The Sunday Crossword No 3015, Sunday 30 Sep 2018

ACROSS
1   Moment ending for pair about to part (6) SECTOR {SEC}{TO}{paiR}
4   Jump over field with force splitting type of rock (8) LEAPFROG {LEA}{P{F}ROG}
10 Have soft hair without depth (3) OWN dOWN
11 Romeo in effect in charge with a line that's romantic (11) IMPRACTICAL {IMP{R}ACT}{IC}{A}{L}
12 Vessel? Small crew's with it (9) STEAMSHIP {S}{TEAMS}{HIP}
13 Cat in part of pound (5) OUNCE [DD]
14 Hero, better prepared, keeping restraint around king (6,3,5) ROBERT THE BRUCE {HERO+BETTER}* over {CURB<=}
16 Justification by one in dispute dispatching a rodent (6,8) GROUND SQUIRREL {GROUNDS}{QU(-a+1)IRREL}

21 Talk, not last for religious leader (5) RABBI RABBIt
22 Message-storing system failing, storing nothing? Start to make trouble (9) VOICEMAIL {V{O}ICE}{Make}{AIL}
24 Novel is a bit long, following old commitments (11) OBLIGATIONS {O}{IS+A+BIT+LONG}*
25 Sleep in afternoon apparently (3) NAP [T]
26 Modified survey finally conducted after break (8) RESTYLED {REST}{s...eY}{LED}
27 Supplied entertaining poem subjected to severe criticism (6) FLAYED {F{LAY}ED}

DOWN
1   Back page, grabbed by children, torn in the middle (7) SPONSOR {S{P}ONS}{tORn}
2   Flowering plants arranged by current labels (10,5) CANTERBURY BELLS*

3   Platform lacking power to create disgust (5) ODIUM pODIUM
5   Liberal after electronic vote for instance (7) EXAMPLE {E}{X}{AMPLE}
6   Hotchpotch to revise or to rip up (9) POTPOURRI*
7   Going fast, time in specific year? It's inevitable (6,9) RACING CERTAINTY {RACING} {CERTAIN}{T}{Y}
8   Upset about loud record player on course (6) GOLFER {RE}{{F}{LOG}<=
9   Raises spicy product (6) UPSHOT {UPS}{HOT}
15 In stirring style leaders of rebellion offer unity one by one (9) ROUSINGLY {Re...n}{Of..r}{Un..y}{SINGLY}
17 Fan with support following county endlessly (7) DEVOTEE {DEVOn}{TEE}
18 One with number entering as seeds (6) QUINOA {QU{1}{NO}A}

19 Play boisterously, breaking top part of water plant (4,3) LILY PAD {LI{PLAY*}D}
20 Republican in affair getting protection (6) ARMOUR {A{R}MOUR}
23 Facility with large support for artist's work (5) EASEL {EASE}{L}

GRID

No 12434, Saturday 29 Sep 2018, xChequer

All the best to the participants of the IXL which starts tomorrow

Across

7. Defence mechanism of trees spreading a bit like canopies (6) ABATIS {A{A+BIT*}S}
8. Though fallible at times, appeal should succeed (6) ALBEIT {fAlLiBlE}{IT}
10. Rough time, a displaced person has to go through a lot (3,5) BAD PATCH {B{A}{DP}ATCH}
11. Very wise saving one's face (6) VISAGE {V}{I}{SAGE}
12. Public off limits here? Yes, private (5) INNER {INN}{hERe}
14. Named by shape of nose and mouth, scarcely confusing the naked eye (7) ONYMOUS  {NOSE+MOUTH-THE+eYe*}
15. Dense forest ultimately saved honest outlaw kept under duress (4,2,3,6) SLOW ON THE UPTAKE {foresT} removed from  {HONEST+OUTLAW+KEPT*}
18. Teach, say if my so-called teacher withholds answer (7) CORSAIR {COR}{S{A}IR} Teach = COURSER
19. Yankee used for American in outdated manner (5) STYLE {ST(-a+Y}LE}
20. Proceeds to present trick (4-2) TAKE-IN (DD?)
21. A meeting around the beginning of each quarter may be sufficient (8) ADEQUATE {A}{D]{Each}{QU}TE} {A}{D]{Each}{QU}ATE} See comments
23. Greek facility producing lubricant (6) GREASE {GR}{EASE}
24. School philosophy to provide a break (6) SCHISM {SCH}{ISM}

Down

1. Magnificent friend with a wagging tail (8) PALATIAL {PAL}{A}{TAIL*}
2. Premier athletic club elevated in group (4) CAMP {PM}{AC}<=
3. Fighting like a cornered rat, in poor shape when out of this (6) KILTER {LIKE+RaT*}
4. Statement to court: 'Debt closed, zero liability at bank' (1,4,3) I LOVE YOU {I {LOVE} {liabilitY}OU}
5. Fresh infusion of malt, in short, fit for airing (10) NEWSWORTHY {NEW}{S{WORT}HY}
6. Short-term investors adopting electronic platforms (6) STAGES {STAG{E}S}
9. Weather hot and dry, close to unbearable heat recently (3,5,3) THE OTHER DAY {HOT+DRY+unbearablE+HEAT*}
13. New over, no runs, wasted last chance (3,2,5) NOW OR NEVER {NEW+OVER+NO+R*}
16. Graceful appearance in new shift and cape (8) NEATNESS {N}{EAT}{NESS}
17. Raising issue, take a quick look to observe tempo (4,4) KEEP TIME {EMIT}{PEEK}<=
18. Storm toll (6) CHARGE (DD)
19. Hum with soprano leading number at church (6) STENCH {S}{TEN}{CH}
22. Entity incompetent, spent force (4) UNIT {UNfIT}

Reference List
Appeal=It, Displaced Person=DP, Very=V, One=I, My=Cor, Answer=A, Yankee=Y, American=A, Quarter=Qu, Greek=Gr, School=Sch
Premier=PM, Athletic Club=AC, Debt=IOU, Zero=Love, Electronic=E, Runs=R, New=N, Soprano=S, Church=Ch, Force=F

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

No 12433, Friday 28 Sep 2018, Vulcan

RULES FOR POSTING ON FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

Each commenter is requested to post only 3 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only 

The regular blog will replace the clues at 2 PM.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Suffer defeat after the middle of this debut test goes badly (4,3,4) BITE THE DUST {tHIs+DEBUT+TEST}*
8   Excellent produce (4) MINT [DD]
9   Vague interpretation of "soul never died" (10) UNRESOLVED {SOUL+NEVER+D}*
10 Capital letters A, N separated (6) MANILA {MA{N}IL}{A}
11 Very large shape on the outside for support (7)  CONSOLE {CON{SO}{L}E}
13 Change in dialect or it's exactly the same! (9) IDENTICAL*
15 Piece from Rembrandt, one terrific painter (5) MONET  Seems to be an error in the Telescopic clue
16 Designate a group, say (5) ALLOT (~ a lot)
18 Carrier, in essence, for shopping (9) BETRAYING {BE{TRAY}ING}
22 Second course initially skipped, had this hot molten thing for dessert (7) BAKLAVA {BAcK}{LAVA}

23 Vulcan's angry with this town (6) MYSORE {MY}{SORE}
26 Temperature's pleasant outside, it's natural (10) CONGENITAL {CONGENI{T}AL}
27 Trouble after country lost its leader (4) PAIN sPAIN
28 Gathered at University to make film (3,8) THE GRADUATE*


DOWN
1   Bandit in party dress (7) BRIGAND {B{RIG}AND}
2   African group expresses disapproval; it's the beginning of insurgency (5) TUTSI {TUTS}{In...y}
3   Big wave from man showing up in tailored suit (7) TSUNAMI {TSU{MAN<=}I*}
4   Colour of the cruise ship (4) ECRU [T]
5   Raises new issue (6) UPSHOT {UPS}{HOT}
6   Stock not entirely in record? It's not quite believable (4,5) TALL STORY {TALL{STORe}Y}
7   Snack, that's something eaten in SA (6) MEALIE {MEAL}{IE}
12 Tower central to Bible associated with a biblical character (5) BABEL {biBle}{ABEL}
14 It's on in fluorescent bulbs essentially during darkness (4,5) NEON LIGHT {N{f...rEs...t}{ON} {buLbs}IGHT} &lit.
17 Sale ad — one displayed to lure (4,2) LEAD ON [T]
19 Walked with broken arm, lost blood (7) RAMBLED {ARM*}{BLED}
20 Never out, drinking at home is having a calming effect (7) NERVINE {NERV{IN}E*}
21 Woman in charge primarily during show (6) EVINCE {EV{IN}{Ch...e}E}
24 Brown one, flower part that's mostly covered (5) SEPIA {SEP{1}Al}
25 Contents of best Irish mix (4) STIR [T]

GRID

No 12432, Thursday 27 Sep 2018, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Blue LED out of charge (6) SADDLE {SAD}{LED*}
4   Crook predicts some reality shows are such (8) SCRIPTED*
9   European boards second-class rail (6) BERATE {B}{E}{RATE}
10 Satsang has expelled sons training in yoga (8) ASHTANGA {sATSANG+HAs}* How do you explain deleting only 2 S's when there are three?
12 Bull event topped nine crore, approximately (8) ENCIERRO* What's the role of 'TOPPED'? (Addendum - {nINE+CRORE}* - See comments)

13 Express disapproval of material thing (6) OBJECT [DD]
15 A spy’s narration of a story (4) TAIL (~tale)
16 Glass surface is delicate, move forward (5,5) LIGHT TABLE ? {LIGHT} {TABLE} Anno pending (Addendum - See comments)
19 Stitching clip no lark for distaff (4-6) PINK COLLAR*
20 Humour in lowdown? (4) MOOD {MOO}{D}
23 Makes second proposal to rejected brides (6) REBIDS*
25 Judgement scene shot with ten lodged inside (8) SENTENCE {SEN{TEN}CE*}
27 Working late with discipline, come in for great praise (8) ENCOMION {COME+IN}*{ON}
28 Mix large parts of this and one spice (6) TAHINI {THIs+ANd}*{1} TAHINI is a paste of Sesame seeds and not a spice by itself
29 Sat, drank, cleaned vessels (8) TANKARDS*
30 Sounded like a donkey-kissed expression (6) ASPECT (~ass pecked)

DOWN
1   A citizen owing allegiance (7) SUBJECT [CD]
2   Course credit difficult? No one turns up! (9) DIRECTION {CREDIT}*{NO 1<=}
3   Landlord's character (6) LETTER [DD]
5   Police might inspect one luggage item (4) CASE [DD]
6   Use a canula, I bet aunt will be cured (8) INTUBATE*
7   Nervous in the past, possibly (5) TENSE [DD]
8   Army's second defeat orchestrated by raw recruit (7) DRAFTEE {aRmy+DEFEAT}*
11 For example, a story in a newspaper (7) ARTICLE [DD]
14 She raps exercising empty language (7) PHRASES*
17 Facial feature's good on eating right, healthy grain (5,4) BROWN RICE {BROW}{N{R}ICE}

18 Account on getting a rejection in targeted universities (8) ACADEMIA {AC}{A}{AIMED<=}
19 Ideal class leader making about-turn (7) PERFECT P{RE<=}FECT
21 Meal plan? I'd set it up! (7) DIETIST* &lit
22 Old governors are missing thongs (6) STRAPS SaTRAPS
24 Meat brought home by the breadwinner? (5) BACON [CD]
26 Promise liberals will quit the planet (4) WORD WORlD

GRID

No 12431, Wednesday 26 Sep 2018, Anon

ACROSS
1   Fish for Malta leader in shop (6) SALMON {SAL{Ma..a}ON}

4   Ghost, one in anger (6) WRAITH {WRA{1}TH}
9   Immediately begin, leaving out Republican (4) STAT STArT
10 Put out record, start off gig (10) DISCONCERT {DISC}{cONCERT}
11 He returns in torn Nike stocking (4-2) KNEE-HI {KNE{HE<=}I*}
12 Guardian of Asgard confused maid in inferno (8) HEIMDALL {HE{MAID*}LL}
13 Leader proclaims valet (9) STATESMAN {STATES}{MAN}
15 Enid’s doctor is cynical (5) SNIDE*
16 Zambia leader escapes from South American country with net (5) BRAIL BRAzIL

18 Groom is reliable lad (9) STABLEBOY {STABLE}{BOY}
22 Around palace, a lad starts music without accompaniment (1,7) A CAPELLA {PALACE+A+Lad}*
23 Characterises the Spanish in places of research (6) LABELS {LAB{EL}S}
25 Withdrawal from Thanksgiving dinner leftovers? (4,6) COLD TURKEY [DD]
26 Endlessly tense doctor at hideout (4) NEST TENSe*
27 Meal for soldier with unlimited starters in place of raita finally (6) SUPPER S(-a+u)UPPER
28 Love for fiend, heartless, at South theatres (6) ODEONS {O}{DEmON}{S}

DOWN
1   Fabric from South Africa, for Indian leader in collapsed tent (8) SATINET {SA}{T{In...n}NET*}
2   Start off being carefree, supple (5) LITHE bLITHE
3   Appoints Democrat escaping from androids in a frenzy (7) ORDAINS ANdROIDS*
5   Amateur to cheat leaders of international expedition (6) ROOKIE {ROOK}{In...l}{Ex...n}
6   Relative frequency of occurrence of events on the radio (9) INCIDENCE (~incidents)
7   Injured, directed cast (7) HURTLED {HURT}{LED}
8   Doctors attach masks at bouts of wheezing (6,7) ASTHMA ATTACKS*
14 Stumbled, put dipper somehow (7,2) TRIPPED UP*
17 Curates right headless agents that transmit diseases (7) RECTORS {R}{vECTORS}
19 Lead boat, after commencement, restrained, fastened (7) BELAYED {Boat}{dELAYED}
20 Old boy survives at former Soviet regions (7) OBLASTS {OB}{LASTS}
21 First bird, insect on top (6) BLOUSE {Bird}{LOUSE}
24 Starts bringing out new groove on drum (5) BONGO Acrostic

GRID

No 12430, Tuesday 25 Sep 2018, Lightning

ACROSS
1   Train with royal European carriage (8) REHEARSE {R}{E}{HEARSE}
5   Good man with urge to mend (6) STITCH {ST}{ITCH}
9   Turn game around with defence (8) ARGUMENT*
10 Measure physical structure to represent in words (6) EMBODY {EM}{BODY}
12 Insurers with appeal that is legal (5) LICIT {LIC}{IT}
13 Doctors at rift, to primarily take revenge (3,3,3) TIT FOR TAT {AT+RIFT+TO}*{Take}
14 Calling for aid at emergency room (6) CAREER {CARE}{ER}
16 Radical saint, one stuffing two diamonds say in retreat (7) DRASTIC {ST}{1} in {CARD<=}
19 Continental landmass whose area is united? Not exactly (7) EURASIA {AREA+IS+U}*
21 Penny missing the first distress call when money is received (3,3) PAY DAY {P}{mAY DAY}
23 Philosopher grades car tested in part (9) DESCARTES [T]
25 Part of support curtailed by church (5) PIECE {PIEr}{CE}
26 Very quick to grab ruptured clothes (6) ABRUPT [T]
27 Summons from large town falling short of quota right away (8) CITATION {CITy}{rATION}
28 Child’s organ? (6) KIDNEY (~kid knee) Homophone indicator missing? (Addendum - {KID}{NEY} - See comments)
29 Casual mail for new arrangement (8) INFORMAL {MAIL+FOR+N}*

DOWN
1   Genuinely concerning friend (6) REALLY {RE}{ALLY}
2   Tall cleaning lady boxes one furniture used for dining (4,5) HIGH CHAIR {HIGH} {CHA{1}R}
3   Let flier with appeal get married (5) ADMIT {AD}{M}{IT}
4   Spanish gentleman outwardly occupied with politician (7) SENATOR {SEN{AT}OR}
6   Engineer may report to intern (9) TEMPORARY*
7   Boast catching river fish (5) TROUT {T{R}OUT}

8   Shaky act wandering where it’s hard to find a needle (8) HAYSTACK*
11 Rivet stuck tightly under desk initially (4) STUD Acrostic
15 Lenient queen missing desire becomes simple (4,2,3) EASY AS PIE {EASY}{ASPIrE}
17 Seconds away, a prize must be arranged in a shape (9) TRAPEZIUM {A+PRIZE+MUsT}*
18 Response to toll on diamonds along with support (8) FEEDBACK {FEE}{D}{BACK}
20 Advance payment from kid without limits (4) ANTE bANTEr
21 Approve leader returning with zeal (7) PASSION {PASS}{NO1<=}
22 Core vegetable going around, consumed right now for starters (6) KERNEL {KE{Ri..t}{Now}EL<=}
24 Fragment lost without resistance (5) SHRED {SH{R}ED}
25 Private investigator with an old instrument (5) PIANO {PI}{AN}{O}

GRID

No 12429, Monday 24 Sep 2018, Incognito

ACROSS
8   Long way to go — mile, perhaps — to agricultural site (4) FARM {FAR}{M}
9   Tipsy Zeno gulps in oxygen gas (5) OZONE {OZ{O}NE*} Does Afterdark know that?
10 Indian king in New York is dark (4) INKY {I}{N{K}Y}
11 Cried: "Be sick during a weekday" (6) WAILED {W{AIL}ED}
12 Croon around harbour? That's playful! (8) SPORTING {S{PORT}ING}
13 Indian revolutionary follows company employee (8) COMANCHE {CO}{MAN}{CHE}
15 Give back form sent to the IRS? (6) RETURN [DD]
17 Flower? Flower inside ship? Quite the contrary! (7) BLOSSOM {BLO{SS}OM}
19 Before paramilitary force captures parliamentarian and monarch (7) EMPRESS {E{MP}RE}{SS}
22 Loved Ruby (also Carmine, Rose, and Coral, perhaps) after a party (6) ADORED {A}{DO}{RED}
24 Cloudy above California street (8) OVERCAST {OVER}{CA}{ST}
26 Common gold, Gulf money and Yen (8) ORDINARY {OR}{DINAR}{Y}
28 Creeper found in Antigua, naturally (6) IGUANA [T]
30 Stake found in Dantes' heart — it's bigger than usual (4) ANTE [T]
31 No drink during paradiddle? It's funny! (5) DROLL {Drum ROLL}
32 Thailand's in Asia Minor? (4) SIAM [T]

DOWN
1   Father's two personal assistants (4) PAPA {PA}{PA}
2   Gal's mama mixes compounds (8) AMALGAMS*
3   Sleuths returned after Ron went back for Scandinavian (6) NORDIC {RON<=}{CID<=}
4   Fighter's removal after Judge ... (7) JOUSTER {J}{OUSTER}
5   ... Roger's erroneously mentioned in Alcoholics Anonymous' initial meeting's high flying letter (8) AEROGRAM {A{ROGER*}A}{Me...g}
6   Command: "Export damaged relics from Lake District", surprisingly (6) DIKTAT {lAKe+DIsTricT}*
7   Just like one relative (4) AKIN {A}{KIN}
14 Drunk oldie is mad (5) OILED*
16 Engineer stops in absence of work and takes a break (5) RESTS {RE{STopS}
18 Mixed mild soda for spinsters (3,5) OLD MAIDS*
20 Exciting rescue or refuge? (8) RECOURSE*
21 Husband and wife give refuge to injured cooly and divine bovine (4,3) HOLY COW {H}{COOLY*}{W}
23 Artist is extraordinarily sensuous at first — gets pay hikes (6) RAISES {RA}{IS}{Ex...y}{Se...s}
25 Skin of eland, followed by horrible bile can be eaten (6) EDIBLE {ElanD}{BILE*}
27 Indian queen managed industry at first (4) RANI {RAN}{In...y}
29 Rushed back carrying last piece of baggage. It's not far! (4) NEAR {RA{b...gE}N<=}

GRID

Special, Sunday 23 Sep 2018, Karthikeyan

Three answers per commenter as usual till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

PREAMBLE

This crossword variant has two extra features added to the standard THC and the instructions to solve are given below:

1. Each four letter clue’s wordplay indicates one or two leading/trailing extra letters not required in its solution; 

for e.g. if the clue reads "Prove most obese doesn't have head (4)"
Wordplay leads us to the answer ATTEST; delete first 2 letters AT from ATTEST and fit the grid with TEST as the solution.

The letter deletion could be one or two either in the beginning or the end of the answer got from wordplay; solver has to make the decision on whether the deletion is starting letter(s) or ending letter(s); Also the resultant four letters arrived at will be meaningful.

All such 4-letter clues are starred and they are 10 in count. Across: 8,10,29,31;    Down: 1,3,7,26,27,28

Rest of the clues are to be solved in normal manner.

2. Taken in order, clockwise from the top left corner, on all the four sides, the letters from the outermost squares upon completion spell out seven-word phrase. 

Since this is a group solving exercise the phrase meaning is  also given and it is an extra clue to be solved;

Clue for the phrase: "trapped equally between two alternatives (7,3,5,3,3,4,3)" (Answer to this to be given only after all clues are solved in the comments)

ACROSS
8   College graduates jumping out on a limb without boot* (4)
9   That woman playing with the bird (5)
10 One bat fly starts off elegantly* (4)
11 Slips while beheading rowdies (6)
12 Every other place in Cairo grimly echo smoking water pipe (8)
13 Soldier comes in at last, flying like an arrow (8)
16 One of the same clan blowing the top of big gun (6)
18 Einstein's field photos capture shy reaction (7)
19 One deceased surrounded by darling daughter is bloated (7)
22 Forbid some frozen joints (6)
24 Maybe get broken into many bits (8)
25 Hugger overturned vehicle in cinder (8)
27 Careless Kasporav, when resigns, becomes Fischer's successor (6)
29 Doctor at the eye centre, source of light intitally prescribes deodorant* (4)
30 Embrocate some Indian elephant (5)
31 A mirth tuned a musical string* (4)

DOWN
1   Whimper about writing a short publicity notice* (4)
2   Fuses half of them with mortals (8)
3   Monetary unit like this for Ionian ancestor* (4)
4   Long twisted inside, twisty improperly (7)
5   Cherishing victory, slipped to fifth position prostrating (10)
6   Flag upheld in Nowgong is news (6)
7   Laymen upset by spooner's stiff joint* (4)
14 With both openers dismissed, was then getting pallid (5)
15 Sundar Pitchai for one bowled a googly to Trent coach (10)
17 Bird call or posting from @narendramodi (5)
20 Not at home, aberration damaged botanical gardens (8)
21 Rising temperature envelopes master, became known (7)
23 Sudden spate of turbulent Hudson river as the diver swam out (6)
26 Doctor treated sore condition to a greater extent* (4)
27 Enthusiastically make alternate plays after fractured knee* (4)
28 Many have said it's ethical* (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at KARTHIK 5

Enjoy

The Sunday Crossword No 3014, Sunday 23 Sep 2018

ACROSS
1   Electronic fault restricting new display (6) EVINCE {E}{VI{N}CE}
4   Old bottles, emptied and preserved, hidden (8) OBSCURED {O}{Bo...eS}{CURED}
9   Revolutionary nonsense transported critic (9) DETRACTOR {ROT}{CARTED}<=
11 Shy maiden, poor, left out (5) MOUSY {M}{lOUSY}
12 Rig vote designed to cause feeling of instability (7) VERTIGO*
13 Inexpert, united, right behind a friend (7) AMATEUR {A}{MATE}{U}{R}
14 Important dancer having cracked rib, in alarm, pale (5,9) PRIMA BALLERINA*
17 Sense retreat, for example, brought about by champion defending north vigorously (4,1,9) WITH A VENGEANCE {WIT}{HAVEN}{EG<=}{A{N}CE}
21 Monk admitting naughty dance (7) LAMBADA {LAM{BAD}A}
23 Letter, second sent round by Conservative in club (7) OMICRON {MO<=}{I{C}RON}
24 One day, provoked, did nothing (5) IDLED {1}{D}{LED}
25 Conductor using baton with energy after return (9) ELECTRODE {ROD}{E} after {ELECT}
26 Aim to go back aboard schooner perhaps for pleasure (8) GLADNESS {GLA{END<=}SS}
27 Blunder, as edited, partly rubbed out (6) ERASED [T]

DOWN
1   Leaf vegetable? Need, in a stew, about four (6) ENDIVE {END{IV}E*}
2   Vignette, proper text with odd parts missing, read (9) INTERPRET {vIgNeTtE+pRoPeR+tExT}
3   Beginnings of markings usually in curve upward in skull (7) CRANIUM {Ma...s}{Us...y}{IN}{ARC}<=
5   Bird found around rocky crag, lone duck (8,5) BARNACLE GOOSE {BA{CRAG+LONE}*{O}SE}

6   Contrast in heart broken by politician, heart of oak (7) COMPARE {CO{MP}{oAk}RE}
7   Speaker's beginning course (5) ROUTE (~root)
8   Pleasant fantasy story finally penned by father on quantity of paper (8) DAYDREAM {DA{s..rY}D}{REAM}
10 Agitators break rule most recklessly (13) TROUBLEMAKERS*
15 Run up with documents from debtors? Not interested (9) INCURIOUS {INCUR}{IOUS}
16 Satisfactorily located in row, good home (8) DWELLING {D{WELL}IN}{G}
18 Gang ahead after a scrap (7) ABANDON {BAND}{ON} after {A}
19 Top star is in remake (1-6) A-LISTER {AL{IS}TER}
20 Batting, lean and mean (6) INTEND {IN}{TEND}
22 Type of whisky available initially in country (5) MALTA {MALT}{Av...e}

GRID

No 12428, Saturday 22 Sep 2018, Incognito

Any more theme words from the movie 'Come September'?
Back to using the dreaded 'extraneous' indicator after abandoning it for a few weeks. Setters/solvers let me know if this is ok or if I should permanently abandon using it

Across

7. 2/3 of 27 arrive (4) COME {COMEdy} 27a is COMEDY
8. Beep terms out in “Ninth Month” (9) SEPTEMBER {BEEP+TERMS*}

10. Kirk's got a child at each side of old town (6) CHURCH {CH}{UR}{CH}
11. Young lady purloins metal and pulls wool over the eyes (8) MISLEADS {MIS{LEAD}S}
12. Interrogate poser (8) QUESTION (DD)
14. Hounds ran away to river (6) HUDSON {HOUNDS*}
16. USA mint is destroyed — it may cause flooding (7) TSUNAMI {USA+MINT*}
18. One musical group's on leave (7) ABANDON {A}{BAND}{ON}
21. Ex-student saw and followed instruction (6) OBEYED {OB}{EYED}
23. Got back from uncle's shop and planted grass around river before commencement of monsoon (8) REDEEMED {RE{DEE}{Monsoon}ED}
25. Abraham has non-drinking or primarily sober criminal assistants (8) ABETTORS {ABE}{TT}{OR}{Sober}
27. Beautiful lass is initially dropped for douchebag at first! Funny business! (6) COMEDY {COME(-l+D)Y}
29. Rod's following Metropolitan Police HQ's standard? (9) YARDSTICK {YARD}{STICK}
30. Mona left famous painting for Elizabeth, perhaps (4) LISA {monaLISA}

Down

1. Mughal queen loses a broken spur and pants (8) JODHPURS {JODHa}{SPUR*}
2. Look closely // for a person doing his job at a convenience (4) PEER (DD)
3. I'm confused about this badly! Necks of lands? (6) ISTHMI {THIS*}{I'M*}
4. Superintendent of Police at university has old crockery with froth on top (7) SPUMING {SP}{U}{MING}
5. Raj's mistress has returned ball after one, following setter's memorandum at first (8) MEMSAHIB {ME}{Memorandum}{HAS<=}{I}{B}
6. Ex-student's old English instrument (4) OBOE {OB}{O}{E}
9. Wireless “Advertisement's in the river in Spain” (5) RADIO {R{AD}IO}
13. Yellowish-beige, for example, seen around New Delhi initially (5) SANDY {SA{N}{Delhi|Y}
15. Move to music and cavort in front of church (5) DANCE {AND*}{CE}
17. Mouse had run helter-skelter in lodging for nutcases (8) MADHOUSE {MOUSE+HAD*}
19. Dove rose awkwardly — too much of drug, perhaps (8) OVERDOSE {DOVE+ROSE}
20. Harsh detectives return carrying mutilated rats! (7) DRASTIC {CID<=} around {RATS*}
22. Lad hugs a couple of boys for a copper (5)  BOBBY {BO{B}{B}Y}
24. Fine after last month starting of engine to remove carbon (6) DECOKE {DEC}{OK}{Engine}
26. Rent not returned around end of December (4) TORN {NOT<=} around {decembeR}
28. Military officer follows mummy for a drink (4) MALT {MA}{LT}

Reference List
Child=Ch, Old town=Ur, One=A, Ex-student=OB, River=Dee, Abraham=Abe, Non-Drinking=TT
Superintendent of Police=SP, University=U, Ball=B, One=I, Setter=Me, Old=O, English=E, Advertisement=Ad, New=N, Church=CE, Detectives=CID, Boys=B, Fine=OK, Last Month=Dec, Military Officer=Lt, Mummy=Ma

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

No 12427, Friday 21 Sep 2018, Neyartha

RULES FOR POSTING ON FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

Each commenter is requested to post only 3 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only 

The regular blog will replace the clues at 2 PM.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS
1   Regular cadence interrupted by Leo's blundering in the teen years (11) ADOLESCENCE {AD{LEOS*}CENCE*}
9   Yankee entering the Lok Sabha is captivated by the roles of a mythological character (7) ULYSSES {U{L{Y}S}SES}
10 A gift from the office to discard the informal information after setback (6) LEGACY {GEL<=}{AgenCY}
11 Farm with an upward slope (5) RAISE [DD]
12 Dangerous python constricting a duck in a violent storm (7) TYPHOON {TYPH{O}ON*}
15 Announced film about an animal shelter (4) COTE (~coat)
16 High pitch resulting from a health problem appearing after a quiet run (10) SHRILLNESS {SH}{R}{ILLNESS}
18 Celebration at sea after the run out is evident (10) NOTICEABLE CELEBrATION*
20 Son misplaced pipe with the part of a brake (4) SHOE (+s)SHO(-s)E
23 One exiled by the Oriental to invoke a positive feeling in a royal family member (7) EMPRESS (-i+e)EMPRESS
24 Force resulting in things getting done without realization? (5) HABIT [CD]
26 Letters from tourists enchanted by a type of green tea (6) SENCHA [T]
27 Violent windstorm making rust return to the round tops of the oil drums and nails (7) TORNADO {ROT}<={Oil}{Dr..s}{And}{Na..s}<=
28 Rude Gilbert shot for making an instrument possibly dangerous for epileptics (6,5) STROBE LIGHT*

DOWN
2   Rag in a windstorm (6) DUSTER [DD]
3   Heard famous Hungarian composer's record (4) LIST (~liszt)
4   Disguised sibyl taking in a student with a crumpled lily is a fool (5,5) SILLY BILLY {SIL{L}YB*}{LILY*}
5   Get wood varnish without a bill after Peggy loses margins on a thin kind of porcelain (8) EGGSHELL {pEGGy}{SHELLac}
6   Refusal to come up for participation in a revolution in a violent storm (7) CYCLONE {CYCL{NO<=}E}
7   Shade protecting a bishop with a single container in a violent storm (9) HURRICANE {HU{RR}{1}{CAN}E}
8   Man left out by a kettledrums player for a person operating a keyboard ... (6) TYPIST TYmPanIST
13 ... takes peach jam for a miserly person (10) CHEAPSKATE*
14 Statement in the article about a braid held up with a triumphant cry (9) ASSERTION {A{1 TRESS<=}{O}N}
17 Pam ignored macroscopic changes resulting in a sandstorm (8) SCIROCCO maCROSCOpIC*
19 Saint getting rid of the king in a bad mood in the violent windstorm (7) TEMPEST TEMPE(-r+st)ST
21 Focus on the price limit for a wheel accessory (6) HUBCAP {HUB}{CAP}
22 A poor mouse could live here (6) CHURCH [CD]
25 Small bag made with the help of some quiet Uighurs (4) ETUI [T]

GRID

No 12426, Thursday 20 Sep 2018, Buzzer

ACROSS
1   Door always opens to achieve success (3,2) WAY IN {wAYs} in WIN Not sure of Anno (Addendum - {W{AY}IN} - See comments)
4   Water essentially, flowing into vast channel (2,7) TV STATION {waTer}{INTO+VAST}*
9   Drop of reddish purple colour ran across (7) PLUMMET {PLUM}{MET}
10 Admit reluctantly tax shelters working fine (7) CONFESS {C{ON}{F}ESS}
11 Back opposition? (5,4) OTHER SIDE [DD]
12 Cable network group dropping the ball getting explosive material (1-4) H-BOMB {HBO}{MoB}
13 In total shambles king's address (4,2) TALK TO {K} in {TOTAL}*
15 Monitor showing W, H but not I, D? Go for return (8) WATCHDOG {W}{AiTCH}{D}{GO<=}
18 Chance of never-ending rains sweeping through UK (3,1,4) RUN A RISK {n..eR}{U{RAINS*}K}
19 Crib primarily for new baby really (2,4) IN FACT INFA(-n+c)CT
22 Greener pastures for a drunkard with restraint (5) LEASH {LEAS}H Anno pending (Addendum - ~ leash - See comments)
24 Beef or tuna teatime sandwiches, heaven-sent (9) FORTUNATE [T]
26 Picks petition describing court rule (7) PLECTRA {PLE{CT}{R}A}

27 Head waiter and helper girl carrying evenly carved turkey (6,1) MAITRE D {MAI{TuRkEy}D}
28 Signing up for battle, not a normal teen (9) ENROLMENT {NORMaL+TEEN}*
29 Fine square type yard (5) SILKY {S}{ILK}{Y}

DOWN
1   Why pout? By the sound of it in disappointment (7) WIPEOUT (~why pout)
2   Juvenile one reading two-thirds of article (5) YOUTH {YOU}{THe}
3   One of an upper group in a vulgar division (9) NUMERATOR [CD]
4   Piece of tasty thing nibbled at (6) TITBIT [DD] (Addendum - {Ta..y}{IT}{BIT} - See comments)
5   Like Channel Islands and the rest of community (8) SOCIETAL {SO}{CI}{ET AL}
6   Suburb of Pune with surrounding university hospital (5) AUNDH {A{U}ND}{H}
7   Competitive No.1 dealing hiding, beats me (3,2,4) I'VE NO IDEA [T]
8   Sack be so, feeding horse? (7) NOSEBAG {BE+SO}* in {NAG} &lit
14 Listen to inner voice ignoring surging adrenaline (4,2,3) LEND AN EAR ADRENALiNE*
16 Tons of carbon and uranium found among items (9) CENTURIES {C}{ENT{U}RIES}
17 A very smooth opener for England in recent times (2,2,4) AS OF LATE {A}{SO}{FLAT}{En...d}
18 Cast pearls before swine ultimately a setback (7) RELAPSE {PEARLS*}{s..nE}
20 24 hours to compose duet say (7) TUESDAY*
21 Quick reminder (6) PROMPT [DD]
23 House rent raised for boarding place (5) HOTEL {HO}{LET<=}
25 Pair in prison judge sent away for a month (5) APRIL {jA{PR}IL}

GRID

Bhargav's Talepiece

The bouncer and the dancer - Part 105

A bright and sunny TUESDAY in the month of APRIL.

Major General Jackson wearing a SILKY blue shirt came out of the HOTEL where he was staying and  was respectfully greeted by the MAITRE 'D.

He soon entered the WAY IN at the Army HQ and was as usual PROMPT in keeping the appointment. After the introductions Jackson began to TALK TO those present.

Everyone did keenly LEND AN EAR to what he was about to say. IN FACT Jackson was brief. He said that years back they did not want to RUN A RISK in writing down the message. But to confuse the OTHER SIDE they had made a few envelopes with dummy messages.

The idea was to put the enemies on a wild goose chase and were very FORTUNATE in having achieved the same.

By efflux of time the matter and the list had lost its importance. But the enemies were kept busy!!

TIT-BIT:

Uncle Sam and Gombu were relieved on the appearance of Maj. General Jackson and the clarification given.

And thus we come to the end of the Bouncer and the Dancer.

No 12425, Wednesday 19 Sep 2018, Arden

ACROSS
9   Within a month offer capital (7) ABIDJAN {A}{BID}{JAN} That should have been the Economic capital. Political capital is Yamoussoukro
10 Ugly drug, girls become quiet (7) HAGGISH HA(-sh+gg)GGISH
11 Bad feeling having succeeded in two overs (7) REMORSE Anno pending (Addendum - {RE}{MOR{S}E} - See comments)
12 Once capital diplomacy used to stop mob violence (4,3) RIOT ACT {RIO}{TACT}
13 Beer drinking — everyone joins Bill as he sings (9) BALLADEER {B{ALL}{AD}EER}
15 I had returned to old state (5) IDAHO {I}{HAD<=}{O}
16 About cost there is unpredictability (7) CAPRICE {CA}{PRICE}
19 Killers trim beards evenly (7) SNIPERS {SNIP}{bEaRdS}
20 Liquor regularly sent in, you're welcome (3,2) GET IN {G{sEnT}IN}
21 Spooner's frank in using furniture outdoors (9) CAMPSTOOL (-st+c)CAMP(-c+st)STOOL Using/Cool? See comments
25 Poles take over, it spins continuously (7) NONSTOP {N{O}NS}{TOP}
26 Ships's gone away, taking everyone (7) GALLEON {ALL} in {GONE*}
28 Editors reproduce chemical... (7) STEROID*
29 ...when mass-energy are taken altogether (2,5) EN MASSE [T]

DOWN
1   City girl in zebra crossing (6) ZAGREB {G} in {ZEBRA}*
2   Terrible call, second man implicated (6) DISMAL {DI{S}{M}AL}
3   Open to the ascension of Indian King (4) AJAR <=
4   Girl gets in next, essentially an extension (6) ANNEXE {ANN{nEXt}E}
5   Four in India, rest away in France (8) CHARTRES {CHAR}{REST*}
6   Avoids taking a small car, not right to give abuses (10) IGNOMINIES {IGNOr{MINI}ES}
7   Vehicle enters through empty garage in minister’s house (8) VICARAGE {VI{CAR}A}{Ga..gE}
8   He is on Times, goes around the favelas (8) GHETTOES {G{HE}{TT}OES}
14 Transfer to the said foreign country (10) ALIENATION (~ alien nation)
16 Tax over a drink, showing caution (8) CAGINESS {C{A}{GIN}ESS}
17 Granted rights on cue, need time to resettle (8) PATENTED {PAT}{NEED+T}*
18 Thrill for a day, avoid outdoors (8) ESCAPADE {ESCAP{A}{D}E}
22 It's attractive, partly over ten games (6) MAGNET [T<=]
23 Property act, take time out and return to port (6) ODESSA {ASSEt}{DO}<=
24 Inlet can be adopted for a knife (6) LANCET {L{CAN*}ET}
27 Starts with limited investment, maintaining adequate capital (4) LIMA Acrostic

GRID