Enigmatic Variations 1313 Uncommon Happiness by Kcit

A double carte blanche with 2 missing clues and merged clues. At least the clues in are normal order, albeit without the word lengths. If that was not enough, a four word phrase to find which also determines the top and bottom grids – then highlighting and removal of letters in the same position in both grids. Sounds like hard work

And hard work it proved to be – enjoyable though. The two single clues defining the top and bottom grids, with the requirement to keep the 4 word prase together.

On completion the initial grid is below:

K	A	T	A	S	E	N	U	S	S	I
A	S	W	I	M	Z	O	N	U	L	A
C	H	E	W	I	E	E	C	C	A	T
C	H	E	S	T	K	R	E	C	I	T
H	O	T	U	H	I	R	V	I	N	E
A	L	E	R	C	E	O	U	S	T	S
W	E	R	E	A	L	L	F	E	E	T
F	L	A	N	M	A	D	H	E	R	E
U	T	M	E	L	E	E	Y	V	E	S
C	H	I	A	N	O	R	G	E	A	T
H	E	E	S	S	L	V	E	C	C	R
S	I	N	D	H	I	R	I	A	T	A
I	S	L	E	R	A	D	A	R	S	Y
A	T	O	N	I	N	G	N	Y	A	S

The unclued entries were “We’re all mad here” being a quote from Alice in Wonderland uttered by the Cheshire cat.

The final instruction was to find the letters common in the top and bottom half of the grid; shade them in the top half and delete them in the bottom half revealing a grin. Those letters were the CHESHIRE CAT

K	A	T	A	S	E	N	U	S	S	I
A	S	W	I	M	Z	O	N	U	L	A
C	H	E	W	I	E	E	C	C	A	T
C	H	E	S	T	K	R	E	C	I	T
H	O	T	U	H	I	R	V	I	N	E
A	L	E	R	C	E	O	U	S	T	S
W	E	R	E	A	L	L	F	E	E	T
F	L	A	N	M	A	D	H	E	R	E
U	T	M	E	L	E	E	Y	V	E	S
		I	A	N	O	R	G	E
H	E			S	L	V			C	R
S	I	N	D				I	A	T	A
I	S	L	E	R	A	D	A	R	S	Y
A	T	O	N	I	N	G	N	Y	A	S

Many thanks kcit for several hours of head-scratching.

Key: * Anagram; Rev, Reverse; Underline definition; DD double definition

I have broken each double clue into its 2 distinct parts

Across

Dish section of army, reducing practice movements — a reduced number captured, on reflection

Dish section of army, reducing

Flank (section of army) – k = FLAN

Practice movements — a reduced number captured, on reflection

Rev. a + take (number captured) – e = KATA

Muslims? More than 50% easily offended about America

Sensitive (easily offended) – ive around us(America) = SENUSSI

Once at sea, perhaps, intend going round South-West Maine, getting shelter after confusion

Once at sea, perhaps, intend going round South-West

Aim (intend) around SW (south-west) = ASWIM

Maine, getting shelter after confusion

Me (Maine) + Lee (shelter) = MELEE

Two Australians backed retaining most of useless small area, certainly holding against Frenchman

Two Australians backed retaining most of useless small area

Rev. (A + Oz (Australians)) around null (useless) – l = ZONULA

Certainly holding against Frenchman

Yes (certainly) around v (against) = YVES

Aussie’s sweet, pert talk, mostly about West Indian island dweller caught almost open-mouthed

Aussie’s sweet, pert talk, mostly about West Indian

Cheek (Per talk) – k around WI (West Indian) = CHEWIE

Island dweller caught almost open-mouthed

C (caught) + hiant (open mouthed) – t = CHIAN

Cut excessive indulgence – consume sweet drink in batches – this box?

Cut excessive indulgence – consume sweet drink

Orgy (excessive indulgence) – y + eat (consume) = ORGEAT

In batches – this box?

Hidden batCHES This = CHEST

Crime that is German one Pakistani narrative record assigned to Italian

Crime that is German one Pakistani

Sin (crime) + dh (that is German) + I (one) = SINDHI

Narrative record assigned to Italian

Rec (Record) + It (Italian) = RECIT

Recalled atmosphere and cheers – one catches anger about onset of violence in Scottish town

Recalled atmosphere and cheers – one catches

Rev. air (atmosphere) + ta (cheers) = RIATA

Anger about onset of violence in Scottish town

Ire (anger) about v (onset of violence) + in = IRVINE

Man, say, one’s left to become half-cut – beer – about to cuddle college tree

Man, say, one’s left to become half-cut

Is (one’s) + left – ft (half-cut) = ISLE

Beer – about to cuddle college tree

Ale (beer) + re (about) around c (college) = ALERCE

Dismisses university groups banning electronic location device (no time for up-to-date skill)

Dismisses university groups banning electronic

OU (university) + sets (groups) – e (electronic) = OUSTS

Location device (no time for up-to-date skill)

Rad (up to date) + art (skill) – t = RADAR

Shakespeare’s agreeing fourteen characters in Globe at outset

A to N (14 characters) + in + g (Globe at outset) = ATONING

Old flier in many a show supports skilful act, we hear

Old flier in many a show

Hidden maNY A Show = NYAS

Supports skilful act, we hear

Homonym of Feat (skilful act) = FEET

Down

Bloomer from USA chief wrongly ignoring Eastern religious symbol in account penned by Eastern chief (unfinished)

Bloomer from USA chief wrongly ignoring Eastern

(USA chief – e)* = FUCHSIA

Religious symbol in account penned by Eastern chief (unfinished)

Acc (account) in Khan (Eastern chief) – n = KACCHA

French girlfriend from team leaving French city (location under fire) has ruined line in garden

French girlfriend from team leaving French city

Amiens (French city) – NS (team (bridge)) = AMIE

(Location under fire) has ruined line in garden

(has)* + l (line) in hoe (garden) = ASHHOLE

Hesitate about Welsh social media user seen and assaulted in part of London

Hesitate about Welsh social media user

Teeter (hesitate) about w (welsh) = TWEETER

Seen and assaulted in part of London

(seen and)* = NEASDEN

Who’s fashioned this bit of metal aerial (elevated trouble during many years)?

Who’s fashioned this bit of metal

(this + m)* = SMITH

Aerial (elevated trouble during many years)?

Rev. Ail (trouble) in Aeon (many years) = AEOLIAN

Prophet showing oblique face, disowning book about King that is, on reflection, very radical fuel

Prophet showing oblique face, disowning book about King that is

Bezel (oblique face) – b (book) around k (king) + ie (that is) = EZEKIEL

On reflection, very radical fuel

Rev. v (very) + Red (radical) = DERV

Lightweight Scots doctor’s first to abandon fool regarding health they again ruined after missing openings

Lightweight Scots doctor’s first to abandon fool

Dunce (fool) – d (doctor’s first) = UNCE

Regarding health they again ruined after missing openings

(hey+gain)* = HYGEIAN

Seemingly cut off, is taken aboard Victory, having abandoned ship, cast adrift after regarding answers

Seemingly cut off, is taken aboard Victory, having abandoned ship

Success (victory) – SS (ship) around is = SUCCISE

Cast adrift after regarding answers

(cast)* after Re. (Regarding) = REACTS

Toast list capturing favourite lost animals – say rest sorted out

Toast list capturing favourite

Slate (list) around in (favourite) = SLAINTE

lost animals – say rest sorted out

(say rest)* = ESTRAYS

Believer is absorbed in the tense display at big match?

Believer is absorbed in the tense

The t (tense) around is = THEIST

Display at big match?

At Test (Big match?) = ATTEST

Forename of actor filling other role: Henry, preceded by special royal title of respect

Forename of actor filling other role

Hidden othER ROLe = ERROL

Henry, preceded by special royal title of respect

H (Henry) after S (Special) + RI (Royal title) = SHRI

Grant, perhaps, British novelist source of restitution in historic court? Certainly

Grant, perhaps, British novelist

DD CARY

Source of restitution in historic court? Certainly

R (source of restitution) in sue (court) = SURE