8:02 for me, so harder than usual, with more than a couple of biffs along the way. There are a couple of somewhat offbeat definitions which might trip some, together with at least one slightly outré anagrind, but all in all, pretty fair and doable.
| Across |
| 1 |
Dad’s good-humoured joking — something useful on his travels (8) |
|
PASSPORT – PA’S + SPORT |
| 5 |
Drink, quiet, for those left (4) |
|
RUMP – RUM + P |
| 8 |
Disdain introduction of some banal material (5) |
|
SCORN – S[OME] + CORN |
| 9 |
Maybe Ivy’s more weird after one’s left (7) |
|
CREEPER – CREEPIER minus the I |
| 11 |
Dancing events seen (about five) with little between contestants (4-7) |
|
EVEN-STEVENS – anagram (‘dancing’) of EVENTS SEEN with V (five) |
| 13 |
Out of fashion, a French firm, old, ultimately eliminated (6) |
|
UNCOOL – UN (‘a’ in French)+ CO (firm) + OL[D] |
| 14 |
Initially attempt to buy energy supplies tested under most favourable conditions (2,4) |
|
AT BEST – acronym |
| 16 |
Feature of court’s employment policy (7,4) |
|
SERVICE LINE – SERVICE (employment – bit of a stretch but just about works) + LINE (policy) |
| 18 |
Worried — a learner, ready to fight? (7) |
|
ALARMED – A + L + ARMED |
| 19 |
Train trouble — just a bit for a start (5) |
|
INTRO – hidden word |
| 20 |
Unhappy about northern beach feature (4) |
|
SAND – SAD outside N |
| 21 |
Unwind regularly, welcomed by group of three in island (8) |
|
TRINIDAD – TRIAD with uNwInD inserted |
| Down |
| 1 |
Put forward non-poetic writing — Romeo no longer features (4) |
|
POSE – PROSE minus R for Romeo. ‘Put forward’ as in pose a question, I suppose |
| 2 |
One demonstrating, saying little, a popular bathroom feature? (6,7) |
|
SHOWER CURTAIN – SHOWER (one demonstrating) + CURT (saying little) + IN (popular) |
| 3 |
Men unpaid — mob almost involved in uproar (11) |
|
PANDEMONIUM – anagram (‘involved’) of MEN UNPAID MO[B] |
| 4 |
Break in secluded place (6) |
|
RECESS – double definition |
| 6 |
New, excited punter needed calming at first (13) |
|
UNPRECEDENTED – anagram (‘excited’) of PUNTER NEEDED + C |
| 7 |
No self-reliant type — operating as pirate (8) |
|
PARASITE – anagram (‘operating’) of AS PIRATE. I, a veteran, realise that absolutely anything can be used as an anagrind, but this sort of thing might trip up newcomers. |
| 10 |
Nice, clear it’s changing, light’s better, thanks to him? (11) |
|
ELECTRICIAN – anagram (‘changing’) of NICE CLEAR IT |
| 12 |
Study sea’s unusual weekly occurrences (8) |
|
TUESDAYS – anagram (‘unusual’) of STUDY SEA |
| 15 |
Something maybe written on back of envelope in Land’s End erroneously? (6) |
|
SENDER – hidden word |
| 17 |
Beastly sound? Daughter’s temper (4) |
|
MOOD – MOO + D |
UNPRECEDENTED took ages at the end. Finally realised what it must be an typed in UNPREdEDENTED anyway. TRINaDAD was just momentary madness – I don’t even say it like that. Long run of error free solves comes to an end. Quarter of any hour of fun though – expect for the time spent wondering what three letter drinks there were except for tea (and sup). RECESS was beyond my reach for ages too.
13 minutes. SERVICE LINE just in time for the French Open which starts on Sunday!