Unlike Incognito at 20D, I used to tie up the pigtails on the bench while in school :-)
ACROSS
8 Underground creature usually concealed in a spy network (4) MOLE [DD]
9,14 Queen's sewing equipment is reportedly in Central Park, New York (10,6) CLEOPATRAS NEEDLE {CLEOPATRAS} {NEEDLE}
11,28 Firing hero found at Wild West show (8,4) SHOOTING STAR {SHOOTING} {STAR}
12,16 Chief's orb for an event on a ship (8,4) CAPTAINS BALL {CAPTAINS} {BALL}
17,18 Spy who took back seven hundred (5,4) JAMES BOND {007<=}
19 Unevenness of a curio (6) ODDITY [DD]
21 Propeller found by airhostesses, for example, after consuming a drop of sherry (8) AIRSCREW {AIR{S
23 Missile that journalist tracked went up suddenly (8) ROCKETED {ROCKET}{ED}
26 River site in a country that has many Poles (6) POLAND {PO}{LAND}
DOWN
1 Against music group getting prohibited goods (10) CONTRABAND {CONTRA}{BAND}
2 Pedal around East Street and see support for 6 (8) PEDESTAL {PED{E}{ST}AL}
3 Camp in South India to get lobsters (6) SCAMPI {S{CAMP}{I}
4 Tenement where cats make sounds (4) MEWS [DD]
5 Puts in position after model men leave Jobs (8) APPOINTS APPOIN
6 Image of state around university (6) STATUE {STAT{U}E}
7 Chess piece to leave with uncle (4) PAWN [DD]
13 Dance in Sam Bahadur's times at town infamous for fake spy scandal (5) SAMBA [T & DD]
15 Light mandible or a large one like the Irish have (7,3) LANTERN JAW {LANTERN} {JAW}
18 Support whip and get adverse reaction (8) BACKLASH {BACK}{LASH}
20 You could have dipped nib-pens or pigtails, of the girl in the bench before you, in this (6) INKPOT [CD]
22 I left pirates running around feast (6) REPAST P
24 A story usually started with this earlier (4) ONCE [DD]
25 Returning murderer carried an instrument (4) DRUM [T<=]
GRID
27 I seem to have dealt the wrong card!
ReplyDeleteI did not dip pigtails in inkwells, primarily because we did not use inkwells in school. DG seems to have made the best out of available materials.
You didn't use Parker Ink or Quink Ink from Inkbottles?
DeleteThe Parker/Quink/Bril was used only for refill and not taken to school, though the desks did have a circular indentation to hold the bottle. The dipping of the nib-holder in Indian ink was done mainly for sketching, but at home.
DeleteI remember some guys/girls carrying the inkbottles during exams just in case their 'fountain pen' ran out of ink midway through an exam
DeleteWe used to carry an extra pen, in case the nib broke too
DeleteA spare pen would have been simpler and easy to carry.
DeleteHad been to my school yesterday for the 76th anniversary of the Past Students Association, rang the school bell as part of the ceremony and had a peep into the classroom where the above event was perpetrated
DeleteOnly one victim? Was she present?
DeleteHope not!
DeleteShe might be old enought to need hair-dye now!
DeleteUnfortunately the victim was not present.
DeleteDid she know you were coming, Sir?
DeleteNo :-)
DeleteTwo decades back, I was standing in a post office queue and was carrying my son, when he yanked the plait of the lady in front of me. She turned back, saw the kid and gave a smile. I was tempted to do a repeat perfomance ...
DeleteYesterday, my son visited that post office after over two decades. The culprit always returns to the scene ...
As did the Col.
DeleteHilarious! Imps all through life!
DeleteIndian Members of Parliament
DeleteI had written the following clue for 17d, but somehow it got missed in the version sent to TH
ReplyDeleteEnjoys ticking of concealed control mechanism (8)
The clue in its present form is meaningless!
DeleteRight. The clue which did not make it is the true embedded one.
DeleteThanks for the samosas K. In 23A also some printers' devil
ReplyDeleteAbout 80% in 15 mins. flat
ReplyDeleteHappy to see me in 10 ac
ReplyDeleteThank you K. But a few may complain that it is too fast and easy, without much squeezing of the cerebrum- enjoyable all the same and before you realize you are in the queue for samosas (for breakfast?)
ReplyDelete27A- could have been "One of the top most".
ReplyDeleteI actually had 'Ace of Spade/s' in mind until I had my 'repast'.
ReplyDeleteVery nice puzzle Incognito. Liked a lot of clues. James Bond was the best.
ReplyDeleteJust a slight quibble about the [T] clue. It's not strictly embedded with one end open in:
25 Returning murderer carried an instrument (4) DRUM [T<=]
Incognito always ups my average solving rate.
ReplyDeleteInitially no clue's obscure; good news! It's that open-handed setter (9)
ReplyDeleteWhere's the acrostic inf? Or is it &lit? Oh no not again I hope.
DeleteAnybody willing to open the Pandora's box?! :)
DeleteRaghu doesn't like &lit? It is the favorite of inexperienced setters :-)
DeleteThere have been a lit of discussions abt & lit hence the groan. I have set abt 18 puzzles and regretfully not a single &lit. Sigh.
DeleteThat 'lit' thing is still lingering. I wrote it in place of 'lot':)
DeleteBut where's the acrostic Ind in yr clue?
Thank you for a gentle workout, Incognito! I liked many of the clues - especially liked the surfaces for 15, 19, 7. The relatively simple clue for 2 had me sighing with nostalgia - growing up in bicycle-friendly Poona, it was a routine experience to "pedal around East Street" (parallel to Main Street in the Cantonment Area)!
ReplyDeleteThanks to DG for the blog.
After yesterday's debacle, a broad smile is back on my face today :-))) Thank you Incognito, for all the Samosas! I relished them!!
ReplyDeleteA samosa awaits thee on the morrow too ...
DeleteThank you :)
DeleteThe original samosa and tea lady - Dr. Gayathri (?) - has not returned to this blog for a long while. She must be really busy, besides being an ophthalmologist, she was also writing a film script! Does anyone have any news about her?
ReplyDeleteKishore, that was a fun CW. Thank you. Enjoyed the ink pot and James Bond, specially.
Looking forward to it, Kishore! :-))
ReplyDeleteAlways thought it was the Ace of Spades was the topmost card :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, all
ReplyDeleteKishore aka Incognito: Just finished the crossie and decided to log in late only to congratulate you on a wonderful compilation, which reminds me of a child being gently led by hand by a mother to the first class . An ideal crossie for all the beginners and initiates who want to learn. step by step and block by block. In Jeeves language,the actual word evades me for this superb work. The Hindu should feature you more often for the benefit of those who hesitate to take the first puff that leads to the addiction of a good habit ( unlike those nasty nico-poison- sticks)
ReplyDeleteWelcome remark to those beginners: Solving crosswords is very healthy for the mind and body.
If this crossie has brought in at least one new comer, your job has been successful !! Keep it up PUN- master !!
Thanks, Raju, for your words of encouragement
Delete