No.11154, Monday 04 Aug 2014 From the Files of Sankalak

Wonderful Sankalak takes us on a voyage to islands like the British, the Channel, Crete, Capri etc.  teaching us a word or two in the process@.

ACROSS
1 Use of force makes the signors age unfortunately (10) AGGRESSION (SIGNORS AGE)*
7 First of cats to grow old in animal enclosure (4) CAGE (C AGE)
9 The stand-in expected to arrive and conquer (6) SUBDUE (SUB DUE)
@10 Part of plane more extended, working (8) LONGERON (LONGER ON)
11 Women’s quarters return paintings with terrible rage (8) SERAGLIO (RAGE* in OILS<)
12 Longs to use English in stories (6) YEARNS (E in YARNS)
@13 Herb is a refined man, a Scot (7) GENTIAN (GENT IAN)
16 Field officer with predominating influence is not appropriate (7) FOREIGN (FO REIGN)
17 Exercise for little dogs endlessly caged inside (4-3) PUSH-UPS (SHUt in PUPS)
19 Delhi, for one, in a perturbed condition about enactment (7) STATUTE (U.T. in STATE)
22 A means of transport, note, to get forward in Italy (6) AVANTI (A VAN TI)
          Came across this for the first time in The Count of Monte Cristo !
23 Part of the skeleton giving firmness of character (8) BACKBONE (CD)
26 The SHO comes bubbling with gossip (8) SCHMOOSE (SHO COMES)* Attached link to Schmooze, since I could not find Schmoose online. Chambers, however, has schmoose.
27 British policeman’s kitchen gadget (6) PEELER (2)
          Surprisingly both parts of Robert Peel's name became slang for policemen, Robert leading to Bobby/ies
28 Baked dish with some original flavour taken back (4) FLAN (T<)
29 The qualities of accolades given after a time (10) ATTRIBUTES (A T TRIBUTES)

DOWN
2 The measure of a track, for one (5) GAUGE (CD)
3 Sailor with new help gets up shining (7) RADIANT (N AID in TAR)<  = RA(DIA N)T<
4 Strong alloy at a bargain, say (5) STEEL (~STEAL)
5 Houses in which to find police officer almost unbound (6) IGLOOS (IG LOOSe)
          People who live in icehouses should not 7d inside
6 Can a crazy gnat annoy this creature? (5,4) NANNY GOAT (GNAT ANNOY)*
7 Consign to flames the master in a Mediterranean island (7) CREMATE (MA in CRETE)
8 A wish for well-earned rest for a virtuous, noble man, we hear (4,5) GOOD NIGHT (GOOD ~KNIGHT)
14 A match with a broken voice, reduced, ambiguous (9) EQUIVOCAL (EQUAL with VOICE*) (Addendum - EQUAL over VOICe* - Se comments)e
@15 Creatures that could turn a hippo mad (9) AMPHIDOMA  AMPHIPODA (A HIPPO MAD)* correction rec'd from Lakshmi Vaidyanathan by mail
18 Guessing game for one whose job is to kill (7) HANGMAN (2)

20 Pictorial representation by directors supported by a university (7) TABLEAU (TABLE=board=directors A U)
21 The aim in trashing job etc. (6) OBJECT (JOB ETC)*
24 A month in the Channel Islands or another island (5) CAPRI (APR in C.I.)
25 Relative born with built-in integrated circuit (5) NIECE (IC* in NEE) Built as Aind See comments

GRID:

No.11153, Saturday 2 Aug 2014, From the files of Sankalak

Like fine wine, with time Sankalak's offerings are becoming more delectable. Today's was as good as any especially with clues like OFTENER, SPINNER, CALLOUS and PANDA.

ACROSS
1 Cleansed, fried dish administered to one inside (8) PURIFIED [fried dish=PURI + administered=FED outside one=I]
5 Giant grass, once used in a Chinese curtain (6) BAMBOO [CD]
10 Marine food for some poor merrymakers (5) ORMER [T]

11 Protection for authors from duplicate title (9) COPYRIGHT [duplicate=COPY + title=RIGHT]
12 Exactitude needed in copiers spelt out (9) PRECISION [IN COPIERS]*
13 It gets a rubbing on the bower’s strings (5) ROSIN [CD]
14 Stiff with age, prisoner with privileges loses head (5) RUSTY [prisoner with privileges=tRUSTY]
16 Top cover for the chief with flaming rage (8) HEADGEAR [chief=HEAD + RAGE*]
18 Cheeky talk by footballer before tea time (8) BACKCHAT [footballer=BACK + tea=CHA + Time]
20 Relaxed, with disease diagnosed partially (5) EASED [T]
24 Twisted towel for a little hooter? (5) OWLET [TOWEL]*
25 It is added at the end to follow cessation of war, we hear (9) TAILPIECE [follow=TAIL + ~PEACE=cessation of war]
27 Soldiers’ steps, not quick, in a rather dull month (4,5) SLOW MARCH [rather dull=SLOW + month=MARCH]
28 For a Keralite, a currency in Africa (5) NAIRA [Keralite=NAIR + A]

29 Dislike extremes of enervation during relaxation (6) RESENT [EnervatioN inside relaxation=REST]
30 Artist, sent back, fumed about new kind of marriage (8) ARRANGED [artist=RA<- + fumed=RAGED outside New]

DOWN
1 The first in school, in the right environment, would do well (7) PROSPER [School inside right=PROPER]
2 Kind of spectacles with no edge to them (7) RIMLESS [CD]
3 A grim reference turned up revealing the name of famous physicist (5) FERMI [T<-]
4 Father of geometry in a city in Ohio (6) EUCLID [DD]
6 Facility for fliers — ambience and game (3,6) AIR BRIDGE [ambience=AIR + game=BRIDGE]
7 By-product of sugar, vapour found in the root (7) BAGASSE [vapour=GAS inside root=BASE]

8 Laundering aid, without a hint of soap more frequently (7) OFTENER [laundering aid=sOFTENER]
9 He gets a turn, on or off (7) SPINNER [CD]
15 My hats can be adjusted for this sailor (9) YACHTSMAN [MY HATS CAN]*
17 It goes with assault in a threat of physical attack (7) BATTERY [CD]
18 Computer program that turns worse in Britain (7) BROWSER [WORSE* inside BRitain]

                                                                                              Cartoons by Rishi

19 Everyone in business (American) is unfeeling (7) CALLOUS [everyone=ALL inside business=CO + American=US]
21 Process that precedes reaping (7) SEEDING [CD]
22 Archconservative who may have a difficult end? (7) DIEHARD [CD]
23 Humour, that girl’s, could become stale (6) WITHER [humour=WIT + that girl's=HER]
26 Priest in India, as well in Pennsylvania (5) PANDA [as well=AND inside PennsylvaniA]

No.11152, Friday 01 Aug 2014, From the files of Sankalak

It is always a pleasure to blog a Sankalak puzzle

ACROSS
1 Last month, the French engineer was to make an announcement (7) DECLARE (DEC LA RE)
5 Set free the backward wickedness borne by the German (7) DELIVER (LIVER on DE) (VILE< in DER) See comments
9 Famous painting by Raphael (7,3,5) MADONNA AND CHILD (GK)

10 Isolated area that may get hot somehow (6) GHETTO (GET HOT)*
11 Actor, not really antagonistic to the lead player (8) ANTIHERO (CD)
13 Sound first heard by caller from a singer suppressed by agitated Enid (4,4) DIAL TONE (ALTO in ENID*)
          This sound is now heard only by some of us dinosaurs who are sometimes immobile
15 Away in Baroda, lost (6) ABROAD (BARODA*)
18 Engineer in favour of starting evaluation in advance (6) BEFORE (BE FOR E)
19 Dawn marking a 24-hour recess (8) DAYBREAK (DAY BREAK)
22 He enlivens the soul, reversing decay (8) ANIMATOR (ANIMA ROT<)
24 Nothing very stupid in this Danish city (6) ODENSE (O DENSE)
27 Where to read to find hidden meaning in the text (7,3,5) BETWEEN THE LINES (CD)
          Reading between the lines, I'd say our cartoonists are obsessed with lines (curves or otherwise) and things between them, and rightly so ...

Cartoon by Rishi

Cartoon by Bhargav

28 Final stage of play to finish what is hunted (3,4) END GAME (END GAME)

29 Blunder by a girl, backing a cat perhaps (7) MISSTEP (MISS PET<)

DOWN
1 Journal (English) kept by father is spoilt (7) DAMAGED (MAGazine E in DAD)
2 Core group has to worry about daughter (5) CADRE (CARE about D)
3 He makes explanatory notes on “Art at Noon” perhaps (9) ANNOTATOR (ART AT NOON)*
4 Enthusiasm shown by an angel animatedly (4) ELAN (T)
5 Racket at home over a bit of gracious eating (6) DINING (DIN IN G)
6 Fruit for one lunch — it is prepared with nut removed (5) LICHI (1 LUNCH IT-NUT)*
7 Verbal expression of support or otherwise in the House (5,4) VOICE VOTE (GK)
8 The growth that a revolutionary courted without energy (7) REDWOOD (RED WOOED - E)
12 Worker upsets Indian state authorities initially (3) ANT (TN A)<
14 With botched facelift, daughter is distressed (9) AFFLICTED (FACELIFT* D)
16 Innocent, childlike women, playthings for little kids (4,5) BABY DOLLS (2)
17 Mechanical device found in English river (3) CAM (2)
18 Beginning to bluster, mob is in a brawl (7) BRABBLE (B RABBLE)
20 See punk disgraced in a riotous party (5-2) KNEES UP (SEE PUNK)*
21 British measure that could recoil (6) BOUNCE (B OUNCE)
23 A haven accommodating the oat grass (5) AVENA (T)
25 Musicians finding unity in the books (5) NONET (ONE in NT)
26 Sudden change of mind of wife over that man (4) WHIM (W HIM)

GRID :

A bonus cartoon from Rishi for yesterday's prime phrase*

* Typing this I wondered how a seraph* can be debriefed after an earthly mission if he went commandoin the first palc ...

No.11124, Monday 30 June 2014, From the files of Sankalak

Sankalak continues to amaze with his long anagrams and superb surfaces

ACROSS
1 In which one may be in a state of anxiety, shivering and perspiring! (4,5) COLD SWEAT (CD)
5 Notes taken in transport for a conifer (5) CEDAR (E,D in CAR)
8 Loss of power when feathers drop (8) DOWNFALL (2)  I put in 'shedding' at first thinking of TN power situation, not political loss of power
9 First of sons in marriage leads to harmony (6) UNISON (S in UNION)
11 Wedge driven into an article attractively (5) CLEAT (T)
12 I snub user misbehaving somewhat like a bear (9) SUBURSINE (I SNUB USER)*
13 Girl who could fib about a Nazi guard (6) LASSIE (LIE about A SS)
14 Lag’s bone, treated, shows inert element (5,3) NOBLE GAS (LAG'S BONE)*

 

Cartoon by Bhargav

 16 Playing a part with university prefects initially behaving badly (6,2) ACTING UP (ACTING U P)
18 A lemur? Yes, indeed (3-3) AYE AYE (2)
22 Very energetic lady, manic, however (9) DYNAMICAL (LADY MANIC)*
23 Escape the attention of Alamelu deliberately to an extent (5) ELUDE (T)
24 Device that gives a signal to a busy one, period! (6) BEEPER (BEE PER.)
25 Plan to evict Ron somehow (8) CONTRIVE (EVICT RON)*
26 Features of negative votes about introduction of statute (5) NOSES (NOES about S)
27 The way things are moving — that is, by the way, the most fashionable (9) TRENDIEST (TREND I.E. ST)

DOWN
1 Addition made by one with a will (7) CODICIL (CD)

 Cartoon by Rishi

2 Perfect but, losing head, anarchic (7) LAWLESS (fLAWLESS)
3 Tiny fuses barmen set off for security when in a group (6,2,7) SAFETY IN NUMBERS (TINY FUSES BARMEN)*

4 Measure of inclination to sign up (6) ENLIST (EN LIST)
5 Provided with comfort in cold weather, should a theatre deny call for adjustment? (9,6) CENTRALLY HEATED (THEATRE DENY CALL)*
6 Spirited rush in government (7) DASHING (DASH IN G)
7 Messengers who assist some batsmen (7) RUNNERS (2)
10 A French actor returning to be a superior monk (5) ABBOT (A BB(TO)<) BB for Brigitte Bardot
15 Mixed drink with a telling force (5) PUNCH (2)
           Remembered the magazine
16 A famous naturalist to the French, of the French? Good (7) AUDUBON (AU DU BON) Had to Google to confirm
17 Sailors go around North-north-east to find people working with hides and skins (7) TANNERS (TARS around NNE)
19 A deep thought about drip-feed — interesting (7) AMUSIVE (A MUSE about IV, for intravenous drip feed)
20 First lady and the others on a mount (7) EVEREST (EVE REST)
21 Parties steeped in drink, sugar! (6) ALDOSE (DOS in ALE)

No.11123, Saturday 28 Jun 14, From the files of Sankalak

Lot of very good clues with superb surface readings, but the long ones in PERMANENT MAGNET, NEUROSURGEON, OLD AGE PENSIONER, AUTHENTICATE were terrific. What else is there to say for a Sankalak puzzle other than a big thank you and count our continued blessings?

ACROSS
1 Sign of island resort business beginning to ruffle North (9) CAPRICORN [CAPRI + CO + Ruffle + North]

5 Scrub a hollow craft with gold filling (5) ABORT [A + OR inside BoaT]
8 Try air treatment — something seldom met with (6) RARITY [TRY AIR]*
9 How one might fall sleep with legs drawn (6,2) CURLED UP [E]

 

Illustration by Rishi

11 Removal, in part, of a shape (4) OVAL [T]
12 Where to be when wanting to evade attention? (3,2,5) OUT OF SIGHT [CD]
14 Time in history when there was a setback to work in English church (5) EPOCH [OP<= inside E + CH]
15 City, old place accommodating Ida up for treatment (7) UDAIPUR [UR outside IDA UP*]

16 Disappointment for daughter in the French city (3-4) LET DOWN [Daughter inside LE + TOWN]
17 Good precipitation gives staple food (5) GRAIN [Good + RAIN]
19 With her husband away, for her the wag’s word is cruel (5,5) GRASS WIDOW [WAGS WORD IS]*
20 A measure of drink — it helps some breathe (4) GILL [DD]
22 Living to a ripe old age? A vegan? LOL, hilarious (8) LONGEVAL [VEGAN LOL]*
23 Oriental plane, transport carrying a bird (6) CHENAR [CAR outside HEN]

24 Ways to remove love from deep sadness (5) PATHS [PATHoS]
25 Given the ability, setter backs war detune; with hesitation, editor follows (9) EMPOWERED [ME<= + POW + ER + ED] Perhaps 'detune;' is a typo for 'détenu'?

DOWN
1 Rope operating as a barrier (6) CORDON [CORD + ON]
2 New game, ‘’Entrapment’’ — somehow it has a lasting attraction! (9,6)  PERMANENT MAGNET [New GAME ENTRAPMENT]*
3 A very small amount put up by a paper (4) IOTA [A + TOI]<=
4 Specialist doctor with new money, on a wave, in action (12) NEUROSURGEON [New + EURO + SURGE + ON]
5 Fit sailor, above the ordinary (4,6) ABLE SEAMAN [CD]
6 Reopening doles a new way for one on the dole? (3,3,9) OLD AGE PENSIONER [REOPENING DOLES A]*

Cartoon by Rishi

7 Barman, one who tries out contained drop of Perrier (7) TAPSTER [TASTER outside Perrier]
10 Certify a university, thereafter reduce credit, adding a note (12) AUTHENTICATE [A + U + THEN + TICk + A + TE]
13 In the US, Joey’s son develops a state of bliss (10) JOYOUSNESS [US JOEYS SON]*
16 Support lapse by fielder (3,4) LEG SLIP [LEG + SLIP]
18 The pest travelled endlessly for a fishing aid (3,3) FLY ROD [FLY + RODe]

21 Food, hot, swallowed by bovine (4) CHOW [Hot inside COW]

No 11122, Friday 27 Jun 2014, From the files of Sankalak

Thanks to Padmanabhan's efforts and liaison, we are back to normal. The CW is not available online due to some software issues which are being addressed and will be back soon.

Another masterly offering. Words cannot express how we will feel when The Hindu runs out of CWs from the files of Sankalak.

ACROSS
1   Rat catcher Roca trained as a special role player (9,5) CHARACTER ACTOR*
8   Person, inadequate, just for once (3-3) ONE-OFF {ONE}-{OFF}
9   Deliveries exploited and carried too far (8) OVERUSED {OVER}{USED}
11 Cody upset in obstruction by biological timer (4,5) BODY CLOCK {B{ODY C*}LOCK}

 Cartoon by Rishi

12 Working, one working with a bulb (5) ONION {ON}{1}{ON}
13 More wet weather in Monaco? (7) RAINIER [DD]

  Cartoon by Bhargav

15 Send back one from Odisha, dismiss the blunderer (3,4) SAD SACK {SAD<=} {SACK} How I love these comics

17 Rely on having energy in one part of the pool (4,3) DEEP END {DE{E}P END}
19 It holds the lecturer’s address (7) LECTERN [CD]
21 For overweight gangster, it is deadly (5) FATAL {FAT}{AL}
23 Crass whim translated into sailor’s handicraft (9) SCRIMSHAW*

25 Ill-fated one standing trial with a touch of regret (8) ACCURSED {ACCU{R}SED}
26 Silver in the residence by way of tribute (6)  HOMAGE {HOM{AG}E}
27 Dishonest trader but he may sell white goods too (5-9) BLACK-MARKETEER [CD]

DOWN
1   Tool to make one express satisfaction with lawyers (7) CROWBAR {CROW}{BAR}
2   Way to go if you are not to be left behind (5) AHEAD [CD]
3   Face vet if troubled, stirring the emotions (9) AFFECTIVE*
4   Rebel leader inspires but annuls it (7) REVOKES {R}{EVOKES}
5   Goods found in cold, old ship (5) CARGO {C}{ARGO}
6   Stubborn old boy, say, about returning nickel (9) OBSTINATE {OB}{ST{IN<=}ATE}
7   General knowledge about sand strewn in port city (6) GDANSK {G{SAND*}K}
10 Snake beginning to ruffle wild pig (4) BOAR {BOA}{R}

14 The same impression, one found in one American state (9) IDENTICAL {1}{DENT}{1}{CAL}
16 Cause decay of French music maker lacking resistance (9) DECOMPOSE {DE}{COMPOSEr}
17 Vanquish with extremes of diligence, an achievement (6) DEFEAT {DiligencE}{FEAT}
18 Take the helmet off the pretty girl, the Spanish maiden (7) DISHELM {DISH}{EL}{M}
19 Enticement from a Belur entity (4) LURE [T]
20 Novel, unknown listener seen on January 1 (3,4) NEW YEAR {NEW} {Y}{EAR}
22 Worldly riches providing the words of a song (5) LYRIC [T]
24 Hold energy within for a lift up (5) HEAVE {H{E}AVE}

GRID HERE

No.11092, Friday 23 May 2014, From the files of Sankalak

Another Superb one from Sankalak giving immense pleasure

ACROSS
1 Giving confidence with a call about American ship in retreat (8) ASSURING (A (USS<) RING)
5 School head deals effectively with visual display units (6) SCOPES (S COPES)
10 Team taken in by a mantra or self-evident truth (5) AXIOM (XI in A OM)
11 The key for one preparing data in columns (9) TABULATOR 2 &LIT
12 With the heart muscle relaxed, girl, a philosophic one suppresses onset of love (9) DIASTOLIC (DI A STO(L)IC
13 Do wrong, say, in return and burn (5) SINGE (SIN EG<)
14 Girl with article riding the elevated (5) ETHEL (THE in EL)
16 Loss of energy for a trainer, it becomes an annoyance (8) IRRITANT (TRAINER IT-E)*
18 A fine flute played with a bit of nostalgia — so rich (8) AFFLUENT (A F (FLUTE+N)*)

                                                                                                Cartoon by Rishi
20 Youth club leaders escorted by old general to French school (5) LYCEE (YC in LEE)
24 Observer, held by criminal, scratched off the paint (5) KEYED (EYE in KD)
              I understand in the British times, the Indian Police used KD as an abbreviation for a Known Defaulter or something like that. In Kannada, KD is used to refer to a 'rowdy sheeter'.  Once, in my Kannada answer paper (10th standard), I wrote KD Raya for Krishna Deva Raya ... It was the first time I was writing a Kannada exam
25 How a user, oriental, rebuilt a godown (9) WAREHOUSE (HOW A USER E)*
27 Plant, bile producer? The least acceptable without sulphur (9) LIVERWORT (LIVER WORsT)
28 Geometry is all about this (5) SHAPE CD
29 The way to travel, a big step (6) STRIDE (ST RIDE)
30 The most revealing undergarment is French (8) BRIEFEST (BRIEF EST)
           The briefest brief?

DOWN
1 A minor under protection with energy and ecstasy — he gets the prize! (7) AWARDEE (A WARD E E)
2 Green vegetable that can turn a child (7) SPINACH (SPIN A CH)
3 Area of work — part of a rare mite’s evolution (5) REMIT (T)
4 Clear of all charges, the French cause annoyance (6) NETTLE (NETT LE)
6 Right away, lilac trees turn heavenly (9) CELESTIAL (LILAC TrEES)*
7 Flower, dear girl carries one (7) PETUNIA (PET UNA carries 1)
8 Bond returning to confront surging water in overfulness (7) SURFEIT (SURF TIE<)
9 The old boy’s restoration to health is uncertain (7) OBSCURE (OB'S CURE)
15 Such money, however, is not clean (9) LAUNDERED CD
            Time money launderers were taken to the cleaners ...

17 Specialised skill is a negative, you say? In what way? (7)  KNOWHOW (~NO HOW)
18 Substances found in saki, all mixed up (7) ALKALIS (SAKI ALL)*

                                                                                          Cartoon by Bhargav    
19 Knowing about a road above another (7) FLYOVER (FLY OVER)
21 Endlessly woo over time, showing boldness (7) COURAGE (COURt AGE)
22 The French soldiers in Indian newspaper — the proper medium! (7) ELEMENT (LE MEN in ET)
          Sankalak in his element!
23 Server trades article for right as author (6) WRITER (Wa(R)ITER)
26 Detest accepting a bit of silver with undue speed (5) HASTE (S in HATE)

No.11091, Thursday 22 May 2014, From the files of Sankalak

Lot of clues to like - ÉTUDE, SAN MARINO, TARTAN, DEBIT, ACTIN, BEARER, SNOWBOUND, TENNIS MATCHES, OBITUARY, ENDANGER, OBJECT, BROOK, DRAMBUIE and ENGAGE. That looks like more or less all clues. 2d and 3d brought a sense of loss briefly when I was solving, but the rest of the puzzle cheered me up and reminded of all the good times. Thank you Sankalak.

ACROSS
1 Prisoner taken by tube to old place for a trip with a guide (9,4) CONDUCTED TOUR [CON + DUCTED + TO + UR]

                                                                                               Cartoon by Rishi

10 Think about twisted wire in white heath (9) BRIERWOOD [BROOD outside WIRE*]
11 Edible seaweed featured in medical avertiment (5) LAVER [T]
12 Musical work // study in France (5) ÉTUDE [DD]
13 European republic has no marinas, unfortunately (3,6) SAN MARINO [NO MARINAS]*

14 Material for a sailor, nice brown colour (6) TARTAN [TAR + TAN]
16 Entry in account for one in encumbrance (5) DEBIT [1 inside DEBT]
19 The protein for performance lacking nothing (5) ACTIN [ACTIoN]
20 He endures // a kind of bond (6) BEARER [DD]

                                                                                         Cartoon by Bhargav
25 The voice to put control at jeopardy (9) CONTRALTO [CONTROL AT]*
26 French author for whom Penny left university area (5) CAMUS [CAMpUS]
27 Creature that is acceptable to a Greek character (5) OKAPI [OK + A + PI]
28 Stuck in bad weather, down: no bus moving (9) SNOWBOUND [DOWN NO BUS]*
29 Court contests (6,7) TENNIS MATCHES [CD]

DOWN
2 Passing notice (8) OBITUARY [CD]
3 Lament for a late person (5) DIRGE [CD]
4 A beggar cannot be thus (6) CHOOSY [CD]
5 The aim — to provoke and put at risk (8) ENDANGER [END + ANGER]
6 Garrulous valet with a kit let loose (9) TALKATIVE [VALET A KIT]*
7 Expose a French evil developing (6) UNVEIL [UN + EVIL*]
8 The goal is to oppose (6) OBJECT [DD]
9 Allow inclusion of resistance in the script (5) BROOK [R inside BOOK]
15 The instrument that darin’ Coco played (9) ACCORDION [DARIN' COCO]*

17 Call unknown sibling for procedure to purify blood (8) DIALYSIS [DIAL + Y + SIS]
18 A bird (emu) turns to drink (8) DRAMBUIE [A BRID EMU]*

21 Mignonette raised in a glade serves a purpose (6) RESEDA [T<=]
22 Highlander with love at heart may leave quickly (5) SCOOT [0 inside SCOT]
23 One point about a joke that may occupy one (6) ENGAGE [ENE outside GAG]
24 A bag too clumsy in Colombia (6) BOGOTÁ [BAG TOO]*
26 Copper writer with a three-dimensional shape (5) CUBIC [CU + BIC]

No.11058, Monday 14 Apr 2014, Sankalak's files

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THOSE WHO CELEBRATE IT TODAY

and a fortnight old one for those who were ahead of the times and  have already used up 15 days.

Sankalak's clues leave me dumbfounded in awe!

ACROSS
1 The ad Ed cited turned out to be purposeful (9) DEDICATED (AD ED CITED)*
5 Fundamental language of the computer (5) BASIC CD,DD
          I underwent a BASIC course at the Indian Institute of Science in 1984
8 State of sick one followed by endless din (8) ILLINOIS (ILL 1 NOISe)
9 Revolutionary grabs record in day nursery (6) CRECHE (REC in CHE)
          Was he trying to get rid of paternity records?
11 Author, one of two with a touch of amiability (5) TWAIN (TWIN with A)

12 Wear feathers or wear casual clothes? (5,4) DRESS DOWN 2
13 Live to conquer desire (6) RESIDE (DESIRE)*
14 Fliers broadcast in favour of church (3,5) AIR FORCE (AIR FOR CE)
16 A Nazi guard with another at home as a hitman (8) ASSASSIN (A SS A SS IN)
18 Liaison made memorable in a Cary Grant movie (6) AFFAIR CD,DD
22 A large bee in flight is acceptable (9) AGREEABLE (A LARGE BEE)*
23 Greek character depicted in the original pharmacopoeia (5) ALPHA T
24 Irritable because of a small diaper? (6) SNAPPY (S NAPPY)
          Yeh andar ki baat hai!
25 Nobleman, half affected in manner (8) ARCHDUKE (half of it is ARCH=affected in manner)
26 Inhibit stag swallowing a piece of turnip (5) DETER (T in DEER)
27 Beast born defective, with a sponge-like quality (9) ABSORBENT (BEAST BORN)*

DOWN
1 The German hiding a crack, homeless, jobless one (7) DRIFTER (RIFT in DER)
2 Pretty girls have a right to money (7) DOLLARS (DOLLS have A R) My COD
          Pretty girls have it and get it!
3 Anemic president cured of dog’s disease (6,9) CANINE DISTEMPER (ANEMIC PRESIDENT)*
4 Tried desperately with nothing but an electronic tube (6) TRIODE (TRIED* with O)
5 Similar people, fliers belonging to a parent packing energy (5,2,1,7) BIRDS OF A FEATHER (BIRDS OF A FATHER packing E)
6 Relief for one easily duped, they say (7) SUCCOUR (~SUCKER)
7 Inclinations in church to effect a purification (7) CLEANSE (LEANS in CE)
10 Part of a type face making flames go up (5) SERIF (FIRES<)
15 State of uncertainty for one thousand born in the outskirts of Lesotho (5) LIMBO (1 M B in LO)
          A Dual citizenship issue
16 Gathered a lot for a celebration by journalist (7) AMASSED (A MASS ED)
17 Old boy leaves watchful retainer (7) SERVANT (obSERVANT)
19 Source of a shot for the patient (7) AMPOULE CD
20 Note on a factor used in the lab (7) REAGENT (RE AGENT)
          Remembered Nessler's 
21 What remains of a girl coming out ahead of rejected knight (6) DEBRIS (DEB(utante) SIR<)

No.11057, Saturday 12 Apr 14, Sankalak's files

The days of us enjoying his puzzles are numbered, so the dichotomy of anticipation of the next puzzle and also the fear that it will be the last, makes me even more nostalgic of Sankalak.

I thought this puzzle was absolutely top-drawer with smooth surfaces and excellent wordplays. I started listing the clues that I liked and decided it is easier to say all. Still, ANGSTROM, AURAL, PACHYDERM, MINERAL WATER, OPEN SEASON, SMOKERS were all crafted wonderfully. Also noticed quite a few French references.

ACROSS
1 Cloth-maker with the might to make a vague threatening appearance (5,4) POWER LOOM (POWER + LOOM)

5 Funny mantra, one accepted by hollow critic (5) COMIC (OM + I inside CritiC)
8 Disney went round northern university for a seed (6) WALNUT (WALT outside N U)
9 An extremely small measure — not grams, silly! (8) ANGSTROM (NOT GRAMS)*
11 Trains // for birds which have been in the news (4) EMUS (DD)
12 State of isolation as tirade in English may lead to (10) QUARANTINE (QUA + RANT + IN + E)
14 After a short time, the little dog might finish off what is left of the enemy (3,2) MOP, UP (MO + PUP)
15 Back up LPG needed in a way for pasta (7) LASAGNE (GAS<= inside LANE)
16 Beautiful girl // who might knock one out (7) STUNNER (DD)
17 A range of the ear (5) AURAL (A + URAL)
19 Weed, tough one, somehow was more significant (10) OUTWEIGHED (WEED TOUGH I)*
20 Pale brown colour seen in a fine crust (4) ECRU (T)
22 Cutting out old prisoner going around statistical body of India (8) EXCISION (EX + CON outside ISI)
23 Customs permit for a motor with safety device (6) CARNET (CAR + NET)
24 The soft lustre seen in that girl gets two points (5) SHEEN (SHE + E + N)
25 Thick-skinned creature in a dry camp: he went crazy (9) PACHYDERM (DRY CAMP HE)*

DOWN
1 Take one and make a quick departure (6) POWDER (CD)
2 Bristly growth as sported by David Boon? (6,9) WALRUS MOUSTACHE (CD)

Image belongs to www.virginmedia.com

3 Note about where in France to find a rake (4) ROUE (RE outside OU)
4 Rare malt wine, treated, is a safe drink (7,5) MINERAL WATER (RARE MALT WINE)*

5 The mafia is a negative in a business university in South India (4,6) COSA NOSTRA (NO inside CO + SASTRA)
6 Union permit? (8,7) MARRIAGE LICENCE (CD)
7 Strive hard like the French nobleman taking physical education (7) COMPETE (COMTE outside PE)
10 They drink wine with a set of people who help each other (7,5) SUPPORT GROUP (SUP + PORT + GROUP)
13 When it is legitimate to hunt for apes, no one’s bothered (4,6) OPEN SEASON (APES NO ONES)
16 Their habit is singular, irksome: flustered, I quit (7) SMOKERS (S + iRKSOME)*
18 “Age cannot wither her, nor … stale her infinite variety” (Antony and Cleopatra) (6) CUSTOM (GK)
21 Change with victory on a track (4) VARY (V + A + RY)

No.11056, Friday 11 Apr 2014, Sankalak's files

Vintage Sankalak as ever

ACROSS
1 The new vertebrate turned out to be surpassing all past performance (6,4,4) BETTER THAN EVER (THE N VERTEBRATE)*
8 Last character holding application is finished off (6) ZAPPED (APP. in ZED)
          You might get 8 if you use 9 ... or by 19
9 Tropical herb, second grade, is a drug source (8) CANNABIS (CANNA B IS)
11 Make out good English cronies in distress (9) RECOGNISE (G E CRONIES)*
12 Swashbuckling old hero cuts short lapse with a bit of laugher (5) ERROL (ERROr L)
          If you thought ABCDEF stood for American Born Confused Desi Immigrant Fellow, think again. It once stood for the American Boys' Club for the Defense of Errol Flynn
13 Symbols that the put-out pet mumbles about (7) EMBLEMS (PET MUMBLES- PUT)*
15 Cry out about oriental objective confining unknown class (7) EXCLAIM (E(X CL) AIM
17 Permission to fib with meaning, we hear (7) LICENCE (~(LIE SENSE))
19 Improperly treated master is exploited (7) MISUSED (M IS USED)
21 Trials resulting from non-professional objections (5) TESTS (proTESTS)
23 Figure producing a record snarl (9) RECTANGLE (REC TANGLE)
25 Clarity, a sufferer in cheerful readiness (8) ALACRITY (CLARITY A)*
26 Abduction by a reportedly drunken sailor (6) HIJACK (~HIGH JACK)
27 The key to a backdoor entry? (14) RECOMMENDATION CD
          Please do not see the cartoon as a recommendation for use of either product

DOWN
1 Very strange treatment of zebra: Revenue Inspector suspect (7) BIZARRE (ZEBRA RI)*
2 Theme of work captured by a jerk (5) TOPIC (OP in TIC)
3 Perennially raw growth (9) EVERGREEN (EVER GREEN) &lit too?
4 The world of scholars finds the dame lost in a church (7) ACADEME (DAME* in A CE)
5 Computer programme derived from Tavernier (5) ERNIE (T)
6 Discomfit English doctors grabbing wall hanging (9) EMBARRASS (ARRAS in E MBS)
7 A refuge for an unknown in an overcrowded place (6) ASYLUM (Y in A SLUM)
          With the kind of things happening, even an asylum would be an overcrowded place if one admitted all those eligible. My membership is on the waiting list. I understand they have reservations for politicians.
10 Partiality towards British Indian administrators (4) BIAS (B IAS)
14 The key to support and accommodation (9) BACKSPACE (BACK SPACE)
16 A car in USA smashed by a tree (9) CASUARINA (A CAR IN USA)*
17 Hate developed between students is deadly (6) LETHAL (HATE* between Ls)
18 True, arm twisting is a mistake (7) ERRATUM (TRUE ARM)*
          When you make a mistake, use 14
19 Staff of office, one to disable attackers (4) MACE 2

20 Fine leather from the deer family (7) DOESKIN (DOE'S KIN)
22 Motor that shows strange revs beginning to overheat (5) SERVO (REVS* O)
24 High title Ben dropped in Libyan city (5) GHAZI (benGHAZI)