No 10265, Thursday 22 Sep 11, Arden

Excellent offering from Arden, really enjoyed the CW today.
ACROSS

9   - Beginning of a character (7) - INITIAL [DD]

10 - Some French port Minerva helped to set up inside (2,5) - LE HAVRE [T<-]

11 - The flea doctor had pain (7) - DAPHNIA*

12 - A portion other than inner radius (7) - EXCERPT {EXCE{R}PT}

13 - Enjoying a dip due to a barrier in front (9) - WALLOWING {WALL}{OWING}

15 - Avoid the girl getting promotion (5) - EVADE {EV{AD}E}

16 - Drain pipe initially allowed in the river (7) - DEPLETE {DE{P}{LET}E}

19 - Cook sold one some food (7) - NOODLES*

20 - Had them defeated, bowled out (5) - EATEN bEATEN

21 - It is a mere trifle to get hold of a say, oriental (9) - BAGATELLE {BAG}{A}{TELL}{E}

25 - He fusses over some flowers coming up under the bridge (7) - SPANIEL {SPAN}{IEL<-}

26 - Fed up and do nothing, in practice though not in law (2,5) - DE FACTO {DE F<-}{ACT}{O}

28 - Uncle Sam follows another uncle to the centre (7) - NUCLEUS {NUCLE*}{US}

29 - Gluttony that finally gripped a city (7) - EDACITY [T]

SEE THIS CARTOON

DOWN

1   - Opening success, party with woman later (6) - WINDOW {WIN}{DO}{W}

2   - Slipped away, leaving papa to drive off (6) - DISPEL SLIpPED*

3   - People have some interest in their look (4) - MIEN {M{I}EN}

4   - Walk a little, covering the base for example (6) - ALKALI [T]

5   - The pesky caller generally creates some irritation within (8) - ALLERGEN [T]

6   - It is fashionable to know, but not fashionable to back off (7,3) - CHECKED OUT (Addendum - CHICKEN OUT {CHIC}{KEN} {OUT} - See comments)

7   - Finished with transport maintenance (8) - OVERHAUL {OVER}{HAUL}

8   - They have no belief in warm underlying layers (8) - HEATHENS {HEAT}{HENS}

14 - Unusual reliance on QE II, perhaps (5,5) - OCEAN LINER*

16 - Talking gets no publicity, but gives one some protection (8) - DRESSING adDRESSING

17 - What is mine? A cent may be, it is nothing much (8) - PITTANCE {PIT}{TANCE*}

18 - Blood flow gets affected when you break some limb (8) - EMBOLISM*

22 - The device is tagged in a way (6) - GADGET*

23 - Put away when Army brass is back with the family (4,2) - LOCK IN {LOC<-}{K IN}

24 - Moneypenny, could be the name given (6) - EPONYM MONEY(P)*

27 - Fibre making foot loose (4) - FLAX {F}{LAX}

GRID