Solving time: 12:32, but with one stupid typo, I somehow had an extra U in 1 down. I had been pretty careful lately and this was my first typo in over a month so I’m kicking myself. It is late and I am pretty tired so although I got off to a flying start, this puzzle came in a little bit above my average time.
In case I have made an error, please check the comments first – I will be unable to make any amendments to this blog until much later in the day tomorrow.
Away we go…
| Across | |
| 1 | Blaise, perhaps, having way with pen (7) |
| MODESTY – MODE(way) and STY(pen) – reference the old comic strip and movie character | |
| 5 | Occupant of bed regrets you’re taking it back (6) |
| OYSTER – hidden reversed inside regRETS YOur | |
| 8 | Rash, one caused by such a fire? (9) |
| UNGUARDED – double definition, the second one slightly cryptic | |
| 9 | Man maybe taking risks, losing races (5) |
| BEING – BETTING(taking risks), missing TT(races) | |
| 11 | It’s about the tax (5) |
| TITHE – reversal of IT, then THE | |
| 12 | Left one timid person squeezing in vehicle (9) |
| LIMOUSINE – L(left), I(one), MOUSE(timid person) containing IN | |
| 13 | One large officer, half upset, is unsuitable (3-5) |
| ILL-TIMED – I(one), L(large), LT(lieutenant, officer), then DEMI(half) reversed | |
| 15 | Flyer with current data about something resembling egg? (6) |
| WIGEON – W(with), I(current), GEN(data) surrounding an O(something resembling egg) | |
| 17 | Junior minister to organise exhibitions (6) |
| CURATE – double definition | |
| 19 | Train skater in West Indies to take up another sport (5-3) |
| WATER-SKI – anagram of SKATER inside WI(West Indies) | |
| 22 | A tick for one old king skipping posh old school (9) |
| ARTHROPOD – king ARTHUR missing U(posh), O(old), POD(school) | |
| 23 | Stuck my job, having abandoned India (5) |
| CLUNG – the author’s job is CLUING, remove I(India) | |
| 24 | Pointless showing wit and energy (2,3) |
| NO USE – NOUS(wit) and E(energy) | |
| 25 | Capital raging at New Labour (4,5) |
| ULAN BATOR – anagram of AT, N(new), LABOUR | |
| 26 | Appropriate article that is very penetrating (6) |
| THIEVE – THE(article) containing IE(that is), V(very) | |
| 27 | Five score for former county division (7) |
| HUNDRED – a double definiton, though I did not know that it meant a county division, got it from the first definition | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Get on a short distance in a clapped-out Sierra (8,5) |
| MOUNTAIN CHAIN – MOUNT(get on), A, INCH(short distance) than an anagram of IN,A | |
| 2 | Fancy one short speech is using computer technology? (7) |
| DIGITAL – DIG(fancy) I(one), then TALK(speech) missing the last letter | |
| 3 | Row close to huge wave (5) |
| SPATE – SPAT(row) then the last letter of hugE | |
| 4 | Person shouting to muffle regularly good singer (8) |
| YODELLER – YELLER(person shouting) containing alternating letters in gOoD | |
| 5 | Old, old Asian brought up a problem with fluid (6) |
| OEDEMA – O(old) then MEDE(old Persian) reversed, A | |
| 6 | Boat departs, given access to fuel? It’s undecided (3,6) |
| SUB JUDICE – SUB(boat) then D(departed) inside JUICE(fuel) | |
| 7 | Building journalist provided rocks (7) |
| EDIFICE – ED(Journalist) IF(provided), ICE(rocks) | |
| 10 | Like good gardener’s area for putting on felt (5-8) |
| GREEN-FINGERED – GREEN(area for putting) then FINGERED(felt) | |
| 14 | Moderate papers holding centre ground finally close (9) |
| INTERCEDE – ID(papers), containing an anagram of CENTRE, then the last letter of closE | |
| 16 | Ready way around cutting grass (4,4) |
| HARD CASH – RD(way), CA(around) inside HASH(grass) | |
| 18 | Improve drench that’s painful (7) |
| RETOUCH – RET(drench), OUCH(that’s painful) | |
| 20 | Keep mum, say, closer (7) |
| SHUTTER – SH(keep mum), UTTER(say) | |
| 21 | Smart police force once occupying small gym (6) |
| SPRUCE – RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) inside S(small), PE(gym) | |
| 23 | Bishop visiting killer’s shack (5) |
| CABIN – B(bishop) inside CAIN(killer) | |
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