(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) This was done in an unusual environment: no electricity (and that includes the Internet) at home. So fortunately it is Dante’s usual manageable style, though not a usual setter for a Tuesday. Thanks to Dante. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Across
1 About to sit and take it easy (6)
REPOSE : RE(abour;with reference to) + POSE(to sit for a painting or a photograph, say).
4 Strangley ill with bug? No, it’s in the blood (8)
GLOBULIN : Anagram of(Strangley)[ ILL plus(with) BUG? NO].
Answer: Any of a group of simple proteins found in blood.
9 Tracks usually leading to the quarry (6)
SPOORS : Cryptic defn: Tracks leading to the quarry in a hunt.
10 Drug used on Arctic trip (8)
NARCOTIC : Anagram of(… trip) ON ARCTIC.
12 Not a closed range, so start shooting (4,4)
OPEN FIRE : Cryptic defn: An open fire as opposed to a cooking range in a kitchen.
13 American church accepts an interest in redemption (6)
USANCE : [ US(abbrev. for things American) + CE(abbrev. for the Church of England) ] containing(accepts) AN.
Answer: The interest paid on borrowed money.
15 Confidence trickster’s aim spells trouble (2-2)
TO-DO : Cryptic defn: A con-man’s aim is to do;swindle you.
16 It looks like the campanologist is late (4,6)
DEAD RINGER : The DEAD(late;passed away) RINGER(of bells;a campanologist).
19 Off Aden, tar moves from bow to stern (4-3-3)
FORE-AND-AFT : Anagram of(moves) OFF ADEN, TAR.
20 It may be well-worn and well-used (4)
PUMP : Double defn: 1st: A type of footwear; and 2nd: A mechanical device used to bring up liquid from a well.
23 Follow an alternative man of the cloth (6)
TAILOR : TAIL(to follow someone, as a detective might) + OR(used to introduce an alternative).
Defn: …, cutting and sewing it, amongst other things.
25 Happen to see bird nesting as resident (8)
OCCUPIER : OCCUR(to happen) containing(to see … nesting) PIE(a bird).
27 An animal looking for his master (5,3)
GUIDE DOG : Cryptic defn: An animal that looks out for and leads its blind master.
28 Abandon land too dry to raise crops (6)
DESERT : Double defn: 1st: As a verb.
29 Technician in control (8)
ENGINEER : Double defn: 2nd: As a verb.
30 Strange noises from Greek/Cypriot union (6)
ENOSIS : Anagram of(Strange) NOISES.
Answer: A movement for securing the political union of Greece and Cyprus.
Down
1 Charge from defence in Rugby with yell (4,3)
RUSH OUT : RU(abbrev. for the sport of Rugby Union) plus(with) SHOUT(yell).
2 Dog under piano consumes remnant of food (9)
PROVENDER : [ ROVER(an archetypal name for a dog) placed below(under, in a down clue) P(abbrev. for “piano”, the musical instruction) ] containing(consumes) END(the remnant;the last bit).
Defn: …, collectively.
3 If in the right after quiet confession, this might be short (6)
SHRIFT : IF contained in(in) RT(abbrev. for “right”, in say, honorific titles) placed below(after, in a down clue) SH(an interjection requesting quiet).
Answer: A confession to a priest, an,d (historically), if you were awaiting execution, it refered to the short period allowed to make a last confession.
5 The best part of play (4)
LEAD : Cryptic defn: The best role;part in a stage play.
6 County relatives supply leather (8)
BUCKSKIN : BUCKS(abbrev. for the English county, Buckinghamshire) + KIN(blood relatives).
7 Roman extract of platinum (5)
LATIN : Hidden in(extract of) “platinum “.
8 United Nations comes up with patent source of energy (7)
NUCLEAR : Reversal of(comes up, in a down clue) UN(abbrev. for the United Nations organisation) plus(with) CLEAR(patent;plain to see).
11 Quaker’s companions? (7)
FRIENDS : Cryptic defn: What Quakers call themselves, members of the Religious Society of Friends.
14 Building uninsured if I cease to provide cover for it (7)
EDIFICE : Hidden in(… to provide cover for it) “uninsured if I cease “.
17 Ostentation of gold in complicated designs (9)
GAUDINESS : AU(chemical symbol for the element, gold) contained in(in) anagram of(complicated) DESIGNS.
18 17th century girl holding a nut (8)
JACOBEAN : JEAN(a girl’s name) contained in(holding) [A + COB(a nut) ].
Defn: … era in England.
19 The weariness of military punishment (7)
FATIGUE : Double defn: 2nd: … in the form of manual or menial labour.
21 Bad sailors getting good pay (7)
PIRATES : PI(short for “pious”;good) + RATES(pay scales).
22 It holds soup for two Orientals in turn (6)
TUREEN : Two x E(abbrev. for “Eastern”;Oriental) contained in(in) TURN.
24 A piece of cake? But not to a pilot’s liking (5)
ICING : Double defn: 1st: A sugar preparation used to, say, decorate a cake) ; and 2nd: A danger if it forms on an aircraft’s wings.
26 Manage an investment (4)
COPE : Double defn: 2nd: A garment.
(Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.)