No 11255, Tuesday 02 Dec 2014, Neyartha

Needed a lot of Google verification in the rocking Geology class today!

Note: Starred clues carry no direct definition,but the seven answers have something in common.

ACROSS
7*   Little coverage for the Rhode Island party (10) PERIDOTITE {PE{RI}{DO}TITE}

9     Wish Edward could conceal the outhouse (4) SHED [T]
10* Fancy getting involved in a bet after sacrificing soldiers (8) ANDESITE {AN{DESIre}TE}

11* Container from the east at the revolutionary ball (6) GABBRO {{GAB<=}{BRO<=}

12   Permission to depart (5) LEAVE [DD]
13   Rogue's bio reviewed by the middle class (9) BOURGEOIS*
14* One framed by an upset editor (7) DIORITE {D{1}ORITE*}

17   Remain with the nun without hesitation after losing 50% of the spice (7) PERSIST {PEppeR}{SISTer} (Addendum - {pepPER}{SISTer} - See comments)
20* Imitate in a clumsy manner after kick-off (9) KOMATIITE {KO}{IMITATE*}

22   Reportedly understood musical direction to remain silent (5) TACET (~tacit) Doubtful homophone
25* Overturned flap covering the Indian tree (6) BASALT {BA{SAL}T<=}

26* Romania retains Henry's margins attached to food low in calories (8) RHYOLITE {R{HenrY}O}{LITE}

27   Authentic family depiction of the first earl removed by the union leader (4) TRUE TR(-e+u)UE
28   Blunt views on the frigid country? (4,6) COLD TURKEY {COLD} {TURKEY}

DOWN
1   Gathering to bring back and appease ancestors somewhat (6) SEANCE [T]
2   These gates may provide the truth (5) LOGIC [CD]
3   Troubled alien considers alternative brought up for an airplane part (7) AILERON {AILE{RO<=}N*}
4   Rice dish from Korea captures the zest of a couple of Orientals (8) KEDGEREE {K{EDGE}R}{EE} Like our Indian Khitchdi

5   Practical, but powerless, son takes out the knight (6) USABLE U(-n+s)SABLE
6   Narrow escape from the arranged seminars (4,4) NEAR MISS* What happens if it's not a near one? Far miss or Wide escape?
8   Diamonds forgotten in the freeze up (3,4) ICE OVER {ICE} {OVER}
15 Worshipping at sea? Solidarity is missing (8) IDOLATRY sOLiDARITY*
16 Caught Mark after tour with the painted panels (8) TRIPTYCH {TRIP}{TYCH}(~tick)

18 Plaster mould for an office gadget (7) STAPLER*
19 Copper extracted from damaged cutleries is germ-free (7) STERILE cuTLERIES*
21 Graduate going up with a broken adze gets startled (6) AMAZED {AM<=}{ADZE*}
23 Access the main course (6) ENTREE [DD]
24 Capital sent down to the Japanese city (5) KYOTO (-to)KYO(+to)TO

GRID

No.11254, Monday 01 Dec 2014, Neyartha

Neyartha is really at his best today! Though I cannot figure out no theme ...

Across
1 Wooden animal, a battle-winner? (6,5) TROJAN HORSE (CD)
9 Revolutionary manservant hides editor in the capital (3,4) TEL AVIV (VI in VALET<)
10 Bread errand-boy concealed for the lecturer (6) READER (T)
11 An impermanent fix? (5) QUICK (CD)
          In the times before SuperGlue we used to use QuickFix - It was touted to mend everything except broken hearts ...
12 Run with gold taken away from the bus fare collection in-charge (7) CONDUCT (CONDUCTOR-OR)
15 Enjoy return after starting off at any time... (4) EVER (REVEL< -L)

16 ...in a hesitant manner (10) DOUBTFULLY (CD)

18 Heavy rent demanded by upset tailor (10) TORRENTIAL (RENT+TAILOR)* (RENT in TAILOR*) See Comments
20 Arrange a herb for the auditor (4) TIME (~THYME)
23 Security force considering condition of the court official (7) BAILIFF (IF in BAIL F)
24 Worthless lantern (5) LIGHT (2)
26 Student misplaced a piece of precious metal (6) SILVER (SLIVER with misplaced L)
27 Consultant with the promoting concern ignored the earl's retweet (7) ADVISER (ADVERTISER - (E RT) )
28 Snack for stimulation (11) REFRESHMENT (CD,DD)

Down
2 Withdraw and finish turn before King Edward (6) REVOKE (OVER< K.E.)
3 Coffee from the island (4) JAVA (CD,DD)
4 Rotor nawab designed for a canal freight carrier (6,4) NARROW BOAT (ROTOR NAWAB)*
5 Switch positions with one nearly stumped out in a tie (2,3,3) ON AND OFF (ONe stAND OFF)
6 Saint gets rid of the quiet writing instrument for a patterning aid (7) STENCIL (ST pENCIL)
          Old timers might recollect getting smudgy, stencilled question papers in school ...
7 Code of conduct, quite strange, considered by an alien with a note (9) ETIQUETTE (QUITE* ET TE)
8 Site reportedly has European fish (6) PLAICE (~PLACE)
13 Ranches go behind the fur ring in the family crest (4,2,4) COAT OF ARMS (FARMS after COAT O)
14 Dye sentry mixed may result in an infection (9) DYSENTERY (DYE SENTRY)*
          Time to bung in the cork !
17 Faint with delight when enveloped by the counter smell (4,4) KEEL OVER (LOVE in REEK<)
19 Discover Ray eating afternoon's leftover Italian scrambled eggs initially (7) REALISE (Acrostic)
21 Victor makes way for George to spend and eat (6) INGEST (INVEST - V + G)
           I initially got a doubt how can invest=spend. It may not work in terms of money, but does in terms of time... and people tell me time is money...
22 Flat to house the French cricket team (6) ELEVEN (LE in EVEN)
25 Letters from the Panama ambassador for the lady (4) MA'AM (T)

GRID