Just a few (9 – I counted them) seconds over 10 minute target but I felt pleased with the time as I wasn’t tuned in to the correct radio frequency. The only way of assessing how I did will be in relation to your times – so please do post away – fast, slow or by calendar entry (as mine were when I started) are all welcome. The NW and SE were the slowest to complete – ending with LOI 22ac. 20dn went in with a bit of shrug but there’s nothing wrong with it.
ACROSS
1. Unhappiness of Scrooge followed by joy at last (6)
MISERY – Scrooge (MISER), jo(Y).
4. To support monarch is correct (6)
PROPER – support (PROP), monarch (ER).
8. One tiny picture it is risky not to check? (3,5,5)
THE SMALL PRINT – one tiny (THE SMALL – although I’m not certain why one=the here), picture (PRINT).
10. Separated so, I won’t move (2,3)
IN TWO – anagram (move) of I WONT).
11. Farewell bargain announced (7)
GOODBYE – homophone (announced) of bargain=GOOD BUY.
13. Sauna made boiling until one was sick (2,7)
AD NAUSEAM – anagram (boiling) of SAUNA MADE.
17. Wife coming in, nowhere to sit? Don’t worry (2,5)
NO SWEAT – wife (W) coming into nowhere to sit (NO SEAT).
18. Access computer using firm’s symbol and name (3,2)
LOG ON – firm’s symbol (LOGO), name (N).
19. Sleeveless garment suitable for G&S production? (8,5)
PINAFORE DRESS – clothing appropriate to HMS Pinafore.
21. To tease a lord is obscene (6)
RIBALD – tease (RIB), a (A), lord (LD – not come across this abbreviation before).
22. Advert extols revealing top (6)
VERTEX – well, it had to be as the answer was inside (revealing) the clue – ad(VERT EX)tols. NHO this as the highest point – or in maths the point opposite the base of a figure.
DOWN
1. Mathematical array in jumble involving fiendish art (6)
MATRIX – jumble (MIX) inside which is (involving) an anagram (fiendish) of ART.
2. Cry as home for lawn-mower suffers damage (4,5)
SHED TEARS – home for lawn-mower (SHED – I liked this!), suffers damage (TEARS).
3. See old lover (5)
ROMEO – holy see (ROME as a change from Ely), old (O).
5. Carpet salesman on tour (7)
REPROVE – salesman (REP), on top of tour (ROVE).
6. Letter of alphabet representing measure of tyre inflation (3)
PSI – double definition – the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet and the abbreviation for pounds per square inch (although mine are in BARs now – not my usual use for the term).
7. Despicable type, that woman? I should say so (6)
RATHER – despicable type (RAT), that woman (HER).
9. Knee surgeon’s ball? (3-6)
LEG CUTTER – a type of bowling in cricket – knee surgeon – someone who cuts into legs (as I know to my cost – old – very old – football injury).
12. Get me busy travelling? Please continue (2,2,5)
BE MY GUEST – anagram (travelling) of GET ME BUSY.
14. Vital contribution from knock-kneed full-back (7)
NEEDFUL – from inside the clue – knock-(NEED FUL)l-back. Don’t remind me about knees again!
15. One shoots game bird, right? (6)
SNIPER – game bird (SNIPE – never seen this at a farm shop or on a menu – I’ve seen them over the Peak District though – anyone with more experience?), right (R).
16. Amorous activity at Oxford that all can sport? (6)
UNISEX – sport as in wear, I think. I was held up on this wondering if this was really The Times – amorous activity (SEX) at Oxford (UNI).
18. Shelf‘s left corner (5)
LEDGE – left (L), corner (EDGE).
20. Hairstyle swept up into small lump (3)
NUB – again – it had to be as the hairstyle is a bun – swept upwards (NUB) but I didn’t initially click with nub=small lump (Collins tells me it is though).
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