Nice stuff as always from the mid-week maestro. There are some great clues here.
| Across | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOSTA – S[-een] in HOT,A | |
| 4 | RELOCATED – CO. rev. in RELATED | |
| 9 | LOOPINESS – PINE’s in LOOS – Cracking clue | |
| 10 | TASSO – TAS[-k],SO | |
| 11 | LILIAN – AIL in NIL rev. | |
| 12 | MODERATE – MODE,RATE | |
| 14 | GIANT PANDA – ANT in (PIG)* + AND + A | |
| 16 | TIFF – T(hat) I(s) + FF | |
| 19 | TOSH – (SHOT)* – A very neat clue | |
| 20 | FLORENTINE – LORE + NT in FINE | |
| 22 | ||
| 23 | MORSEL – S in MOREL | |
| 26 | RECTO – Hidden in corRECT One | |
| 27 | WRITE DOWN – “Right down” | |
| 28 | HOLD FORTH – Double def. | |
| 29 | TENSE – Double def. | |
| Down | ||
| 1 | HALF-LIGHT – Cryptic def. | |
| 2 | SEOUL – “Sole” | |
| 3 | ALICANTE – I CAN’T in ALE | |
| 4 | REEK – Double def. | |
| 5 | LAST ORDERS – (OLDER STARS)* | |
| 6 | CUTTER – Double def. | |
| 7 | TOSCANINI – (SANCTION)*,1 | |
| 8 | DOONE – DO ONE! – Another great clue | |
| 13 | WALLFLOWER – W + ALL + F + LOWER – A lovely semi &lit | |
| 15 | ARSENICAL – (AIR’S CLEAN)* | |
| 17 | FREELANCE – (General Robert) LEE rev. in FRANCE | |
| 18 | INSOLENT – SOLE in IN[n} + T | |
| 21 | RAN OFF – No F in R.A.F | |
| 22 | MARCH – Double def | |
| 24 | SHOWN – HOW in S(outh) and N(orth) | |
| 25 | HIGH – “Hi” | |
Yes Ali, yet another nice one from Dac.
But I couldn’t quite work out the ninas;
“cafe” in the penultimate row, and “news” in the penultimate column I could get, but I don’t understand where the one in row 4 fits in…..
Let me bang the drum for 5 down. Last Orders was indeed full of older stars.
Actually, Ali, 22ac. is “mentally” (men tally)…
Your 2D has gone a bit AWOL – I have S,POOL
2d Surely “Seoul” (sole)
unfortunate nina in NW corner though
Ah yes, thanks for the corrections. I copied last week’s template across and forgot to update 2D!
Re: Nina, I instinctively never look for them in Dac puzzles and can only ever recall one that he did for his wedding anniversary. Today’s look like coincidence I’d say
I thought Last Orders was outstanding, being familiar with the film, but more than that, I thought the puzzle was exemplary and I intend to use it as a benchmark (unfortunate Nina notwithstanding) for would-be setters who ask what I’m looking for. It has a bit of everything, neither too tricky nor too easy, lovely surfaces, humour and impeccably sound clues. Rather a good week so far in the Indy so far, though I say so myself.
I think 1 down may be HAL(t) FLIGHT.
Re the Nina it’s just as well the second 4 letters in row 4 did not spell someone’s name…
Excellent puzzle as always from Dac.
27A is WRITE DOWN.
An inadvertent inclusion?
Sorry, I’ll sack my subs! 27A corrected
Indeed, Duggie. There have been cases of intentional inclusions in other esteemed organs, I understand, but nothing I could repeat here.
I recall one in particular in an editorial, I think, in a national newspaper following a change of ownership, but at least the four remaining letters in row 4 today were not E I M I…
Well, I got the first one, a T, and my heart was in my mouth …
What a brilliant puzzle, in which the II (inadvertent inclusion) only adds to the pleasure.