Times 27921 – a piece of that confection

We bloggers are not supposed to say whether we found a certain puzzle hard, easy, or very easy, in case it discourages other less accomplished solvers or damages their self-esteem. So I won’t. I will say it was close to a PB time for me, in spite of needing no biffing – all was clear to parse. Even the regulation ‘plant’ was familiar. Our overseas solvers might not know about 5d, perhaps, but I expect to see a low SNITCH rating for this. All a bit disappointing, really.

Across
1	In Scotland go south, crossing eastern river (6)
	GANGES – GANG = ‘go’ in Scottish talk, insert E for eastern, add S for south.
4	Jittery type with an eye for the birds? (8)
	TWITCHER – double definition.
9	Old French city stocking razors ultimately lacking blades (7)
	OARLESS – O (old) ARLES (French city) insert S = razors ulitmately.
11	Breaking into cash drawer briefly, aim right and shoot (7)
	TENDRIL – TIL(L) = cash drawer briefly, insert END (aim) and R.
12	Northern girl trapping extremely active moles, perhaps (5)
	NAEVI – N (northern) VI (a girl) insert AE = extreme ends of ActivE.
13	Senior officer’s first sailing-vessel — expensive, they say (9)
	BRIGADIER – BRIG A = brig number one, first sailing vessel; DIER sounds like DEAR.
14	Transparent drinking receptacle outside hotel at York, say (3-7)
	SEE-THROUGH – York being a SEE, TROUGH a drinking receptacle, insert H for hotel.
16	Comfort male dog from the east (4)
	BALM – M, LAB(rador) reversed.
19	Stolen goods Oscar found in French department (4)
	LOOT – O inside LOT, department 46.
20	Material used by writers — still, we hear! (10)
	STATIONERY – which sounds like STATIONARY. I am constantly irritated by seeing the wrong word used in print, by people who should know better. Likewise seeing confectionARY meaning sweeties. I am a humbug.
22	Cried out, cutting cook’s wedding confection (9)
	BRIDECAKE – BAKE (cook) has CRIED* inserted. I’ve never seen this word before but it doesn’t surprise me that it exists.
23	Minister’s current vehicle parked by entrance to villa (5)
	VICAR – V(illa), I (current) CAR.
25	Girl you reportedly allowed to make a small ring (7)
	ANNULET – ANN (girl) U (you) LET (allowed).
26	Work hard, gathering in fine wrapping material (7)
	TINFOIL – IN F(ine) inside TOIL.
27	Escorted back, knowing where Dover is (8)
	DELAWARE – LED reversed, AWARE = knowing, Dover being the capital and second largest city of Delaware state; more top of mind recently because of President Biden’s connections. I did mess with ideas about SE and Kent thinking Dover, England, initially.
28	Funky tear in trousers youths initiated (6)
	TRENDY – T Y (initial letters of trousers youths) has REND = tear inserted.

Down
1	Reason the Spanish will produce unwanted plant (9)
	GROUNDSEL – GROUNDS (reason) EL (the Spanish). Groundsel is a weed which grows all to easily and is a host for a fungus which kills various crops (peas, soya, carrots, tomatoes…).
2	Language once spoken in Bergen or Senja (5)
	NORSE – hidden as above.
3	Sense the old spirit at first in rowing crew (8)
	EYESIGHT – YE (the old) S (spirit at first), all inside EIGHT.
5	Old way gentle artist laboured to support wife (7,6)
	WATLING STREET – W(ife), (GENTLE ARTIST)*. Roman road in Britain from Dover to London to Wroxeter, nowadays making up much of the A2 and A5 roads. Wroxeter is a village in Shropshire which was apparently the 4th largest Roman city in Britain.
6	Metalworker initially travelling as member of crew? (6)
	TINMAN – T (initially travelling) IN (as member of) MAN (crew).
7	What’s left outside front of mean retreat (9)
	HERMITAGE – HERITAGE (what’s left) outside of M(ean).
8	Person in authority that must be straight! (5)
	RULER – double definition, a bent ruler would be no use.
10	Captain of warship maybe securing job as mail worker (3-10)
	SUB-POSTMASTER – the MASTER of a SUB secures a POST.
15	Poignant proposal accepted by European male (9)
	EMOTIONAL – MOTION (proposal) inside E, AL a chap.
17	After springtime exam, finally get key civic office (9)
	MAYORALTY – MAY (springtime) ORAL (exam) geT keY.
18	Reminder of archdeacon, one tucking into tart (8)
	SOUVENIR – VEN (archdeacon) 1, inside SOUR = tart.
21	Senior member of college tumbled over wicket (6)
	FELLOW – FELL (tumbled) O(ver) W(icket).
22	Proposal to clothe artist in interwoven fabric (5)
	BRAID – BID (proposal) with RA inserted.
24	Gloat over new trophy, perhaps (5)
	CROWN – CROW (gloat) over N (new).

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