A tough Tuesday workout from the Moleman. Lots of nice clues with terrific surface reading and a good challenge all round. Bit puzzled over the explanation for 18.
ACROSS (*) = ANAGRAM, (CD) = CRYPTIC DEFINITION, (R) = REVERSAL
1 DEWDROP WED (R) + DROP
5 FRACAS FR + ACAS (Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service) – a group for medioating against employment decisions / strikes etc.
9 PILASTER LAST inside PIER
10 SLIP UP PUPIL’S (R)
12 INSTRUMENTAL Double def.
15 ATTENDANCE DECENT TAN*
17 19 LAMBED Loved this clue – brought into the fold (LAM – 17 BED – 19) and caused uproar (BED – 19 LAM -17).
20 LEDERHOSEN (CD) Hide = leather shorts that would be found in a German bar. Brings back chilling memories of the Hofbrauhaus in Liverpool. Don’t go there, and if you have the blackmail photos, I’ll pay.
22 DO-IT-YOURSELF TEDIOUSLY FOR*
26 ICE BAG I.E. with C (COLD) + GAB (R)
28 ERSATZ Hidden answer
29 RENAMED MEN DARE* Windscale Nuclear Power Plant was renamed Sellafield.
DOWN
1 DOPE DO P.E.
2 25 WALLOWED ALL inside WOWED
3 RESONANT REASON minus A + ANT
4 PLEAT POLECAT minue O and C. Tiny grumble but having the same unusual device in consecutive clues is a shame.
6 RELIEF Double def, one of which is relief as in the artistic meaning.
7 CAPITALISE nice CD
8 SUPPLEMENT SUPPLE MEN + T
11 MUSCLE Homophone for MUSSEL
13 BARBED WIRE BEWARE BIRD*
14 STODGINESS DOTS (R) + G I + NESS
15 AVENUE Hidden reversal
18 CHILDREN Issue is obviously def, plus I can see C + HEN for Cold Bird but not sure about remainder of clue.
21 TYRANT THEY RANT minus HE
22 SEVER V inside SEER
24 SIAM Nice hidden clue
Thanks to Taupi for an enjoyable puzzle.
16dn:I thought just he same as you initially, then light dawned: ‘chilled wren’!
18dn – “Chilled wren”… Took me a while to get this – like you I was fixated on trying to fit it around C HEN
Snap!
1dn: I had DIPS. Rather tenuously, to dip is “to involve in money difficulties” ie to fool. I believe dips are a form of excercise torture.
17,19 was clever. 18dn too.
20 ac: Small quibble, but ‘Bierkellar’ should be ‘Bierkeller’, which made me think something more complicated was going on. Excellent puzzle otherwise.
21dn – I can see T(he)Y RANT, but where is the def?
I took it as an “&lit” clue, with the whole clue defining it.
Thanks for the explanation to “Children” as well.