COD to 19d, which while simple, did make me smile with its definition “proud words”, as in ones that stand out from the page. Very nice, thank you, setter!
ACROSS
1 Reserve bank works here (9)
BOOKSHELF – BOOK [reserve] + SHELF [bank], resulting in a place where you’d find “works”.
6 Add space for printer’s family emblem (5)
TOTEM – TOT [add] + EM [space for printer]
9 Company accepting blame replaced instrument (7)
CEMBALO – CO “accepting” (BLAME*). Who’d heard of a cembalo before? Apparently it’s a harpsichord, not something you clash together.
10 Troops short of time prescribed treatment (7)
REGIMEN – REGIMEN{t}
11 NHS uses tin complex as service accommodation (6,4)
NISSEN HUTS – (NHS USES TIN*). A word I was familiar with, but probably only through crosswords.
12 Dog that always investigates leather leads (4)
TAIL – T{hat} A{lways} I{nvestigates} L{eather}, F{irst} O{ne} I{n}.
14 View street through fences (5)
VISTA – ST “fenced” by VIA [through]
15 Not entertaining girl, American, when visiting China (9)
UNAMUSING – UNA, plus US “visiting” MING
16 Planned route I go around in time (9)
ITINERARY – I + TRY [go] “around” IN ERA
18 Grand book stolen from dope? (5)
NOBLE – NOB{b}LE
20 Queen avoids sickly piece of cake (4)
EASY – {qu}EASY
21 Saxophonist’s first recently to hide fitting round mouthpiece? (4,6)
SOFT PALATE – S{axophonist} + OF LATE “hiding” reversed APT [fitting]. Mouthpiece as in, “part of the mouth”.
25 Church member mislays clubs belonging to ancient invaders? (7)
ANGLIAN – ANGLI{c}AN
26 Top soprano initially improvises (7)
NOODLES – NOODLE = head = top of the body? Plus S{oprano}. I hope I’ve missed something though because this feels like a really lacklustre clue if that’s it.
27 Many adopting universal yoga position (5)
LOTUS – LOTS “adopting” U
28 Remove housing officer, revealing clothing (9)
DECOLLETE – DELETE “housing” COL(onel}
DOWN
1 Stop eating firm meat (5)
BACON – BAN “eating” CO(mpany)
2 Slow absorption I found in very big Scottish bog (7)
OSMOSIS – I, found in O.S. MOSS, which is allegedly a word for a bog in Scotland
3 Sheepish journalist follows fake eatery up (10)
SHAMEFACED – ED follows SHAM + reversed CAFE
4 It takes ages to manage rearing horse (5)
EPOCH – reversed COPE + H(orse)
5 Eve welcoming half-cut Adam in for starters (5,4)
FIRST LADY – FIRSTLY [for starters] “welcomes” AD{am}. Slightly winceworthy definition…
6 One-piece garment not new in Friendly Islands (4)
TOGA – TO{n}GA
7 They get beaten up in a mine skirting motorway (7)
TIMPANI – reversed all of IN A PIT, “skirting” M
8 In Paris, my old box contains top-class speech (9)
MONOLOGUE – MON [in Paris, “my”] + O(ld) + LOGE [box] “contains” U
13 Bird flu wigeon spread around area (6,4)
GUINEA FOWL – (FLU WIGEON*) “around” A(rea)
14 Call recorder perhaps active man picked up (5,4)
VOICE MAIL – VOICE [perhaps: active] + homophone of MALE
15 Blue Berets loved defending northern plain (9)
UNADORNED – U.N. ADORED “defending” N
17 Understanding paper conservationists import pine (7)
INSIGHT – i [paper] + N(ational) T(rust) “import” SIGH [pine]
19 Proud words misled Liberal (7)
BRAILLE – (LIBERAL*)
22 Unionists embracing Northern Irish outfit (5)
TUNIC – T(rades) U(nion) C(ongress) “embracing” N.I.
23 Follow guarantee, ignoring Republican (5)
ENSUE – ENSU{r}E
24 Gentle touch of some gracious Sikh in retirement (4)
KISS – hidden reversed in {graciou}S SIK{h}
FOI TOTEM
LOI SOFT PALATE
COD BRAILLE
TIME 9:03
19’25”, so snuck in under 20 for two in a row. Are Fridays getting easier?
LOI was CEMBALO as I carefully dismissed inferior contenders; NHO this instrument.
Another vote for BRAILLE as COD. This was much easier than yesterday; but very enjoyable to me. David
FOI Tail
COD Braille
DNF
Hoping for better results next week
Thanks setter and Verlaine
DNK CEMBALO but with checkers, what other combination would have worked….
Otherwise, like others MER at DECOLLETE and kudos for BRAILLE.
Puzzled by 1ac. Surely a shelf is horizontal but a bank is inclined.