I think I actually did this in under 10 minutes which is by far a record for me. Either it was unusually easy or my neurons were all firing laterally. Or both. I think experience and practice is beginning to pay off since I recognized some v. familiar clues.
Across
| 5 |
SCAR+A+B – I’ve seen this, or something v. similar, before. |
| 10 |
ANTIPASTO – anag(“to pint as a”). I managed to enter antipasta and antipasti before 9D straightened me out (reminder to self: be more conscientious about ticking off fodder letters). |
| 12 |
SORTS – double meaning: seen this or v. close before. |
| 13 |
LOWER CASE – cryptic definition for small letters. |
| 14 |
NIGHTSHIRT – nicely misleading cryptic definition: you’re “worn out” when you retire to bed (and from work) and you wear a nightshirt in bed. |
| 17 |
OSLO – Inside CzechOSLOvakia. I’ve seen this clue before, as I’m sure most of you have as well. |
| 19 |
SNAP – Another double meaning: also a v. familiar clue. |
| 20 |
BATH+HOUSES – nice twist on the meaning of “harbours” (as a verb rather than a noun). |
| 24 |
ENS(U)E – using some number of compass points is a bit of a cheat in my opinion: basically it could mean any string of any number of N, E, W, S in any order. U for bend is a classic cryptic idiom. |
| 26 |
PI(LO)T – LO for “look” is another cryptic idiom: no one bothers indicating it’s archaic anymore it seems. |
| 28 |
SUMMER – Another double meaning: and again a v. familiar clue. |
| 29 |
GANYMEDE – anag(“need a gym”) – she’s one of Jupiter’s moons. nice surface and reminds me that I’m at the gym at the moment on a wireless connection writing this. However, no heavenly body within reach (mine or any others). |
Down
| 1 |
STARS AND STRIPES – Cryptic definition of the American Union Jack as it were. “Oh, say can you see…” is the start of the national anthem. |
| 3 |
A+P+PO+SITE – P for piano (“quiet”) and the canonic cryptic river PO. |
| 4 |
OUSE+L – The river + L for left. I’ve seen this clue before as well. |
| 6 |
C+HAIRS – The verb “to chair”. Locks and tresses are often hair in cryptic (and it’s distressing to get a haircut). |
| 15 |
GRAND SLAM – My favourite clue: cryptic definition for taking all the tricks in bridge (thus not letting your opponents get any). |
| 16 |
HEAD+LOCK – The most senior teacher is the HEAD master/mistress usually and LOCK is a rugby position (I’m learning more about cricket and rugby and wrestling than I really want but…) |
| 18 |
ROSEMARY – inversion (“swaps parts”) of “Mary Rose” – Henry VIII’s warship. Worked this out from the crossing letters and the only herb that could fit. |
| 21 |
AUNTIE – Groan… weak cryptic definition of the BBC which we also had last week or the week before (OK – we had the Beeb and Auntie was in the clue I think.). |
| 25 |
SUSIE – The last clue I got – for some reason, the initial letters were quite invisible to me: “Slip Under Stool In Eatery”. |
Here are the ones that Ilanc judged too obvious to need explaining:
1a Change (a sponsor)* for the singers = SOPRANOS
11a A medical man tours hospital for a specific purpose = A D H OC
22a Wine on Scottish island – and French fish = RED MULL ET
27a Solicitor employed during an election = CANVASSER
2d He’s to cuddle Her Majesty = PET ER
7d Practices on slow cars = RE HEARSES
8d Doctor (researched globe)* for an exam = BACHELORS DEGREE (good anagram – took me longer than it should have – 40 years since I last sat one)
9d Cry over value of a battle = BOS WORTH (cry = sob upside down = bos)
23d Get some resT ON GAlapagos island = TONGA