New week and Vernon, who’s not been seen for a while returns
I found this tough in places, tricky to blog wordplay and a couple of unknowns, there’s a number of roads in the grid, ROAD, LANE, AVENUE, MEWS and so on but I don’t know if I’m missing a larger picture here, thanks Vernon
ACROSS
1. Old photograph is a peculiarly absorbing record (5)
SEPIA
EP – record – absorbed by a peculiar [IS A]*
4. Contemplate announcing a comeback facilitated by this (9)
REFLECTOR
REFLECT – contemplate & A which we’re supposed to think sounds like OR, not convinced though
9. In that case the arbiter or umpire finally gives the answer (9)
THEREFORE
THE & REF – arbiter & OR & end of (umpir)E
10. Musical production inevitably contains this (5)
EVITA
11. Where beginner in sports goes? (7,6)
LEISURE CENTRE
The centre of leiSure is S which what Sports begins with
13. Pet Sounds flyers (4)
MEWS
Double definition, I wasn’t aware of the seabirds however
14. Pitifully meek, oddly weird, and lacking in mental resilience (4-6)
WEAK-MINDED
A pitiful [MEEK odd letters of WeIrD AND]*
17. The latest intelligence about it leads to a South Pacific island (3,7)
NEW BRITAIN
IT in NEW BRAIN, again one I wasn’t really aware of.
22. Selling treasures maybe, duke is wearing ceremonial dress (13)
DISINVESTMENT
D(uke) & IS & IN – wearing & VESTMENT – dress
25. Wander round Mediterranean island, taking in another one briefly (5)
AMBLE
M=Malta inside ELBA all reversed – round
26. Adjusts clothing worn by Welsh person (9)
REDRESSES
DRESS inside REES – a Welsh name
27. Insert the target for this important shot? (9)
KEYSTROKE
Not really convinced by this clue, KEY – important & STROKE – and a keystroke could be pressing INSERT
28. Stunning attacker rates high (5)
TASER
DOWN
1. Resolution decided on: time to replace top of element (10)
SETTLEMENT
SET – decided on & T(ime) replacing the first E in (e)LEMENT
2. Old England manager apprehended by policewoman in taste of what’s to come (7)
PREVIEW
(don) REVIE ex England manager In PW – policewoman
3. Greeting oddly no use as line of approach (6)
AVENUE
AVE – greeting & odd letters of No UsE
4. Ex-President loves to restate empty smears (9)
ROOSEVELT
Surely not referring to Donald here, a smeared [LOVES TO empty R(estat)E]*
5. Uncommitted about Gauss, a German philosopher (5)
FREGE
Not heard of this one but it’s G – gauss in FREE – not committed
6. Pick Rice mainly — very exciting! (8)
ELECTRIC
ELECT – pick & most of RIC(e)
7. Be inclined to conceal distress in the last part (4,3)
TAIL END
AIL – distress inside TEND – inclination
8. British excluded from general course (4)
ROAD
British removed from (b)ROAD – general
12. Filling consultant starts to extend range through local newspaper (10)
ADVERTISER
Starts of Extend Range Through all filling ADVISER – consultant
15. Distressed kite feeding – it’s withdrawn and tense (5-4)
KNIFE-EDGE
IT removed from a distressed [K(it)E FEEDING]*
16. Waxing the top assumes endless money (8)
CRESCENT
Most of CEN(t) in CREST – top
18. Unscrupulous fellow, like Billy Bunter? (4,3)
WIDE BOY
Billy Bunter was famous for being fat
20. State of being sterile, as every poor sucker at first is (7)
ASEPSIS
AS & starts of Every Poor Sucker & IS
21. Urban square’s tree that sheds its outer parts (6)
STREET
hidden in squareS TREE That
23. Illegal runner, Croatian, without a time I suspect (5)
NARCO
No A, T(ime) or I in a suspect [CRO(ati)AN]*
24/19. Part of London Transport containing rescue centre (4,4)
PARK LANE
ARK – Noah’s rescue centre in PLANE – transport
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