No. 12409, Thursday 30 Aug 2018, Xchequer

Standing in for Colonel as he goes on an intercity drive early in the morning.

This is a puzzle very much in the mould of Xchequer with his imaginative wordplay and misdirection. Liked several clues, but to name a few : EUPHORIA, HAUGHTY, DEGREE,  REALTY, BAD HAIR DAYS, NOT LONG AGO and PRUDES. 

Thanks to the setter.

ACROSS
7 Crows set to fly with a measure of light from the east coming through (6) EXULTS [SET* outside LUX <=]
8 Short lad cut top of dress (6) BODICE [BOy + DICE]
10 Hope air-conditioned housing, typically posh, will give great delight (8) EUPHORIA [HOPE AIR* outside U]

 11 Led astray after dessert in the pool (6) PUDDLE [PUD + LED*]
12 Left whatever king wore, it's spare (5) LANKY [Left + ANY outside King]
14 Superior hotel, anything's the ultimate in luxury (7) HAUGHTY [Hotel + AUGHT + luxurY]
15 Spoilt dog had it good, yet cat has to fool around (3,3,5,4) ACT THE GIDDY GOAT [DOG HAD IT Good YET CAT]*
18 Partner tracking sign spotted animal (7) LEOPARD [LEO + PARD]
19 Musician's holy, being childless (5) PI PER [PI + PERson]
20 Chinese tea required to study and pass at University (6) CONGOU [CON + GO + University]
21 Many go crazy about a French boyfriend (5,3) YOUNG MAN [MANY GO* outside UN]
23 Secured parts in small bars (6) INGOTS [GOT inside IN + Small]
24 River banks for instance at right level (6) DEGREE [DEE outside EG + Right]

DOWN
1 Government form relating to local insurers (8) REPUBLIC [RE + PUB + LIC]
2 Boost provided by hot drink counter (4) PUSH [Hot + SUP] <=
3 Yard behind shop floor (6) STOREY [STORE + Yard]
4 Pen a senseless condition having shortage of a currency (8) COMPOUND [COMa + POUND]
5 Underground warning hitmen, a DGP's involved (4,3,3) MIND THE GAP [HITMEN A DGP]*

6 Grounds for example to show female's right in fidelity (6) REALTY [FEALTY with Right for Female]
9 Messy braid say, had stretches of recurring rough patches (3,4,4) BAD HAIR DAYS [BRAID SAY HAD]*
13 Of late, idea for one-line joke getting almost naughty? (3,4,3) NOT LONG AGO [NOTION with Line for 1 + GAG + 0 = naughty]
16 English very keen to retain area, that's clear (8) EVACUATE [English + Very + ACUTE outside Area]
17 Carriage with white horses, possibly vehicle for relays? (8) AIRWAVES [AIR + WAVES]
18 Chance of inclusion appearing to have an early end (4-2) LOOK-IN [LOOKINg]
19 Special lifts to carry cheeky old maids (6) PRUDES [SPecial <= outside RUDE]
22 Blood shed in killing or execution (4) GORE [Hidden]

GRID

Bhargav's Talepiece

A lanky piper who was haughty

Came to Shangri-la and behaved naughty

He was pushed

And thrashed

Promptly evacuated to distant Djibouti!!

Special, Sunday 12 Aug 2018, Koteswar Rao

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

ACROSS
1   Interrupt and cut short a women's shoe (4,2)
4   Stone pine for a timely remedy (6)
9   Organic place for private views? (2-2)
10 Free port is built for those who get returns illegally? (10)
11 Musical instruments on rickety stairs (6)
12 Unwanted editor backs criminal Dawood (8)
13 Exotic Seattle settee? No less a sofa (4-1-4)
15 Immense but not a 27 perhaps (5)
16 Moderate editor is not drawn into a debate (5)
18 What one does when there is a fall in value? (4,5)
22 Oh my God! Short dicta is offensive but unquestionable (8)
23 The expression of wish frequently is from Nelly. (2,4)
25 Acts between parties around month back in short pursuit (9)
26 Invention of Gulf drone? It is rumoured (4)
27 It's  American charm - Relationship rejected. Chapter closed (6)
28 Drawing stick - light focused on swindle (6)

DOWN
1   When the hat is larger than normal, it will turn turtle (7)
2   I don't believe word of mouth (2-3)
3   Place demon alongside large creature (7)
5   Foreign merchant in China is a venomous creature (6)
6   Chew up. Kelvin succeeded to practise combat sport (3,4,2)
7   Support rejected in time at the secret shelter (7)
8   It tells the machine what to do next (9,4)
14 Dreaded to be a mean parasite in the gut (9)
17 Say cheese and possess within a folklore elf. (7) 
19 To cut across is without a modification (7)
20 Storybook carrying article on fighting force (7)
21 Decorative work on original cover crops rejected (6)
24 Hobby-horse eats away herbs making a happy expression (2,3)

Across Lite version can be downloaded from KKR 17

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3008, Sunday 12 Aug 2018

ACROSS
1   In direction of current ambition, securing private street (10) DOWNSTREAM {D{OWN}{ST}REAM}
6   Seabird's wings in storybook turning gold (4) SKUA {St...oK}{AU<=}

9   Crew took food according to report (5) EIGHT (~ate)
10 Get lost, drained and muddled (9) SCRAMBLED {SCRAM}{BLED}
12 Track back and pinch vegetable (6) TURNIP {RUT<=}{NIP}
13 Stocked by fantastic inn, amontillado's spicy stuff (8) CINNAMON [T]
15 Extra nervous beginner, last of intake in row taken round (6,7) FRINGE BENEFIT {BEGINNER*}{i...kE} in {TIFF<=}
18 Cat getting little horse so agitated (13) TORTOISESHELL*

20 Open with silly run, upset (8) OVERTURN {OVERT}{RUN*}
21 Hurtful obstacle followed by plot (6) BARBED {BAR}{BED}
24 Article, canny one stirring anger (9) ANNOYANCE {A}{CANNY+ONE}*
25 Question for children (5) ISSUE [DD]
26 Sailing boat left course, going west (4) YAWL {L}{WAY}<=

27 Healthy and popular, with good weight? Capital (10) WELLINGTON {WELL}{IN}{G}{TON}

DOWN
1   Colourant below standard? Certainly time to go into that (8) DYESTUFF {D{YES}{T}UFF}
2   Gamble from composer dropping name (5) WAGER WAGnER
3   Smart about appeal, fairly well placed (7,6) SITTING PRETTY {S{IT}TING} {PRETTY}
4   Unwind remaining part (4) REST [DD]
5   Run into trouble over testimony lacking weight and expertise (10) ADROITNESS {AD{R}O}{wITNESS}
7  Outfit infiltrated by devious mole supported by engineers in distance (9) KILOMETRE {KI{MOLE*}T}{RE}
8   Passionate in study, enthralled by technique (6) ARDENT {AR{DEN}T}
11 Display from person providing website's latest post (13) MANIFESTATION {MAN}{IF}{w...tE}{STATION}
14 Sailor, leader of heroes previously, admitting sin, raised disgust (10) ABHORRENCE {AB}{He...s}{O{ERR<=}NCE}
16 We think differently about number possessing inside information (2,3,4) IN THE KNOW {NO} in {WE+THINK}*
17 Learner in shift working for club (8) BLUDGEON {B{L}UDGE}{ON}
19 Study of plants in colour occupying child (6) BOTANY {BO{TAN}Y}
22 Live group, harassed (5) BESET {BE}{SET}
23 Agreement necessary to provide alibi (4) DEAL [T]

GRID