Independent 9,705 by Crosophile

Crosophile in the Monday “easy” slot, how did you do?

Well I found it mostly plain sailing, can’t see any obvious themes or Ninas but he has previous in doing them so maybe I’ve missed it.

Thanks Crosophile, an enjoyable 15-20 minute romp today

Across

1 If rust is treated edible produce results (6)
FRUITS
A treated [IF RUST]*

4 In a month, returning from in Germany with companion of an old flame? (8)
NOVEMBER
VON  – from German reversed & EMBER – after the flame’s gone

10 On land youngster’s avoiding the peaks? (3-6)
OFF-SEASON
If you’re OFF SEA you might be “on land” & SON

11 Tipple spiked with ecstasy – it’s extremely pleasant (5)
DREAM
E(cstacy) in DRAM. I know Hoskins normally does the Monday alcohol and drugs clues but Crosophile is certainly trying too.

12 How to escape if caught in aeroplane after tail on fire? (5)
EJECT
Extended def into clue. C(aught) in JET after the tail of (fir)E

13 Trees popular in a military town (9)
ALDERSHOT
ALDERS & HOT

14 Nick 20 – it helps with the payments (5,4)
SWIPE CARD
SWIPE – to nick, steal & 20 = Eccentric = CARD

17 Say hello to Lofty (4)
HIGH
Sounds like HI

19 A monster – it follows on the way back (4)
OGRE
ERGO – therefore reversed

20 At first clipped way of speaking in e.g. Morecambe is a bit odd (9)
ECCENTRIC
(a)CCENT inside ERIC (morecambe)

22 It has wings spread stiffly beyond halfway (9)
BUTTERFLY
BUTTER – a spread & last bit of (stif)FLY

25 Finally the underworld’s up-front – it’s in a dark place (5)
SHADE
The final letter of HADES moved to the start

26 Bachelor tucked into grub – it’s probably automatic (5)
ROBOT
B(achelor) inside ROOT

27 Decorates good coats with trimming at the top (9)
GARNISHES
G(ood) and trimmed (v)ARNISHES – coats

28 Maybe a roast ought to if set before the queen (8)
SHOULDER
SHOULD & her maj E.R.

29 4’s fallen ones in deserts? (6)
LEAVES
Well leaves do tend to fall in November – see 4a, so DD

Down

1 Fellow brings down a bouquet (7)
FLOWERS
F(ellow) & LOWERS

2 Nearly full engine working cold (9)
UNFEELING
Most of [FUL(l) ENGINE]* working

3 Pinching an article on paper (5)
THEFT
THE & the F.T. Bit of a chestnut perhaps but it’s the easy start to the week

5 Heading off in a robe that’s in one’s possession (5)
OWNED
No head to (g)OWNED – in a robe

6 Heroin in Pernod, when mixed, makes a natural painkiller (9)
ENDORPHIN
A mixed [H(eroin) IN PERNOD]*, an intersting concept if I had any Pernod. Or heroin for that matter.

7 Tree in coastal area say (5)
BEECH
Souinds like BEACH

8 Transfer alarm clock perhaps when getting up? (5)
REMIT
TIMER reversed

9 Help called for after malfunction in space adventure (8)
ESCAPADE
A malfunctioning SPACE* & sounds like AID

15 Sell pared Swiss cheese with reduced mass – that’s the spirit (9)
ELEMENTAL
A pared (s)EL(l) & one M(ass) missing in EM(m)ENTAL

16 It’s some distance after plant that’s in naval base (8)
DOCKYARD
DOCK – plant & YARD – some distance

18 Russian leader playing havoc with government and Brezhnev’s top three (9)
GORBACHEV
Playing [HAVOC G(overnment) BRE(zhnev)]*

21 Folds covers over a second note (7)
CREASES
RE – the second note in Do Re Mi etc in CASES – covers

22 Romeo is into tender society flappers (5)
BIRDS
R(omeo) inside BID – to tender & S(ociety)

23 Thanks to show of disapproval it’s unacceptable (5)
TABOO
TA – thanks & BOO

24 Some music in hot smoky atmosphere heralding one couple in queue (5)
FUGUE
FUG & part of (que)UE

25 Intrinsic flashiness? (5)
SHINE
Hidden – intrinsic in flaSHINEss