No 12621, Thursday, 09 May 2019, Dr. X

Celebrating my 40th wedding anniversary at a resort in Maldives. Thanks in advance for all the good wishes (Poor Wifi here :-( )

ACROSS
1   Chip getting in line after master’s vitriolic speech (8) ACERBITY {ACE}{R{BIT}Y}
5   Reflect and stand in awe when woman becomes President (6) PONDER (-w+p)PONDER
10 Cotton fabric acceptable in warm wind (7) CHINOOK {CHINO}{OK}
11 Cracks terribly vile case, killing leader of insurgents (7) CLEAVES {ViLE+CASE}*
12 Public left bar (5) OVERT {OVER}{T}
13 Seduced director after taking off a little indecent dress to secure work (9) ATTRACTED AT{TRACT}ED Anno pending
14 What a director might do to behave badly in public (6,1,5) CREATE A SCENE [DD]
18 Hot-headed in prison, many seethe and come to grief (5,3,4) CRASH AND BURN {C{RASH}AN}{D}{BURN}
21 Bush — fellow changing history with war essentially (9) FORSYTHIA {F}{HISTORY*}{wAr}

23 Boats transporting hard criminals (5) THUGS {T{H}UGS}
24 Pesticide-free cultivation of grain adopted by revolutionary firm (7) ORGANIC {O{GRAIN*}C<=}
25 Japanese drama, a musical performance, almost certain failure (2-5) NO-HOPER {NOH}{OPERa}
26 African currency given by one after knocking back cold dish (6) DALASI {1}{SALAD}<=
27 Rogue is ready to embrace gal heartily, it seems to me (1,4,3) I DARE SAY {IS+READY}* over {gAl}

DOWN
1   Make fast love in shady ranch (6) ANCHOR {ANCH{O}R*}
2   High society types, drunk in court, pulled up (6) ELITES{E{LIT}ES<=}
3   Start to beam subdued light showing hot stripper? (9) BLOWTORCH {Beam}{LOW}{TORCH}
4   What a meteorologist might do to decline offer for now? (4,1,4,5) TAKE A RAIN CHECK [DD]
6   Greek character say, in Gulf nation wants bit of narcotic (5) OMEGA {OM{EG}An}
7   Fanatics raising issue to win election (8) DEVOTEES {DE{VOTE}ES<=}
8   Endless struggle to limit unpaid balances (8) RESIDUES {RESI{DUE}St}
9   Frivolous broadcast by highbrow journalist (14) SCATTERBRAINED {SCATTER}{BRAIN}{ED}
15 One supporting invalid cases? (9) STRETCHER [CD]
16 A very loud lecture outside platform (8) SCAFFOLD {SC{A}{FF}OLD}
17 Song by wild girl about endless passion coming up (8) MADRIGAL {MAD}{fIRe<=}{GAL}
19 Knocking back drink after bizarre brawl (6) RUMPUS {RUM}{SUP<=}
20 Wide! Stumped in a flash (6) ASTRAY {A}{ST}{RAY}
22 Snatches sneaky criminal scoring ecstasy (5) YANKS SNeAKY*

Reference List
Master = ACE, Chip = BIT, Line = RY, Acceptable = OK, Bar = T, Prison = CAN, Many = D, Hard = H, Firm = Company = CO, Drunk = LIT, Court = SEE, Issue = SEED, Journalist = ED, Loud = F, Drink = SUP, Ecstacy = E

GRID