FA'S}{HIt}{ON} FASHION

8   - Artist and engineer extremely lucky — not often (6) - {RA}{RE}{LuckY} RARELY

10 - Just tenderised its pieces (13) - DISINTERESTED*

15 - Doctor eating piece of tasty fish (8) - {S{T}URGEON} STURGEON

16 - Saul unit fixed old ship (8) - NAUTILUS*

18 - Word that is by no means old (7) - NEOLOGY [CD]

20 - Moderate, you heard, is in rub-down, not Mass (7) - {mASS{U}AGE} ASSUAGE

21 - Dogs lose a bit of patience? Lots! (6) - pOODLES OODLES

22 - Gale blows during training raising hair (6) - {PE}{LAGE*} (Addendum - {P{ELAG*}E} - See comments) PELAGE

GRID

No 10217, Wednesday 27 Jul 11, Gridman

ACROSS

1   - Being fond, yearned after a race (8) - {A}{TT}{ACHED} ATTACHED

6   - Watering-hole to circle around (4) - LOOP <-

9   - Kudos showered on the first to unlock puzzle (6) - {SUDOK*}{U} SUDOKU

10 - Thinking, I leave for primarily easy job (7) - OP(-i+e)ENING OPENING

13 - With this, one's possessed (9) - OWNERSHIP [CD]

14 - Yawn from little boy at end of term (5) - {CH}AS{M} Anno pending(Addendum - {CHAS}{M} - See comments) CHASM

15 - Then approval's back for milk source (4) - {SO}{AY<-} SOYA

16 - With such a budget you can't get designer footwear (10) - SHOESTRING [CD]

19 - Letter may come calling with this (4,6) - RENT DEMAND [CD]

21 - Pole makes ship commander drop hesitation (4) - MASTer MAST

24 - Credit to Oriental ship bringing vegetable (5) - {CR}{E}{SS} CRESS

25 - Slow journalist's mean to a learner (9) - {SUB}{NORM}{A}{L} SUBNORMAL

26 - Light in fine, rich fabric (7) - {IN}{F}{LAME} INFLAME

27 - I am inclined to accept newbie's first plan (6) - {I}{N}{TEND} INTEND

28 - Drag, without power, named useless (4) - (-p+n) NULL

29 - Binding bandage (8) - LIGATURE [DD]

DOWN

2   - Team leader doesn't begin travel to competition (7) - {T}{jOURNEY} TOURNEY

3   - Inside a panel (6) - {A}{BOARD} ABOARD

4   - Huh! No hymn put out for a novel horse race (9) -  HOUYHNHNM*

5   - Wilt as daughter comes on sorry redound (5) - {D}{ROOP<-} DROOP

SEE THIS CARTOON

7   - Nothing to frolic? I and mother return with paper folding (7) - {O}{RIG}{AM<-}{I<-} ORIGAMI

8   - Greedy persons' power on insect — that's unbelievable! (4,5,3) - {PIGS} {MIGHT] {FLY} PIGS MIGHT FLY

11 - Once the position was said to stir up (6) - {EX}{CITE} EXCITE

12 - Building up for an interpretation? (12) - CONSTRUCTION [DD]

17 - None flashed expensive jewellery — that's dignifying (9) - {ENNO*}{BLING} ENNOBLING

18 - Poems on South Arcot in the file (6) - {ODES}{SA} ODESSA

20 - Requisite fund to be distributed around the limits of Erode by end of April (7) - {N{ErodE}DFU*}{L} NEEDFUL

22 - Hospital official is a person who acts on his own, carrying money (7) - {A}{L{M}ONER} ALMONER

23 - Bird, man, worthless horse (6) - {TOM}{TIT} TOMTIT

25 - Defeat decisively in small place of turmoil (5) - {S}{HELL} SHELL

GRID

No 10216, Tuesday 26 Jul 11, Gridman

ACROSS

1   - San adapting injured bears (5,6) - GIANT PANDAS*

9   - Where weapons are kept, yours and mine, among militia (7) - {ARM{OUR}Y} ARMOURY

10 - Is inclined to be in church to purge bad thoughts, perhaps (7) - {C{LEANS}E} CLEANSE

11 - Fractional amount often thriftily secreted (5) - TENTH [T]

12 - If you do, can cuttings go into it? (9) - SCRAPBOOK &lit

13 - Tennis shoe in bad taste (5) - {T}ACKY Anno pending ([DD] - See comments) TACKY

15 - Men's acts I interpreted for a linguist's study (9) - SEMANTICS*

18 - Odd, possessing at that time one unit of element (9) - {RU{THEN}{I}{U}M} RUTHENIUM

21 - Greek character — he gets endless pitch after short time (5) - {T}{HE}{TAr} THETA

22 - I'm staging show, having excessive growth (9) - GIGANTISM*

24 - A fool that I am, I'd the paper withdrawn (5) - {ID}{IOT<-} IDIOT

26 - Soft! Rani, pushing one ahead, has tailless fish (7) - {P}{(+i)IRAN(-i)}{HAs} PIRANHA

27 - Art demanding manyfold paper work? (7) - ORIGAMI [CD]

28 - Jumbo plan in the making within the limits of Erode (11) - {Ero{LEPHANTIN*}dE} ELEPHANTINE

DOWN

1   - Massive heavenly body attracts soldier, worker, saint and sailor (5,4) - {GI}{ANT} {S}{TAR} GIANT STAR

2   - The Hindu self has no time to admit deputy commercial guy (5) - A(-t+d)DMAN ADMAN

3   - Hit keys unseeingly but feelingly (5-4) - TOUCH-TYPE [CD]

4   - Animals about to cross Bellary's hollow pits (7) - {A{BellarY}SSES} ABYSSES

5   - After last month, old spirit exhibits proper behaviour (7) - {DEC}{O}{RUM} DECORUM

6   - The woman has a record for submissive bunch (5) - {SHE}{EP} SHEEP

7   - Organise labour into a force, and the news agency makes noise (8) - {UNI}{ONISE*} Where is the AInd? UNIONISE

8   - Biblical inheritors (4) - MEEK [CD]

14 - Classification of actress full of blood (8) - {CATE}{GORY} CATEGORY

16 - Guilt cheat abandoned for a version of new food (9) - (+~new){NU}{conTRITION} NUTRITION

17 - Crazy in-laws set diagonally (9) - SLANTWISE*

19 - To follow suit, I look for sex appeal in friend (7) - {I}{M{IT}ATE} IMITATE

20 - A couple of Frenchmen in light aircraft appear bulky (7) - {M{A}{MM}OTH} MAMMOTH

22 - Stare amazedly at the head of gross monkey (4) - {G}{APE} GAPE

23 - I leave Connie confused for now (5) - NONCEi* NONCE

25 - One from Baghdad — one with spirit, say (5) - {I}{RAQI}(~raki) IRAQI

GRID

No 10215, Monday 25 Jul 11, Gridman

ACROSS

1   - Court officials? (8) - LINESMEN [E]

5   - Vehicle takes roundabout route to railhead (6) - {TOURE*}{R} TOURER

9   - With short instrument, short girl produces musical (8) - {HARp}{MONICa} HARMONIC

10 - Light from Amazon e-book (6) - KINDLE  [DD]  The second definition is a Brand name

12 - Cut down by about a pint (4) - {RE}{A}{P} REAP

13 - Mangled line about good little book on church in inattentiveness (10) - {NE{G}LI*}{GENesis}{CE} NEGLIGENCE

15 - Turn to unsweetened wine for fish (6) - TURBOT Anno pending (Addendum - {TURB}{OT}<- See comments)

 

 17 - A small group's wealth (5) - {A}{S}{SET} ASSET

20 - Get to the bottom of Horner's find, boy (5) - {PLUM}{B} PLUMB

21 - Second look for agent and amateur (6) - {REP}{LAY} REPLAY

24 - Rook means to bake cake for street urchin (10) - {RAG}{A}{MUFFIN} RAGAMUFFIN

27 - Teacher in unnamed gun run (4) - {GUn}{RUn} GURU

29 - Carry too far on the same (6) - {OVER}{DO} OVERDO

30 - Gridman met one GP agitatedly — beginning of old skin problem (8) - {I}{MPET(I)G*}{O} IMPETIGO

31 - Eastern tyrant relaxed, sliding back standard (6) - {SAT}{RAP<-} SATRAP

32 - Top priest's small changes in liturgical books (8) - {P}{S}{ALTERS} PSALTERS

DOWN

1   - The French task to release cabal's head in Pakistan (6) - {LA}{cHORE} LAHORE

2   - Ordinary rule by a radical at last (6) - {NORM}{A}{L} NORMAL

3   - Keep small skier's aid (4) - {S}{TOW} STOW

4   - Speak skippingly? (5) - ELIDE [CD]

6   - Behind old section (5) - {O}{WING} OWING

7   - Boor's trait end users displayed (8) - RUDENESS*

8   - Picks again film parts featuring funny tec (2-6) - {RE-EL{ECT*}S} RE-ELECTS

11 - Insect's advice to dump waste illegally (3-3) - {FLY}-{TIP} FLY-TIP

14 - Animated film not completed? That's stupid! (4) - DUMBo DUMB

 16 - Wager about umpire being deprived (6) - {BE{REF}ET}  BEREFT

17 - Part of the fanatical association, unfortunately (4) - ALAS [T]

18 - Prompt debt notices are forged (8) - {SPUR}{IOUS} SPURIOUS

19 - Verdict is half-just to FBI employees in district (8) - {JUst}{D{GMEN}T} JUDGMENT

22 - Lying down, drink and drink without a bit of worry (6) - {SUP}{wINE} SUPINE

23 - Union Territory involved in sort-out of teachers (6) - {T{UT}ORS*} TUTORS

25 - Middle East help brought back to news services (5) - {ME}{DIA<-} MEDIA

26 - Surgeon declaring his qualification finds feet (5) - {I}{AM}{BS} IAMBS

28 - Buzz about a line going out of AP town (4) - TELL ? Anno pending (Addendum - BELLa ry - See comments)

Photographs of Chaturvasis's grandchildren are at the THCC families blog.

GRID

No 2644, Sunday 24 Jul 11

Toughie today, but what a relief after NJ's gibberish.
ACROSS
1   - Identify one abbreviated US state (11) - {CONNECT}{I}{CUT}  CONNECTICUT
9   - Bell tower in barracks by a river in Africa (9) - {CAMP}{A}{NILE}  CAMPANILE
10 - Saw a daughter decline (5) - {A}{D}{AGE} ADAGE
11 - Man staff caught out (4) - {RO{O}D} ROOD
12 - Jazz pianist's number I put in post (5,5) - {COUNT} {BAS{I}E}  COUNT BASIE 
14 - Replace wonderful watch studded with diamonds (9) - {SUPER}{SE{D}E} SUPERSEDE Why diamond in plural?
15 - Nonsense written about origins of Orkney and Shetland tidal current (5) - {RO{OS}T} &lit ROOST
16 - Sketch front of nightclub that's closed (5) - {DRAW}{N} DRAWN
17 - Music-makers playing in scarlet (9) - CLARINETS*
20 - Flat in which Frenchman entertains girlfriend? (4-1-5) - {PIE{D-A-TE}RRE} PIED-A-TERRE
21 - Deer concealed crossing far side of plantation (4) - {HI{N}D} HIND 
23 - Blade's small talk (5) - {S}{WORD} SWORD
24 - Carry out a utensil (9) - IMPLEMENT [DD]
25 - More considerate, old patrolman in part of the Peak District (6,5) - {KINDER} {SCOUT} KINDER SCOUT
DOWN
1   - In which to make a note of run-of-the-mill reserve? (11,4) - {COMMONPLACE} {BOOK} COMMONPLACE BOOK
2   - Note organ close by (4) - {N}{EAR} NEAR
3   - Typical example of European religious book (7) - {E}{PI}{TOME} EPITOME
4   - Couple adopting tiny new child (7) - {T{WEE}{N}IE} TWEENIE 
5   - Room temperature, cool for a burgundy? (10) - {CHAMBER}{T}{IN} CHAMBERTIN 
6   - It's better now you're talking (5,4,4,2) - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT [CD]
7   - He drowned in the Aegean, one tenor after love spurned (6) - {I}{CARUSo} ICARUS 
8   - Desert fault (6) - DEFECT [DD]
13 - Group in golf club on first (4,6) - {IRON} {MAIDEN} IRON MAIDEN
16 - Oust extremely demure model (6) - {DemurE}{POSE} DEPOSE
17 - Pharmacist's short eastern dress (7) - {CHEMISt}{E} CHEMISE
18 - With reference to a shore, very large (7) - {A}{PROP}{OS} APROPOS
19 - Not very exciting appointment in the Kent area? (6) - {SE}{DATE} SEDATE
22 - Freezer on? There's nothing in it! (4) - ZERO [T]

No 10124, Saturday 23 Jul 11, Nita Jaggi

WHAT A RELIEF!

ACROSS

8   - Fashionable elite (5,2,2,5) - CREME DE LA CREME [E]

9   - Boy goes back to the mother to first learn the language (6) - {NOR<-}{MA}{L} Not sure if this is right.

10 - Speed up the switch for the gadget width (8) - {DIA<-}{METER} DIAMETER

11 - Passenger getting a free ride (8) - STOWAWAY [CD]

13 - Neat mask made from this type of leather (6) - {OX}{HIDE} OXHIDE

14 - Substitute for alms (6) - RELIEF [DD]

16 - Gap left in the current international primary account (6) - {L}{AC}{UN}{A} LACUNA

19 - Ancient manuscripts (6) - PAPYRI [E]

21 - Clappers for this reason tip-off the followers of the German car (8) - {AUDI}{hENCE} AUDIENCE

23 - Restless seeker about a god travels out of Ohio (8) - GADABOUTo* GADABOUT

24 - Izmir native will mostly prohibit the Diva's headwear (6) - {TURk}{BAN} TURBAN

26 - Tricks the Scotsman in an important venture (6,8) - {MONKEY} {BUSINESS} MONKEY BUSINESS Monkey is 500 pounds don't know if it is a Scotsman also. (Addendum - {MON}{KEY BUSINESS} - See comments)

DOWN

1   - To equip a couple of colleges known to the king (8) - {A}{CC}{OUT}{ER} ACCOUTER

2   - Duration of a prison sentence (4) - TERM [DD]

3   - Further on is the sound of thunder (6) - (~below) BELLOW

4   - Sure shot of the French journalist in regard (4,3) - {DE}AD {EYE}  Anno pending DEAD EYE This is one word and not two as shown.

5   - Geometric curve (8) - PARABOLA [E]

6   - Generally first see our hen wandering in the cold frame (5,5) - {G}{REEN HOUSE*} GREEN HOUSE

7   - Threaten the paid men roaming out on the road (6) - IMPENDa* IMPEND

12 - Maybe it is a two-way communication device (5-5) - WALKY-TALKY [E] Why maybe?

15 - Plant embryo (8) - EPICOTYL [E]

17 - Old-fashioned church, an artist describes is in Malta (8) - {A}{R{CH}A}{IS}{M} ARCHAISM

18 - Time the worker, freakish in a fit of anger (7) - {T}{ANT}{RUM} TANTRUM

20 - Further behind an endless jungle is a mythical warrior (6) - {A}{MAZe}{ON} AMAZON Not sure of anno

22 - Particular detective is in distress (6) - {DET}{AIL} DETAIL

25 - Soundly scan the marsh plant (4) - (~read) REED

GRID

No 10213, Friday 22 July 11, Nita Jaggi

Non-cryptic day today.

ACROSS

1   - You be hidden in Takshila without a king (8) - {TSHIL{U}{B}Aak*} TSHILUBA Where is the definition for this word? Kishore & Richard can have an exchange in Tshiluba today.

5   - Chatlines reveal the mythical Hun king (4) - ATLI [T]

9   - Improves the perks (8) - BENEFITS [DD]

10 - Establishment of a plant in a new habitat (6) - ECESIS [E]

12 - A secretive bird (4) - RAIL [E]

13 - One who knows what's up in the sky (10) - ASTRONOMER [E]

15 - An associate in a legal offence (7,2,5) - PARTNER IN CRIME [CD]

17 - To find a compromise, come out with a level of assurance (6,1,7) - STRIKE A BALANCE [CD]

21 - Start a conversation on an Arctic vessel, maybe (10) - ICEBREAKER [DD]

22 - Slightly wet (4) - DAMP [E]

25 - Brief outline revealed in the paper cut (6) -  APERCU [T] New word for me

26 - Elizabeth is excited, oh! to be back with the girl in high spirits (8) - {E}{UP}{HO<-}{RIA} EUPHORIA

27 - Kate strictly undergoes the check-up (4) - TEST [T]

28 - Climb up to see a cat roaming around the lawn in front (8) - {ESCA{L}ATE*} ESCALATE Climb up or raise ?

DOWN

1   - Set aside for the French an empty red sleeveless tunic (6) - {TAB}{A}{ReD} What is French doing in the clue? TABARD

2   - I love to follow the Chinese dynasty in the capital city (5) - {HAN}{O}{I} HANOI

3   - Activity time (4) - LIFE [CD]

4   - Set a bit of the stitched fabric (7) - BATISTE*

6   - Lawrence is the chief finance agent dismissing the strong skilled worker (10) - {TE}{CHNICIANeeff*} Don't know how 'eeff' are deleted TECHNICIAN

7   - Someone who cannot sleep (9) - INSOMNIAC [E]

8   - Cost cutting money hoarder (5) - MISER [CD]

11 - Half an area you eye for the sheep (4) - {ARea}{U}{I} ARUI

14 - Are caskets positioned for the track events? (5,5) - STAKE RACES*

16 - A common time to hold the note on a formal contract (9) - {A}GREE{ME}NT AGREEMENT Anno pending (Addendum - {A}{GREE{ME}N}{T} - See comments)

18 - Progenitor of the human race (4) - ADAM [E]

19 - Specifically overlooking the scene on the roads (7) - {A{VENUE}S} AVENUES

20 - Latest news you taped by mistake (6) - {U}{PDATE*} UPDATE

21 - I have no money to add up in this Leghorn locale (5) - {I}{TAlLY} ITALY

23 - Vessel from India or Tashkent (5) - AORTA [T]

24 - An artist, he gets trapped by the bird (4) - {R{HE}A} RHEA

GRID

No 10212, Thursday 21 Jul 11, Nita Jaggi

Colour coding changed, looks better this way. Managed to continue batting and did not have to retire hurt today.
ACROSS

7   - Grand church is outside the royal home reflecting it in Albania (8) - {PALAce}{TI<-}{AL} PALATIAL

9   - A river in South Africa (6) - ORANGE [E]

11 - Lame devil forever is inside the confectionary store (9) - {IMP}{ER}{conFECTionary} IMPERFECT

12 - Adult drops garbage haphazardly in the boat (5) - BARGEag* 'A' from adult, 'G' from ? BARGE

13 - Kick off the first game (6) - OPENER [DD]

14 - Songbird (8) - BOBOLINK [E] Thanks to Google

17 - Dreadful display by an art house back by Iowan leaders in America (9) - {ATR*}{OC<-}{IOwan}{US} ATROCIOUS Well said for this series!!

22 - An assortment of things maybe (5,3) - MIXED BAG [E]

23 - One follows to add masala not good in the sausage (6) - {SALAMa*}{I} 'A' for 'good'? SALAMI

25 - Go to the canteen, terrified (5) - ENTER [T] Telescopic indicator?

27 - The woman's note is hanging on the gate of an isolated place (9) - {HER}{MI}{TAGE*} AInd for gate? HERMITAGE

28 - Bit of strategy used to trap cats in an odd corner initially (6) - T{ACT*}I{C} Anno pending TACTIC

29 - Large containers in which plants are grown (8) - PLANTERS [CD]

DOWN

1   - An arbitrarily small quantity (7) - EPSILON  [E]

2   - Cutting tool is in the ship (7) - CLIPPER [DD]

3   - Playfully jump on the pickled flower buds (5) - CAPER  [DD]

4   - Take hold of the girl, an artist in Belgium (4) - {G}{RA}{B} GRAB

5   - In hesitant sound, note the physics topic (7) - {IN}{ER}{TI}{A} 'A' from 'the' ? INERTIA

6   - Adorns the foundation in the city on the borders of Kansas (7) - {BED}{EC}{KansaS} BEDECKS

8   - Caused pain to the resident magistrate, a specialist editor (9) - {TO}{RM}{ENT}{ED} TORMENTED

10 - Son will also tell tales about an informer (7) - {S}{TOO}{LIE} STOOLIE

15 - Egg drop period (9) - OVULATION [E]

SEE THIS CARTOON

16 - You are in Goa at the church with an easel in front to paint with watercolour and gum (7) - (u+goa+ch+e) GOUACHE*

18 - Forgiveness for past crimes (7) - AMNESTY [CD]

19 - Unusual objects from a far-off country (7) - EXOTICA [CD]

20 - Camp leaders keep out of an exotic dance performance (7) - {CAmp}{BAR}{ET} CABARET

21 - Permit the leading lawyer to put away the name in part of the case (7) - {L}{ICE}{N}{caSE} LICENSE

24 - Regularly Turk falls sick with the bird's sound (5) - {TuRk}{ILL} TRILL

26 - Surprise attack (4) - RAID [E]

GRID

No 10211, Wednesday 20 Jul 11, Nita Jaggi

NJ is reminding us to file our returns before 31 Jul!! I'm fed up with NJ. Yesterday I was clean bowled, today I'm stumped! Tomorrow I think I'll retire hurt!!

ACROSS

1   - Stop the furnace fuel from engulfing the house (5) - {C{H}OKE} CHOKE

4   - He may be the one at the casino table (7) - GAMBLER [CD]

10 - Commander is hit in an attack (6) - {COM}{BAT} COMBAT

11 - Being the only one to chant, you are in front of God (8) - {SING}{U'{LA}R} Anno not clear SINGULAR

13 - Stop conserving the plantation largely widespread (8) - NATIONALpt* How do we take out 'pt' NATIONAL

14 - Winter coat (6) - ANORAK [E]

16 - Extremely easy to note the rare Norse giant (4) - {Y}{MI}{R} YMIR

17 - Presiding judge has an opportunity to file the return (10) - {CHANCE}{LLOR<-} File & Roll? CHANCELLOR

20 - Discourteous angry casino guru (10) - UNGRACIOUS*

21 - Best agent is continuously without women (4) - STAG [T] Surely not James Bond!!

24 - Casual doorman is standing out at eleven (6) - R?U??? (Addendum - RANDOMo* RANDOM - See comments)

26 - Supporter is firm on eating one of the Italian flat cooked dish (8) - {BRA}{C{I}O}{LA} Is 'la' 'the' in Italian?  BRACIOLA

28 - Unused portion of food (8) - LEFTOVER [E]

29 - Stand for a French man involved in a love affair (6) - ARDOUR ARMOUR ?

30 - Stuck firmly to the redhead in trouble (7) - ADHERED*

31 - Submits the income tax returns (5) - FILES [CD]

DOWN

2   - Cut-up the line of the large tendon (9) - {HAM}{STRING} HAMSTRING How is Ham connected to cut up!!

3   - Alerting device (6) - KLAXON [CD]

5   - Turning point for eleven soldiers in front (4) - {A}{XI}{S} AXIS

6   - An apprentice repairs an engine in the British Rail (8) - {B{EGINNE*}R} BEGINNER

7   - Mathematician in Seoul even has the French right (5) - {sEoUl}{LE}{R} EULER

8   - Restricted to check the territory borders (6) - {SCAN}{T}{Y} SCANTY

9   - Market figure (6) - BROKER [CD]

12 - Second shikari learns to omit one language (7) - {KASH{M}IRi*} Isn't the language Kashmiri?  'M' for second!!KASHMIR (Addendum - {B}{ASHKIRi*} BASHKIR - See comments)

15 - Ask for the popular leading escort (7) - {IN}QUIR{E} Anno pending INQUIRE

18 - Chinese stone (9) - LITHOPONE [CD] NJ has conveniently swallowed an 'H' from LITHOPHONE

19 - Physicist at lunchtime is in the capital city (8) - {?A???}{ONE}(Addendum - {GABOR}{ONE} GABORONE - See comments)

20 - Difficult to control an international law contract at the end of the day (6) - {UN}{RULe}{Y} UNRULY

22 - Assault the following man on the horse-drawn carriage (6) - {G}{HARRY} GHARRY

23 - Kind of tax levied in October abroad will not exist for an individual (6) - {OCTRObe*}{I} OCTROI

25 - E-fund development in the desert area (5)  - UNFED* Desert area!!! (Addendum - NEFUD* - See coments)

27 - Distribute the reading out of the gauge contract (4) - METEr METE

GRID

No 10210, Tuesday 19 Jul 11, Nita Jaggi

Plenty of shapes today! I've been clean bowled by the NW and SE corners, never had so many unsolved ever since I started this blog.
ACROSS
4   - Trustee involved is daring to arrest you on the road (8) - {G{U}{A}RDIAN*} GUARDIAN What's the connection between 'A' and 'Road' ?
8   - Cut off the joint (6) - (Addendum - CORNER [DD] - See comments)
9   - Steep prices (10) - EXORBITANT [E]
10 - An extinct ox (4) - URUS [E]
11 - Dispatch a State Enrolled Nurse on duty first (4) - {S}{E}{N}{D} SEND
13 - Hardly ever depend on God (6) - {RA}{RELY} RARELY
15 - Deposit the American man's medicine (7) - {PLACE}{BO} PLACEBO
17 - Car given to the French princess (4) - {AU}{DI} AUDI
18 - A canonical hour (4) - NONE [E]
19 - Lock up the prisoner in shape (7) - {CON}{FINE} CONFINE
21 - Call for a specialist in distress (6) - {ENT}{AIL} ENTAIL
22 - Darlings, switch the dance move (4) - STEP <-
25 - Stop the puppy (4) - STAY ? (Addendum - SEAL [DD] - See comments)
26 - He may be caught for general theft on camera (10) - SHOPLIFTER [CD]
27 - Adjust four files alternately for the new opening term (6) - {O}{R}{I}{E}{N}{T} ORIENT I wonder if anyone can make this clue longer!!
28 - Vendor in South Africa has to hand some suspicious names (8) - {SA}{L}{ESMAN*} SALESMAN L from Left hand?
DOWN
1   - Check out the small river outside the castle (5) - {S}{C}OU{R} ? (Addendum - {S}{COUrT} - SCOUT See comments)
2   - Acclaimed raja protects the warrior prince (6) - (Addendum - {ARJ{UN}A*} ARJUNA - See comments)
3   - Square temple found in the rocky ridge (5) - ARETE [T]

4   - Earth's shape (5) - GEOID [E]
5   - Boar ate in Rio this kind of rice (7) - {ARBO*}{RIO} ARBORIO
6   - Ted put up the fine coat in shape (9) - {DET<-}{ERMINE} DETERMINE
7   - Alternative for a divorce (9) - ANNULMENT [E]
12 - One gets up to first cook the hot starters as a snack (5) - {NA<-}{C}{HOt} NACHO
14 - Pundit starts using the naughty language (9) - (Addendum - {PU}TONGHUA PUTONGHUA - See comments)
15 - Long for the delicious fruit (9) - {PINE}{APPLE} PINEAPPLE
16 - Suitable boy in England is in great shape (5) -  {B}{E}{FIT} BEFIT
19 - It is found in bones and teeth (7) - CALCIUM [E]
20 - Time on the Spanish square (6) - {}{EL} (Addendum - {EL}{EVEN} ELEVEN - See comments)
22 - Waited, wearing the shiny fabric (5) -  {SAT}{IN} SATIN
23 - Outperformance of an actor following the rare Cockney girl is a mistake (5) -  {'ER}{R}{actOR} ERROR
24 - Charts out an area (5) - PLOTS [DD]

GRID

No 10209, Monday 18 Jul 11, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS

2   - Deliver a message to the President individually (6) - {PR}{EACH} PREACH

7   - Cover the round pool (4) - {LID}{O} LIDO

9   - One turns back to hold one granny (4) - {N{AN}A<-} NANA

10 - Somehow calling-off arrangements at the last minute (13) - CANCELLATIONS [E] Somehow?

12 - Wrong street I enter in an Italian seaport (7) - TRIESTE*

13 - Stipulate before hand (7) - PROVED ? (Addendum PROVIDE [E] - See comments)

15 - Quite a hit on the short track (4) - SWAT Anno pending (SWATh See comments)

17 - Remnant of something that has been cut off (5) - STUMP [E]

18 - Steno designates the characters in the focal point (4) - NODE [T]

19 - Austrian composer of waltzes (7) - STRAUSS [E]

21 - Bring up the bed out from the birdhouse so constructed (7) - N{OURISHbed*} NOURISH Where does the N come from?

23 - Heart-in-the-mouth zigzag ride (6,7) - ROLLER COASTER [CD]

27 - Secret agent is a doctor on the borders of Lahore (4) - {MO}{LahorE} MOLE

28 - Electrical units installed in homes have no energy (4) - OHMSe* OHMS

29 - Same as widespread, general (6) - COMMON [DD}

DOWN

1   - Carpenter's hand tool (6) - PINCER [E]

2   - Flower of the Holy Night (10) - POINSETTIA [CD]

3   - Leaders exercise and sit energetically in comfort (4) - {E}{A}{S}{E} EASE

4   - Auction off the modern phone on radio (4) - (~sell) CELL As per the surface of the clue this should be SELL

5   - Do follow an international word processing command (4) - {UN}{DO} UNDO

6   - Unfair, prejudiced (3-5) - ONE-SIDED [E]

SEE THIS CARTOON

8   - Try to repeat an omission of a boy's name (5) - PETERa* PETER

11 - The father of Odysseus (7) - LAERTES [E]

13 - Vivid red kind of cheese (7) - PIMENTO Pimento by itself is not vivid red nor is it the color of Pimento cheese!!

14 - Strong emotion displayed by a native Senor outside (10) - VENERATIONs* VENERATION

16 - Heartless attendant will check in detail the famous battle (8) - {WAiTER}{LOOk} WATERLOO Heartless will delete 'IT' ?

20 - A tabloid? (5) - SHEET [CD]

22 - Economise the regular cost over margin of the first product (6) - {tSoC<-}{RIM}{P} SCRIMP

24 - Soup vegetable for the French geek regularly (4) - {LE}{gEeK] LEEK

25 - Call the ring leader of the underworld (4) - {CAP}{O} CAPO

26 - Trace a male cat (4) - {A}{TOM} ATOM

GRID

No 2643, Sunday 17 Jul 11

ACROSS
1   - Group going across river for a meal (6)  - {B{R}UNCH} BRUNCH
4   - A couple watch one who's cheating? (3-5)  - {TWO}-{TIMER} TWO-TIMER
10 - Train isn't fixed en route (2,7)  - IN TRANSIT*
11 - Artist contributing to postmodern style (5)  - ERNST [T]
12 - With £25 gets into Cruft's elaborate promotional event? (3-3-4,4)  - {DOG {AND PONY} SHOW}  DOG AND PONY SHOW
14 - Style of interior design having red coat applied (3,4)  - ART DECO*
16 - Queer Street? Phoned helpline ultimately (7)  - {ST}{RANG}{E} STRANGE
17 - Letter from European saint found in stack (7)  - {E}{PI{ST}LE} EPISTLE
19 - Nelson's short speech after opening of hostilities (7)  -  {H}{ORATIOn} HORATIO
21 - A novel Holbein painting (3,11)  - THE AMBASSADORS [DD]
24 - In a city of Mesopotamia, I caught Goldfinger (5)  - {A}{UR}{I}{C} AURIC
25 - Demoted socialist entertaining emissary (9)  - {RE{LEGATE}D} RELEGATED
26 - Duke, entering a wood by canal, made a striking impression (3,1,4)  - {CUT} {A} {D}{ASH} CUT A DASH
27 - Seasoning fellow very quietly put in (6)  - {PE{PP}ER} PEPPER
DOWN
1   - Blasted din ruined appointments arranged by a third party (5,5)  - BLIND DATES*
2   - Revolting drunk may make one very tense (7)  - {UP}{TIGHT} UPTIGHT
3   - Child in a new series (5)  - {CH}{AIN*} CHAIN
5   - Drink in fancy hotels - sweet wine, mostly (3,4,7)  - WET ONES WHISTLEe* WET ONES WHISTLE
6   - Club official, more confident after revision of 8 (9)  - {TREA*}{SURER} TREASURER
7   -  Start to move on, early in the rainy season (7)  - {M}{ON}{SOON} MONSOON
8   - Consider a charge (4)  - RATE [DD]
9   - As prosecutor, be prepared to expose bribe (1,3,2,8)  - A SOP TO CERBERUS*
13 - Have second thoughts - about Conservative party referendum, primarily (10)  - {RE}{CON}{SIDE}{R} RECONSIDER
15 - Approach daughter, hypnotised (9)  - {ENTRANCE}{D} ENTRANCED
18 - Trendy? That girl must be with it to succeed (7)  - {IN}{HER}{IT} INHERIT
20 - Swept to wild dance (3-4)  - TWO STEP*
22 - A peculiar urge to express disagreement (5)  - {A}{RGUE*} ARGUE
23 - Powder kept by hospital chemist (4) - TALC [T]