No 12365, Tuesday 10 Jul 2018, xChequer

ACROSS
7   A beast's extremity in flight, a rabbit's foot for one (6) AMULET {A}{MULE}{f...hT}
8   The one put on to firmly close — one thousand rubbish bins? (6) KIBOSH {K}{1}{BOSH} As per the clue this is {1}{K}{BOSH}? What is 'bins' for? See comments
10 Dinner possibly ordered late with mum around (8) MEALTIME {M{LATE*}IME}
11 Direct boss forbidden to return (4-2) HEAD-ON {HEAD}{NO<=}
12 Nut being potty on exercise (5) PECAN {PE}{CAN}
14 Cock's time to walk like a duck (7) TWADDLE {T}{WADDLE}
15 Maddening to adult when toddlers won't wash (6,4,5) DOESNT HOLD WATER {TO+A+WHEN+TODDLERS}*
18 Computer saving energy during inactivity makes sense (7) RESPECT {RES{P{E}C}T}
19 Acute pain of officer in command (5) COLIC {COL}{IC}
20 Fifty years to develop films? (6) LAYERS {L}{YEARS}*
21 Rocky projections seeing cut in public spending at first (8) OUTCROPS {OUT}{CROP}{Sp...g} Out/Seeing? See comments
23 Roams around carrying large grinders (6) MOLARS {MO{L}ARS*}
24 Men with power in the village (6) THORPE {TH{OR}{P}E}

DOWN
1   Cosmetics also finally banned in court (4,2,2) MAKE UP TO {MAKE UP}{TOo}
2   Coil of hair on tip of tail (4) FURL {FUR}{taiL}
3   Kind of navy, being blue (6) BENIGN {N+BEIGN}*
4   Mountainous area in wasted state (8) HIGHLAND Anno pending (Addendum - {HIGH}{LAND} - See comments)
5   Data point shifted left to remove both extremes (3,3,4) TOP AND TAIL {DATA+POINT}*{L}
6   John replaced, another leader bites the dust (6) THRONE aNOTHER*
9   Let crops not get affected with this? (4,7) PEST CONTROL* Semi&lit
13 Use basic reforms beyond limits in legal justification for war (5,5) CASUS BELLI {LegaL} in {USE+BASIC}*
16 Adjustment of rate bound to create wealth (8) TREASURE {RATE*}{SURE}
17 Code 10, not starting, nobody to support (8) ENCIPHER {tEN}{CIPHER}
18 Areas respecting charity (6) REALMS {RE}{ALMS}
19 Problem ending in difficulty easily remembered (6) CATCHY {CATCH}{d...tY}
22 Unusual cobra revealing coils (4) RARE [T]

GRID

Bhargav's Talepiece

The bouncer and the dancer - Part 84

Somewhere in Tamil Nadu.

It was just after MEALTIME.  Marudhu was relaxing on his "THRONE" watching the CATCHY "Do Peg Maar" on his smart phone and asking his girlfriend to FURL his favorite 420 betel quid. He never commanded any RESPECT but demanded it from everyone around.

The RARE TREASURE in the THORPE - Shangri-la - He wanted the whole of it and in double quick time.

He wanted the collection figure for the previous day.

1250 dollars Sir.

What? What is Pandi TWADDLING about? Did you cross check with SS? When I was there we collected 2600 dollars isn't it? 1250 -  DOESN'T HOLD WATER.

Tell him that his lentils won't cook here.(" Un paruppu inga vegadhunnu solluda")

What happened next?

No 12364, Monday 09 Jul 2018, KrisKross

ACROSS
1   Naked, skinny baby had to get nurse (8) INCUBATE {skINny}{CUB}{ATE}
5   Perhaps quite brave, starting to dress differently (6) ADVERB {BRAVE+Dr..s}*
9   Criminal tailing model to party (8) LITIGANT {TAILING*}{T}
10 Agent in conversation with the German Web architect (6) SPIDER (~spy){SPI}{DER}
12 Any long stocking material (5) NYLON [T]
13 A puzzle, reportedly intended to create awe (9) AMAZEMENT {A}{MAZE}{MENT}(~meant)
14 New dune buggy to go around America (6) UNUSED {UN{US}ED*}
16 Vessel and ship at sea (7) DISHPAN*
19 Auditor enters home, very close (7) NEAREST {N{EAR}EST}
21 Both sides hold an advantage — records could be created here (6) LEDGER {L}{EDGE}{R}
23 Organised sloppily, but magnificent! (9) GRANDIOSE*
25 Looks and counts, say (5) PEERS [DD]
26 Accepted old clothes again (6) AGREED {AG{RE}ED}
27 A step-by-step guide? (8) BANISTER [CD]
28 Leg twisted, chasing wrong one (6) SINGLE {SIN}{LEG*}
29 Touching look finally leaves sailor in a depression (8) ADJACENT {A}{D{JACk}ENT}

DOWN
1   Country to the south of India is Sri Lanka, perhaps (6) ISLAND {I}{'S}{LAND} &lit
2   Agents to guard a chess champion, playing in region of Spain (9) CATALONIA {C{A}{TAL}{ON}IA}
3   Started to plead with international organisation (5) BEGUN {BEG}{UN}
4   Soldiers drank rum in cup (7) TANKARD {TA}{DRANK*}
6   Blue force in action (9) DEPRESSED {DE{PRESS}ED}
7   After death, get extremely unique gift (5) ENDUE {END}{Un..uE}
8   Appeal accepted by noble European singer (8) BARITONE {BAR{IT}ON}{E}
11 Girl leaves magnificent African capital (4) RAND gRAND
15 Veronica is in good health after race (9) SPEEDWELL {SPEED}{WELL}

17 She gets a gift now — coat of ermine (9) PRESENTEE {PRESENT}{Er..nE}
18 A horse hits Ramon and Norma, say (8) ANAGRAMS {A}{NAG}{RAMS}
20 Instrument is excessively long at the tip (4) TOOL {TOO}{Long}
21 Pull fish up, away from the wind (7) LEEWARD {DRAW}{EEL}<=
22 Traipse around, exuding a zest for life (6) ESPRIT TRaIPSE*
24 Overall, chairperson forced to give away riches, perhaps (5) APRON chAirPeRsON
25 In Madras, I, a politician, refund money (5) PAISA [T<=] I wonder which politician this is?

GRID

Bhargav's Talepiece

The bouncer and the dancer - Part 83

Well BEGUN is  half done. 

Marudhu's SINGLE thought now was to take over the ADJACENT Shangri-la property too. But this GRANDIOSE plan  had an INCUBATION period....

He was hesitant to state his strategy to brother-in-law Punk Pandian. Can I even bank on Pandi to maintain a proper LEDGER and account every PAISA? He felt somewhat DEPRESSED on this thought but in the given circumstances this was the only available option.

To his AMAZEMENT he saw SS standing near the BANISTER with the Swahili snake dancer dressed in  green NYLON and a snake on her shoulder. SS told Marudhu that the snake dancer should be given a chance to which he AGREED.

SS had been told that Marudhu was the BIG BOSS and every action required his permission.

SS was an UNUSED TOOL in his plan and Marudhu will come to know of it soon...

What happened next?

Special, Sunday 8 Jul 2018, Bruno

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

ACROSS
7    Secret rule - IT or bust (8)
9    One could be on a lectern or on a peak (6)
10  Auditor’s taste of data (4)
11  Winter’s trail? (4,6)
12  Most of research scribbled with back end of pencil? (6)
14  State privatising criminal setup, regularly let off (8)
15  Mill, around start of October, gets overwhelmed by volume from America (6)
16  Doctor’s rule: John must quit dirty job (6)
19  Accused criminal engaged top lawyer to create impasse (3-2-3)
21  Tout gets hot tourist to take top off (6)
23  A Royal’s living in abode mostly constructed with salt (6,4)
24  Lot of rich take drug (4)
25  After USSR broke up, eastern half in Asia became this country (6)
26  General and sepoy on vacation shoot Indian crocodile in the head (8)

DOWN
1    President and film-actor (6)
2    Present husband used to be top in wood-chopping (4)
3    Military unit’s operation room was located between fairground and church (3-5)
4    Thief runs after boy wearing gown (6)
5    Furniture somehow emptied to accommodate Indian spinner’s  party (4-6)
6    Setter’s beginning to enjoy following new cartoon coming up around middle of day (8)
8    Once more, experience calm after dissipation of some energy (6)
13  Longest revolution - with most fatalities -  ended; all democratic leaders were executed (10)
15  Approve a number - an opioid (8)
17  Practise last line while following girl’s turned back (8)
18  Lacrosse participants go from side to side (6)
20  Rough sailing - one tossed by wave (6)
22  Produce thread of consistent AI logic (6)
24  Unpaid charge accumulates interests essentially (4)

Across Lite version can be downloaded from the following link BRUNO 17

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3003, Sunday 08 Jul 2018

ACROSS
1   About hundred in expanded team at airport (6,4) GROUND CREW {G{ROUND}{C}REW}
6   Speaker's manner, one entitled to succeed (4) HEIR (~air)
9   In solitaire get nice round number (7) INTEGER [T<=]
10 Curving in a circle around church (7) ARCHING {A}{R{CH}ING}
12 Introductory remarks from peer, similar in broadcast (13) PRELIMINARIES {PEER+SIMILAR+IN}*
14 Reconfigured base conserving energy (5) RESET {RES{E}T}
15 Question about husband with name in claim (9) CHALLENGE {C}{H}{ALLE{N}GE}
16 Release inspector's accusation (9) DISCHARGE {DI'S}{CHARGE}
18 Tent torn initially by sword (5) TEPEE {Torn}{EPEE}
20 King in end has got son prepared? What a relief (5,8) THANK GOODNESS {K} in {END+HAS+GOT+SON}*
23 Prohibition as it affected coffee shop worker (7) BARISTA {BAR}{AS+IT}*
24 Assist in scripting ceremony after scare (2-5) CO-WRITE {COW}{RITE}
25 Aims for extremities (4) ENDS [DD]
26 Trauma? Pay attention to temperature and rest (10) HEARTBREAK {HEAR}{T}{BREAK}

DOWN
1   Once more missing a profit (4) GAIN aGAIN
2   Company up above leading American ink producer (7) OCTOPUS {CO<=}{TOP}{US}
3   Giant with terrible hate asks after knight? Not very good (2,5,6) NO GREAT SHAKES {N}{OGRE}{HATE+ASKS}*
4   Dog appearing to be otherwise in animated graphics? (5) CORGI {OR} in {CGI}
5   Destroy order, losing time after time (9) ERADICATE {ERA}{DICtATE}
7   Incitement to riot? No small issue (7) EDITION sEDITION
8   Indicated substance on middle of fern, cutting plant (10) REGISTERED {RE{GIST}{fERn}ED}
11 Quantity in map on distribution of bees around west in children's book (10,3) CHARLOTTES WEB {CHAR{LOT}T}{ES{W}EB*}
13 Revolutionary appeal in line deserving praise (10) CREDITABLE {C{RED}{IT}ABLE}
15 Shared nothing expert raised in case (9) CORPORATE {O}{PRO}<= in {CRATE}
17 Played leading role and looked about right (7) STARRED {STA{R}RED}
19 Father with odd items required for hobby (7) PASTIME {PA}{ITEMS*}
21 Expression of surprise, following tips for divine colour scheme (5) DECOR {Di..nE}{COR}
22 Guard, rising, giving sly look (4) PEEK<=

GRID

No Post, Tuesday 11 Oct 2016

No CW in the online edition

Detox today without the daily fix.

PS: Too busy at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of my Army unit at Secunderabad, so cannot post a Holiday special.

No 11822, Monday 10 Oct 2016, Lightning

ACROSS
1   Sort of is a charm (8) CHARISMA* &lit
5   Disease extremely painful, with a fit of shivering (6) PLAGUE {Pa...uL}{AGUE}
9   Powerless supporter seconds skilled workers (8) ARTISANS {pARTISAN}{S}
10 Threaten international politician with axe (6) IMPEND {I}{MP}{END}
12 One in action picture (5) MOVIE {MOV{1}E}
13 Crate also damaged in conveyor belt (9) ESCALATOR*
14 Weapon essentially made on a fleet (6) ARMADA {ARM}{mADe}{A}
16 Occupied angry king overthrown by German (7) ENGAGED EN(-r+g)GAGED
19 See old boy at the start of a rally (7) OBSERVE {OB}{SERVE}
21 Matinee performance essentially at 11 or 12, say (6) MATRIX {M+p...oRm...e+AT+XI}* &lit
23 He farms at sea with one net primarily (9) FISHERMAN {HE+FARMS+1+Net}* &lit
25 Treasure in small bay sought at last (5) COVET {COVE}{s...hT}
26 Boon perhaps, key (6) OPENER [DD]
27 Caretaker of plants to pull back English king (8) GARDENER {DRAG<=}{EN}{ER}
28 Attempt to have accommodated pact (6) TREATY {TR{EAT}Y}
29 Rescue second chance, knight at last replacing pawn (8) RETRIEVE RE(-p+t)TRIEVE

DOWN
1   Calls for hundred sorted mails (6) CLAIMS {C}{MAILS*}
2   This protects a computer from getting cold? (9) ANTIVIRUS [CD]
3   Publish edition (5) ISSUE [DD]
4   This man led a movement (7) MANDELA {MAN}{LEAD*} &lit

6   Fruit has relatively fewer calories – it may be hogged (9) LIMELIGHT {LIME}{LIGHT}
7   Welcome cry (5) GREET (~ great) (Addendum - [DD] - See comments)
8   Madly adore old mythical place (8) ELDORADO*
11 Regularly accorded 4840 square yards (4) ACRE AcCoRdEd
15 Are 7 men taken inside to make a deal? (9) AGREEMENT {A}{GREE{MEN}T}
17 Faulty care given becomes a cause for complaint (9) GRIEVANCE* &lit
18 Face criminal head (8) CONFRONT {CON}{FRONT}
20 For starters, extensive landscape missing special trees (4) ELMS Acrostic

21 Miles below, for the most part adopting a new routine (7) MUNDANE {M}{UND{A}{N}Er}
22 Missing the first harvest by mistake, go hungry (6) STARVE hARVEST*
24 Report observed view (5) SCENE (~ seen)
25 Decide recipe to extract juice (5) CIDER [T]

GRID

The Sunday Crossword, Sunday 09 Oct 2016

ACROSS
1   Very hot, newsworthy? About right (8) TROPICAL {T{R}OPICAL}
6   Cut made by journalist (4) HACK [DD]
9   Emperor possessed by new manner after revolution (7) HADRIAN {HAD}{AIR<=}{N}
10 Lucky start in combat, then injured (7) CHARMED {Co...t}{HARMED}
12 Come prepared, correct in food suggestions (15) RECOMMENDATIONS {R{COME*}{MEND}ATIONS}
13 Break in Croatian resort (5) SPLIT [DD]
15 Mistrusted heads of state unite with alacrity, holding court (9) SUSPECTED {State}{Unite}{SPE{CT}ED}
17 Artist is overwhelmed by shock valuation (9) APPRAISAL {APP{RA}{IS}AL}
19 One among copies turned brown (5) SEPIA {1} in {APES<=}
21 Film, with fine plot bard concocted, receiving study (9,6) FORBIDDEN PLANET {DEN} in {FINE+PLOT+BARD}*
24 Journals with depth I sign (7) DIARIES {D}{I}{ARIES}
25 Getting rid of most of our pain (7) OUSTING {OUr}{STING}
26 Thin list (4) LEAN [DD]
27 Magician's awful errors probed by church (8) SORCERER {CE} in {ERRORS}*

DOWN
2   Fundamental carbon in tyre (7) RADICAL {RADI{C}AL}
3   Solid figure, proper, protecting son (5) PRISM {PRI{S}M}
4   Agreement arranged once sun's beginning to set (9) CONSENSUS {ONCE+SUNS}*{Set}
5   Copper getting up, breaking cover? That's clear (5) LUCID {CU<=} in {LID}
6   Cold as shelter in ruinous condition (9) HEARTLESS*
7   Fertiliser in firm mass on display (7) COMPOST {CO}{M}{POST}
8   Start off badly in cast below strength (5-7) SHORT-STAFFED {START+OFF}* in {SHED}
11 Weakness, regrettable in singer, worried agent (12) DISADVANTAGE {DI{SAD}VA}{AGENT*}
14 Commercial appeal in group with northern heritage (9) TRADITION {TR{AD}{IT}IO}{N}
16 Incentive to secure advance with love for glory (9) SPLENDOUR {SP{LEND}{O}UR}
18 Share skill with a thousand during exercises (7) PARTAKE {ART}{A}{K} in {PE}
20 Writes four essays, initially thoughtful (7) PENSIVE {PENS}{IV}{Es...s}
22 Acts involving singular measures (5) DOSES {DO{S}ES}
23 Material used in trial is legal (5) LISLE [T]

GRID

Special, Wednesday 27 Jan 2016, Sridhar Krishnan

Three answers per commenter (annotations compulsory) till 6 PM
Please provide all your answers in one comment

ACROSS
9   Galileo onto mysterious history surrounding prehistoric expert (15)
10 A posh house, you said, after a couple of drinks (7)
12 Swing backing role with apparent comfort (7)
13 A fine line in learning to lose the wise one for topless wife (5-4)
14 Mindful of conflict between first characters (Adam and Eve) (5)
15 Saps graduate! (4,3)
18 Endurance of beasts left out for last breakfast on the way back (7)
21 Lively ambassador leaves unhappy state for dance (5)
23 Flay former mate for dirty erotica (9)
25 Release reactive bluish phosphorus (7)
26 Angry Poseidon about to leave east causes incident (7)
29 Inconsiderate to knead his sourdough and grind without us (6,9)

DOWN
1   Larger-than-life show's centrepiece (4)
2   Michael Faraday partly rejects bug (4)
3   Hospital, therefore, admitting sheep. Not again! (4,2,2)
4   Resulted from guarantee but no right to fifth amendment (6)
5   Toolmaker prays to cover pirated stuff (8)
6   Music Nostradamus composed without drums (6)
7   Alter one, Italian, flaky intelligentsia (8)
8   Let treacle flow in the absence of learners and other odds and ends (2,6)
11 Dye man applied to woman on the rise (5)
15 Old man's game permit (8)
16 Story's odd characters include Ed and Moby endlessly tormenting a fellow (8)
17 That is hers stitched into absainer's dress (3,5)
19 Sealed software brain correct to include leading technology (8)
20 Reputed college backs Democrat (5)
22 She quit translating Sinhalese for foreigners (6)
24 Poltical radical to scratch angel (6)
27 Evacuate Okinawa and Honshu for another island (4)
28 Kills myths that don't have a thing to stand on (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at Sridhar Krishnan 2

Enjoy.

No 11609, Tuesday 26 Jan 2016, Skuldugger

REPUBLIC DAY GREETINGS

ACROSS
1   Coat fails to provide contrast to comedian (3,2,4)  ACT AS FOIL*
6   North American article that goes well with curry (4) NAAN {NA}{AN}
8   Something taboo about woman being on top (8) DOMINANT {DO{MINA}NT} Not sure of Anno See comments
9   Lucre corrupts the law (6) WEALTH*
10 Passage may entail carnal stimulation (10,5) ALIMENTARY CANAL*
11 Merchant's collaborator Brown, for instance, smuggles gold (5) IVORY {IV{OR}Y}
13 Bask in the glow, get unusual black, tan hues (8) SUNBATHE {B+TAN+HUES}*
15 Racial conflict, hostility ultimately dismantled with swiftness (8) ALACRITY {RACIAL+{c...cT}+{h...tY}}*
18 Councillor in contact with unknown associate (5) CRONY {CR}{ON}{Y}
20 Wild attraction with fishy, mammalian tinges (6,9) ANIMAL MAGNETISM*
23 Flier blows off wings to stay off the radar (3,3) LIE LOW {fLIEr} {bLOWs}
24 Divested of head growth, make a noise. Indeed! (8) DEHORNED {DE{HORN}ED}
25 Advanced period of self-restraint (4) LENT [DD]
26 Provided sustenance for sickly runts we found extremely emaciated (3-6) WET-NURSED {RUNTS+WE}*{Em...eD} &lit

DOWN
1   Ringed reed composed of coral to any extent, reportedly (5) ATOLL (~at all) Reed typo for Reef?

2   Garden implement orderly got me had rusty head (7) TRIMMER {TRIM}{ME}{Ru..y}
3   Young lover's dancing was all the rage (5) SWAIN {WAS*}{IN}
4   Expenses sailor wrung out of criminal layabouts (7) OUTLAYS LAYabOUTS*
5   Base, dissembling, far from lofty (3-5) LOW-LYING {LOW}-{LYING}
6   Climbing up from cellar again, falls (7) NIAGARA [T<=]

7   Lambskin article donned by dishevelled star, say, Shah Rukh (9) ASTRAKHAN {A}{STAR*}{KHAN}

12 Mysterious Levantine suitor (9) VALENTINE*
14 Is setter likely to get with a woman during a cold squall? (8) WILLIWAW {WILL I}{W}{A}{W}
16 Quadruped (goat) oddly lacking in Arthurian setting (7) CAMELOT {CAMEL}{gOaT}
17 Ready to rock 'n' roll as far back as anyone can remember (4,3) YEAR DOT*
19 Phenomenal roadster loses tempo, finally slows down (7) RETARDS RoADSTER*
21 Politician's jacket (5) NEHRU [DD]

22 Looking up details of ride (5) STEED ?

GRID

No 11608, Monday 25 Jan 2016, Incognito

ACROSS
1   Removing water content may lead to drying death (11) DEHYDRATING*
9   Boy left mutilated gerbil for hybrid animal (5) LIGER GERbIL*

10 Accountant's charity fair for Royal Irish Academy's food outlet (9) CAFETERIA {CA}{FETE}{RIA}
11 MIT hens pun wildly and get retribution (10) PUNISHMENT*
12 Father’s with Indian redhead couple (4) PAIR {PA}{I}{Re...d}
13 Religious leader found in mihrab, bizarrely (5) RABBI [T]
15 Expectorate behind Head Office next to Albert's nursing home (8) HOSPITAL {HO}{SPIT}{AL}
17 Richthofen's embarrassed aristocrat (3,5) RED BARON {RED} {BARON}
19 Approaches player and lugs ... (5) NEARS {N}{EARS}
22 ... son with black stuff for leading performer (4) STAR {S}{TAR}
23 Dark summer snake (5,5) BLACK ADDER {BLACK} {ADDER}

26 Scary dream about horse after dark (9) NIGHTMARE {NIGHT}{MARE}
27 Aircraft panel’s damaged (5) PLANE*
28 Sincerity displayed by auditor having cosy pad near cape (11) EARNESTNESS {EAR}{NEST}{NESS}

DOWN
1   Fortified position with revolving gun, including leading infantryman, after commencement of day (3,2) DUG IN {Day}{UG {In...n}N*}
2   His mohair was destroyed in nuked city (9) HIROSHIMA*
3   Leave secretly — last month a non-civil cop followed (6) DECAMP {DEC}{A}{MP}
4   An Iberian royal may be son of Al (criminal) (7) ALFONSO*
5   Setter’s not confused X (4) INTO {I}{NOT}*
6   Monster recast gun at Agra (9) GARGANTUA*
7   One who runs away to marry queen, having damaged Opel (6) ELOPER {E{OPEL*}R}
8   Scout patron changed direction from North to left (6) PATROL PATRO(-n+l)L
14 Dishevel sleeping place, with waste cloth tied on broken leg (9) BEDRAGGLE {BED}{RAG}{LEG*}
16 Explosive fruit found under tree (9) PINEAPPLE {PINE}{APPLE}

17 Hate letters from millionaire's enterprise (6) RESENT [T]
18 Ok, Alice makes animal feed (3,4) OIL CAKE*
20 Shout out Indian honorific before English king (6) SHRIEK {SHRI}{E}{K}
21 Take a millilitre (a drop of elixir) before exercise (6) ACCEPT {A}{CC}{El...r}{PT}
24 Distributes cards and trades (5) DEALS [DD]
25 Move and electrify prison (4) STIR [MD]

GRID

Special, Sunday 24 Jan 2016, Spritzer

Three answers per commenter (annotations compulsory) till 6 PM
Please provide all your answers in one comment

ACROSS
1   Odds and ends from rubbish in vessel (6)
5   Enticers writhing, quietly (2,6)
9   Sprint around outward for paraphernalia (8)
10 Property lost in surreal tycoon (6)
11 Major gangster keeping child for sum (5,5)
12 Friends return thump (4)
13 Recital 21? Perfect! (8)
16 "Look!" "Dome!" (6)
17 Perfect edge to Pakistan's chief (6)
19 Working errands around Oriental cans? (4-4)
21 Idle around bistro (4)
22 Six or half a dozen? (3,3,4)
25 Relax! Attention? On the contrary (2,4)
26  "How?", said in mock 21 (8)
27 Acquired, evaluated and replaced ship with two-hundred (8)
28 Betters rollerblader from head-to-toe (6)

DOWN
2   Seat in each airplane (5)
3   Notice fellow's accessory (3-2)
4   Alarm rattles erratically (7)
5   Clumsily work with model after almost 9 (7)
6   Almost certain and unnecessary (7)
7   Notebook, perhaps, from girlfriend after first coffee? (9)
8   Ten dancer's frolicked and captivated (9)
14 Person who fits great with one learner - irrational, not quite perfect? (9)
15 Complex interactions created without numbers (9)
18 Soft coats for sportsmen (7)
19 Rising story in Communist kindred (7)
20 A threat written inside? (2,5)
23 Hold equity (5)
24 Shirt off, Mr. Scrooge (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at SPRITZER 4

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword (2877), Sunday 24 Jan 2016

ACROSS
1   Transported from point after time, bearing north (6) ENRAPT {E{N}RA}{PT}
4   Sad, vocal, befuddled? That'll be the brandy (8) CALVADOS*
10 Freeloading artist with singular appeal, one protected by cover in retirement (9) PARASITIC {PA{RA}{S}{IT}{1}C<=}
11 Upset in middle of plea, breaking free (5) RILED {pLEa} in {RID}
12 Endlessly ridicule language about love and meditation (13) CONTEMPLATION {CONTEMPt}{LATI{O}N}
14 One exacting retribution against foe finally consumed by fury (7) AVENGER {A{V}{foE}NGER}
16 Musical fashionable in the past (7) CHICAGO {CHIC}{AGO}
17 Goat mostly inhabiting rocky lair in country (7) LIBERIA {L{IBEx}RIA*}

 

19 Follow triumph (7) SUCCEED [DD]
20 Method of solving problems in revolutionary manner with country in panic (5,3,5) TRIAL AND ERROR {T{RIA<=}{L AND} ERROR}
23 Bitterness holding good? That's nonsense (5) BILGE {BIL{G}E}
24 Odd tips recur in sacred text (9) SCRIPTURE*
25 Order son to follow obligations, restricting noise (8) TIDINESS {TI{DIN}ES}{S}
26 Believe in sacred item (6) CREDIT [T]

DOWN
1   In particular spot, holding diamonds up above everything (10) ESPECIALLY {ESP{ECI<=}{ALL}Y}
2   Show again some clearer understanding (5) RERUN [T]
3   Bird, as revealed by sad page in press, gone (9,6) PASSENGER PIGEON*

5   Old-fashioned roguish spies turned up (7) ARCHAIC {ARCH}{AIC<=}
6   Vine that's damaged receiving repair (8,7) VIRGINIA CREEPER*

7   Describe food shop smart entrepreneur's opening (9) DELINEATE {DELI}{NEAT}{En...r}
8   Team gave expression of relief, reportedly (4) SIDE (~sighed)
9   Spout garbled rubbish initially in daze (6) STUPOR {SPOUT*}{Ru...h}
13 Gained impression about king followed by me in awe (10) WONDERMENT {WON}{DE{R}{ME}NT}
15 Doctor in place in Washington, first off, on day beset by difficulties (9) EMBATTLED {sE{MB}ATTLE}{D}
18 Learner when in classes disregarding right books of charts (7) ATLASES (rAT{L}{AS}ES)
19 Guard head of state on arrival (6) SENTRY {St..e}{ENTRY}
21 Plump for quantity of sandwiches (5) ROUND [DD]
22 Support article with stake (4) ABET {A}{BET}

No 11607, Saturday 23 Jan 2016, Incognito

Across

    7  Boss gets approval // to prepare food //  for explorer (4) COOK {CO}{OK} (MD)

    8  Complainant's simple argument (9) PLAINTIFF {PLAIN}{TIFF}

  10  Country, Father and Old Church (6) FRANCE {FR}{AN}{CE}

  11  Theodore caught animal and stumbled (8) TOTTERED {T{OTTER}ED}

  12  PM who was seen to be a Middle-Easterner after decapitation (8) DISRAELI {dISRAELI=Middle Easterner}

  14  Make unknown variety of liquor (6) BRANDY {BRAND}{Y}

  16  Personal // soldier (7) PRIVATE (DD)

  18  For example, Patton's groups preceded First Lieutenant (7) GENERAL {GENERA}{L}

  21  Unplanned parts of Qatar and Oman (6) RANDOM (T)

  23  You can do without this // addendum (8) APPENDIX (DD)

  25  Type of punishment meted out // to an NCO (8) CORPORAL (DD)

  27  Country cousin's citrus preparation (6) RUSTIC {CITRUS*}

  29  Poetical device found in "donkey on a North Carolina estate initially" (9) ASSONANCE {ASS}{ON}{A}{NC}{E}

  30  Military group is not suitable - it has no force (4) UNIT {UNfIT}

Down

    1  Dispatch rider carried model for nobleman (8) COURTIER {COUR{T}IER}

    2  Similar to a relative (4) AKIN {A}{KIN}

    3  Man captured by policeman and soldiers displayed round object (6) SPHERE {SP}{HE}{RE}

    4  First murderer's suitable leader (7)  CAPTAIN {C{APT}AIN}

    5  Shaky United Nations building to house horses (8) UNSTABLE {UN}{STABLE}

    6  Setter travels around India with explosive device (4) MINE {M{IN}E}

    9  Deploy // 3 (5) FIELD (DD) (3d=SPHERE)

  13  A virgin, to begin with, was dressed in scarlet and expressed delight (5)  RAVED {R[A}{V}ED}

  15  Association of Southeast Asian Nations? Shortly, you will find it here - Please answer (5) ASEAN (T)

  17  Rama returned in two days, initially carrying dates from India (8) TAMARIND {T{AMAR<=}IND} Anno not clear {T|{AMAR<=}{IN}{D} See Comments

  19  In the beginning, a bachelor joined Indian telephone manufacturer's office (2,6) AB INITIO {A}{B} {IN}{ITI}{O}

  20  Do not utter Indian honorific in a hill-station, honey (7) DARLING {DARjeeLING}

  22  Smell a resident of Rome endlessly (5) AROMA {A}{ROMAn}

  24  Report was rewritten for O'Henry (6) PORTER {REPORT*}

  26  Col.'s // abstention from bidding (4) PASS (DD)

  28  Slimy creature // lugs around // bullet // for a shot of liquor (4) SLUG {LUGS*}(MD)

GRID