No 9973, Thursday 14 Oct 10, M Manna

ACROSS 1   - Antechoir reserved for a retiring monk (9) - ANCHORITE*
6   - Speeds, resulting in charges being made (5) - RATES [DD]
9   - Nigerian city formerly notorious for slave trade (5) - BENIN [CD]
10 - The warder is not vegan (9) - BEEFEATER [CD]

11 - Partner due to be agitated and smitten (10) - ENRAPTURED*
12 - Nothing other than stretch of water (4) - MERE [DD]
14 - Bad to be late for removal (7) - {AB{LATE}D*} Totally messed up clue. No AInd
15 - Len lost out on getting German bread (7) - STOLLEN*
17 - No wonder to have died when foolishly submerged (7) - {DROWNE*}{D}
19 - Hates intensely of the French trials (7) - {DE}{TESTS}
20 - Also turned out to be in Asia (4) - LAOS*

22 - One not disconcerted by people's way of speaking (10) - {I}{NTO*}{NATION} Nice one
25 - Housing an animal in unusually nice environs could be a bloomer (9) - {C{ELAND}INE*}

26 - Expect confidently (5) - TRUST [CD]
27 - Saint of top proficiency in judo (5) - A?DAN Highest I could find was Judan but that does not fit here nor the Saint ?(Addendum - {AI}{DAN} - See comments)
28 - Frontal forces to an attack (9) - SPEARHEAD [CD]
DOWN
1   - Ramble right oft (5) - rAMBLE What type of clue is this?
2   - Against new lot giving voice (9) - {CONTRA}{LTO*}
3   - Mention ‘pot' — would be all powerful (10) - OMNIPOTENT*

SEE THIS CARTOON

4   - Obliged to come in (7) - INBOUND [CD]
5   - Morning refreshments (7) - ELEVENS [CD] Should have been elevenses
6   - A lively dance to wind up with (4) - REEL [DD]
7   - Turn it over to the church! (5) - {TI<-}{THE} &lit
8   - Formerly, barristers of highest rank (9) - SERJEANTS [E]
13 - A businessman caught over farm equipment (10) - {C}{ON}{TRACTOR}
14 - Also a proper name for Mimi in Spain (9) - {AND}{A}{LUCIA} Couldn't get the link between Lucia and Mimi
16 - A certain weakness may make lads use it (9) - LASSITUDE*
18 - Silly fellows paying great attention to dresses (7) - DANDIES [CD]
19 - See codes i.e. explained (7) - DIOCESE*
21 - Looked askance (5) - OGLED [CD]
23 - Recorded become famous (5) - NOTED [DD]
24 - Prolific poet girl bearing no name (4) - ANON [DD] ?

GRID

No 9972, Wednesday 13 Oct 10, Gridman

ACROSS
1   - A long time to accept nice changes in offices (8) - {AG{ENCI*}ES}
5   - Capital Indian intelligence outfit rolled over and observed (6) - {WAR<-}{SAW}
10 - See old Indian coin following bits of special archaeology in tract (7) - {S}{A}V{ANNA} Origin for V not clear

11 - Disentangle twins found in a mess in the Union Territory (7) - {U{NTWIS*}T}
12 - Frenchman taking primarily isolated place for environment (6) - {M}{I}{LIEU}
13 - Hint union collapsed over remodelling of den (8) - {INNU{END*}O*}
15 - An exclamation that a mistake has been made (4) - OOPS [CD]

16 - Support bets put out as somewhat inferior (6-4) - {SECOND}-{BEST*}
18 - By which one wages every sixty minutes (6,4) - HOURLY RATE [CD]
20 - Stupefy cranks on their return (4) - STUN <-
23 - Rest in a relaxed manner after imbibing scheme for surgical procedures (8) - {RE{PLAN}TS*}
24 - Ramshackle, untried model leaves in a fluster (6) - RUINEDt*
26 - Some capital I announced for one possibly from Milan (7) - ITALIAN [T]
27 - Not mixing with people (7) - ASOCIAL [E]
28 - Rubs out and relaxes, holding end of rubber (6) - {E{R}ASES}
29 - Down to the last detail, record lady puts ad out (8) - {MINUTE}{LadY}
DOWN
1   - Ties to remote ham need to be sorted out — but not now! (2,4,5,4) - AT SOME OTHER TIME*
2   - Almost grudge Pole out to get cover (7) - {ENVy}{ELOP*}
3   - Protuberant prisoner Victor departed (6) - {CON}{V}{EX}
4   - Dash from one road leading out of Ireland (4) - irELANd
6   - Amazes swarms by making way for bandits' leader (8) - A(-b+st)STOUNDS
7   - Well-groomed, Elizabeth goes in for a spin (7) - {SOIGNE*}{E} New word for me, had to google this
8   - Not wasting a single moment (7,3,5) - WITHOUT ANY DELAY [CD]
9   - Changelings film among variety acts (9) - {TURN{COAT}S}
14 - Finer Regt. fanning out for rummaging (9) - FERRETING*
17 - Leave holding a small portion, even if it's minor inconvenience (4,4) - {FLE{A} {BIT}E} Nice one
19 - At college, every other pose in the manner of Swedish city (7) - {UP}{PoSe}{A'LA}
21 - Half-scores I have are nerve-racking (7) - {TENS}{I'VE}
22 - Head of University receiving wild kudos all-round for puzzle (6) - {S{U}DOKU*}
25 - Garment in which every second of assistants came wrapped diligently (4) - {S}{A}{R}{I}

GRID