Typical Tuesday fare here.
Nothing hard in the answers or the wordplays which meant there wasn’t any head-scratching involved. A couple of meanings/words I hadn’t seen before in porridge for prison and orfe for fish.
Thank you ARMONIE for the puzzle.
Definitions in the clues are marked like this.
* anagram, + charade, – deletion, H hidden, DD double definition
ACROSS
1 Drink for abstainer in last stand (6) BITTER [abstainer=TT inside last stand=BIER]
5 Distant object made from copper (8) FARTHING [distant=FAR + object=THING]
9 Flag Rex kept aboard ship (8) STREAMER [Rex inside ship=STEAMER]
10 Composer tucks into G&T or mineral (6) GARNET [composer=ARNE inside G & T]
11 Priest is working for porridge (6) PRISON [PRiest + IS + working=ON]
12 Snare ten fresh fish (8) ENTANGLE [TEN* + fish=ANGLE]
14 Stupid reason to test ancient artefact (7,5) ROSETTA STONE [REASON TO TEST]*
18 Writer dropping key in ravine or shaft (6,6) GEORGE ORWELL [key=E inside ravine=GORGE + OR + shaft=WELL]
22 National currency is creating emotional disorder (8) NEUROSIS [National + currency=EUROS + IS]
25 Boy’s wearing brown fabric (6) TARTAN [boy=ART inside brown=TAN]
26 Motorway madness is an illusion (6) MIRAGE [motorway=M1 + madness=RAGE]
27 Seditionist bears out recollection (8) SABOTEUR [BEARS OUT]*
28 Mum meanders in confusion (8) SHAMBLES [mum=SH + meanders=AMBLES]
29 Doctor did see whirlpools (6) EDDIES [DID SEE]*
DOWN
2 Popular bird to keep in captivity (6) INTERN [popular=IN + bird=TERN]
3 Possibly rue arrest of man on board (9) TREASURER [RUE ARREST]*
4 Think back on cars around Spain (9) REMINISCE [on=RE + cars=MINIS + around=C + Spain=E]
5 Lose the right to fish in well (7) FORFEIT [fish=ORFE inside well=FIT]
6 True // Conservative (5) RIGHT [DD]
7 Star player – new winger (5) HERON [star player=HERO + New]
8 Having an obligation to accept money that’s causing irritation (8) NEEDLING [having an obligation=NEEDING outside money=£]
13 Mug found in Christmas stocking (3) ASS [H]
15 Confirm item of furniture can be turned aside (9) AVERTABLE [confirm=AVER + item of furniture=TABLE]
16 Treated fairly and informed about energy price (9) TOLERATED [informed=TOLD outside Energy + price=RATE]
17 Fellow at all times is hot and restless (8) FEVERISH [Fellow + at all times=EVER + IS + Hot]
19 Try to absorb blob of slime (3) GOO [try=GO outside blob=O]
20 Avoids breaks when touring island (7) RESISTS [breaks=RESTS outside ISland]
21 Old coaster on river (6) MATURE [coaster=MAT + river=URE]
23 Honest Frenchman’s domain (5) REALM [honest=REAL + Frenchman=Monsieur]
24 Time for sorcery (5) SPELL [DD]
My first definite sub 30 minute cryptic in the FT or Times so, typical Tuesday fare or not, I’m calling it a win for me! First in 11A, last in 8D. Held up on 12A for far too long looking for the anagram from ‘snare ten’.
Jonny you’ll pick up the tricks of the trade soon by reading these blogs. Believe me I’m not belittling you, this was to an old hand rather easy.
Of the three puzzles blogged today this was in a different league, probably an semi professional one. The FT is infuriating in that you get puzzles like this and tomorrow you might get Monk or Io. Seems like a breeze or a hurricane with nowt between.
Still Bhavan, thanks.
Thanks Armonie and Bhavan
With this setter, you always know what you’re going to get – they are not hard, but the clues are crisp, unambiguous and fair. Even if it is over relatively quickly, I’m always feeling better for having done it!