The Age Cryptic by LR #20,686

Monday again but an LR puzzle makes it a brighter prospect. Not too easy, not too hard but I do have a couple I can't parse (No, I'm good! Got them). I did find the down clues easier than the across clues and I had the bottom finished ages before the top got sorted out.

I liked the 28A/1,2,3D mix of clues. Three types of vices was very neat. Here's my pic:

1A - Idiot to ring spy agency to send back alien workmate (9)

"Workmate," is our definition and an "idiot" = ASS, "ring" = O, "spy agency" = CIA and "send back alien" = ET reversed to TE to make ASSOCIATE. This took me  while as I thought "ring" was being a container signpost.

6A - Marriage gutted worker as intended (5)

"Intended," is our definition and "M(-arriag)E gutted" = ME with "worker" = ANT for MEANT.

9A - C'mon! Love-fifty got a medal for tennis player (9)

"Tennis player," is who we're looking for and "C'mon!" = GO, "love-fifty" = OL for zero and roman numeral, "A medal" = A GONG to make Gloria GOOLAGONG. Evonne! Sorry it's Evonne. I don't know why I thought Gloria. I have this thing about alliteration; sorry.

10A - Give nanna tea (5)

"Give," is our definition and "nanna" = GRAN plus "tea" = T for a GRANT.

11A - Injury from persisting?! (1,1,1)

"Injury," is our definition and this is a hidden word clue with "from peRSIting" for RSI or repetitive strain injury. Is it &lit? I just now realised the injury is from "persistent" activities like typing. I really need to get better at spotting these.

12A - How a talented musician might go with the flow? (4,2,2,3)

Cryptic definition: PLAY IT BY EAR.

13A - Concurs with a party ousting Newton (6)

"Concurs," is our definition and I think this is "A party" = A GREENS that is "ousting Newton" = -N for AGREES. I kept trying to think of bigger words that had Burt or Wayne removed but no, much simpler.

15A - 1971 Oscar-winner cut over rejection of Vietnam (7)

"1971 Oscar-winner," is who we are looking for with "cut" = HACK and "rejection of Vietnam" = NAM reversed to MAN for Gene HACKMAN. The movie was released in 1971 but Hackman won the Oscar in 1972. A bit confusing there but all sorted in the end. Thanks to Jeff Stein on Twitter for putting me right on how we get the MAN part as I wasn't confident.

17A - A week with exotic snake arouses (7)

"Arouses," is our definition and "A Week" = A W with "exotic SNAKE" being anagrind and partial fodder to make AWAKENS.

20A - Go through dad's Saab removing battery...why? (4,2)

"Go through," is our definition with "dad's S(-aa)B removing battery" means to remove the double-A from Saab to make PA'S SB plus "why" = Y for PASS BY.

23A - Army negates war with old country (4,7)

"Old country," is what we're looking for and "ARMY NEGATES war" is fodder and anagrind to make EAST GERMANY.

25A - Sister to finally join United Nations (3)

"Sister," is our definition and "finally joiN" = N with "United Nations" = UN for a NUN.

26A - Tight vocals in shelters (5)

"Shelters," is our definition and "tight vocals" where vocals is a homophone signpost we get TENSE/ TENTS.

27A - Leap to row craft in aquatic sport (5,4)

"Aquatic sport," is what we need and "LEAP TO ROW craft" is fodder and anagrind for WATER POLO.

28A - 1, 2 and 3-down state two points?(5)

"1, 2 and 3-down," is the definition and "state" = VIC with "two points" = ES for VICES which is a nice hint for when we hit the down clues. I only had 1D in when I solved this and spent too much time looking at VPs.

29A - Standard cart rolled over twig (9)

"Standard," is our definition and the one meaning the basis by which all others are measured against. "Cart rolled over" = DRAY reversed to YARD and "twig" = STICK for a YARDSTICK.

1D - US politician from drunk.org/ale (2,4)

"US politician," is who we need from "drunk ORGALE" is anagrind and fodder cleverly disguised which makes AL GORE a former "vice" president

2D - Sexy plagiarism OK in grammar section (7)

"Sexy," is our definition and I spent far too long trying to figure this clue out until I had all the cross letters in and curses! It's a hidden word clue. "plagiariSM OK IN Grammar" which is a "vice" but sexy isn't so it was hard finding synonyms. I just had to think of The Mask.

3D - Carbon light tool (5)

"Tool," is our definition and "carbon" = C and "light" = LAMP to make the "vice" CLAMP.

4D - Coats paint on evenly with the right guns (7)

"Coats," is our definition and "pAiNt On evenly" = ANO with "right" = R and "guns" = AKS as in AK47s to make ANORAKS.

5D - Is initially horrified after Glen's bad language (7)

"Language," is what we need with "IS initially Horrified" = ISH going "after GLEN's bad" is partial fodder and anagrind to make ENGLISH.

6D - Lots of cash for wild game deer (9)

"Lots of cash," is the definition with "wild GAME" as anagrind and partial fodder going with "deer" = BUCKS for MEGABUCKS.

7D - Man I hate stupidly spending time in this city (7)

"City," is what we need and "MAN I HAtE stupidly" is fodder an anagrind but we have too many letters so "spending Time" means to remove the excess T leaving letters for ANAHEIM.

8D - Teaching pharaoh duck call (8)

"Teaching," is our definition and "pharaoh" = TUT, "duck" = O and to "call" = RING to make TUTORING.

14D - Motivates greenies bothered by sulphur (9)

"Motivates," is the definition and "GREENIES bothered" is partial fodder and anagrind needing "sulphur" = S to mix and make ENERGISES.

16D - All the best in the labyrinth with laptop to victory (5,3)

"All the best," is what we're looking for and a "labyrinth" = MAZE with "Laptop" = L and "TO Victory" = TOV for MAZEL TOV the Jewish phrase for congratulations.

18D - North Carolina imprisons one chasing bum with poison (7)

"Poison," is our definition and "North Carolina imprisons one" = N(I)C which is "chasing" or going after "bum" = ARSE to make ARSENIC.

19D - Slim moves cars to western New York (7)

"Slim," is our definition and "moves CARS" is anagrind and partial fodder going with "Western New York" = WNY to make SCRAWNY.

20D - Quiet little flower for wall covering (7)

"Wall covering," is our definition and "quiet" = P for piano, "little" = L - does little always make L? with "flower" = ASTER for PLASTER.

21D - Rock star Derek from New Jersey on disc six (3,4)

"Rock star," is who we're after and "Derek" = BO the actress, "from New Jersey" = NJ, "disc" = O and "six" = VI to make BON JOVI who is from New Jersey which is kind of neat. You know who isn't from NJ? Bon Iver which is who I'd had in place for this because I'm ridiculous.

22D - Open wine for uncoordinated Middle Earth king (6)

"Open wine," is our definition and "uncoordinated" = UNCO in Aussie slang although not listed in the How To Speak Australian video,  I know I checked, with "middle eaRth King" = RK to make UNCORK. I never find corked wine over here, everything's a screwcap.

24D - Why cockney damages tents (5)

"Tents," is what we needs and "why" = Y and "cockney damage" = (-h)URTS for YURTS.

And we are done. Great mental workout, shake it off. Grab a drink and chill out with some shit telly for a bit and rest up those exhausted neurons. If you've got questions or alternate solutions please add them in the comments. Comments are great, everyone likes nice comments. Mean comments not so much. Have a good night.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,684

Rather difficult this week - well that's not unusual. This took me most of the day, off and on. I then had to go to D.A. Trippers to get some help with 14A, a few random clues and the SW corner. I also used One Across(dot)com on many. Definitely needed a bit more help to get through this one.

I got off to a great start in the NW corner and had most of it done in my first hour before the puzzle became a walk through hip deep snow. For me 17D "Faint ray, possibly extinguished (5,3)" where the answer is FLAKE OUT this my be a difference in how the phrase is used as I've always used it as someone who has a brain fart, too much sugar maybe and just can't get their focus. I'm not sure how "ray possibly" get us FLAKE unless it's the fish - do we eat rays and do we call them flake?

I think 19D was terribly tricky for just three words. I used one across for that and still thought "cut" was the definition over "dodge" but it is "Dodge" as the definition and "ESC" for the key and "HEW" for cut. I flipped on this clue so many times - way to mess with my mind.

23D was tough because the definition was quite vague. I don't know enough about wine to know Macon is related. I relied on the DATs for that one

I liked 7D "Difficult bend executed by Yankee (6) which is (-c)ORNER + Y and sent to memories of Yosemite Sam.

My favourite clue was 6D "Discharge integral to transport goal?! (6,8) and I got this just a logical answer so I'm not sure of clue type - it is an &lit?  I do enjoy when politics can slip seamlessly into a clue.

Two clues I don't know how to parse:

22A - Meat & Drink Summit consuming salt, suffering heart collapse (4,5)

Answer is RUMP STEAK so I get "Meat" is the definition and "drink" = RUM "Summit" = PEAK and "consuming salt" = P(S)EAK but how do we get the T from the rest?

20D - Wine agent function on square - no closer (6)

"Wine agent" is the definition and I got this from crosses and definition. I figured we needed a 7 letter word and the last letter being dropped so is it TANNIN(-g) and how does that work? Is it a math clue?

Let me know if you have alternate solutions in comments and have yourselves a great weekend.

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,680

Good Monday, friends. LR gave us a workout this morning, didn't he. Geez! I must have looked at the page for a few hours and only had 5 or six solved. I admit I was distracted by Youtube and online shopping (I'm planning a holiday) and my husband who's had a tough time at work and likes to use me as his venting wall. Although he'll tolerate a certain amount of looking at the top of my head as I type, his patience is not infinite - the joys of working from home.

Not sure if I was missing something I peeked into Twitter to see if there were any hints (a line of encouragement from @LRxword telling me I can do this) but then I got 1D and from there it started to fall into place. Still did not get it done until nearly 3PM.

What held me up were a couple of Aussie slangs and some where I'm not sure on the definitions. Here's my pic, bit dark sorry:

8A - Girl one caught getting into beer (5)

"Girl" is who we are looking for and I have kvetched about this as an unfair definition but I'll let it slide today since the name is near and dear to me. "One" = I and I think "Caught" = C "getting into beer" = ALE to make AL(I)(C)E.  So why does "caught" = C?

9A - Improvisors who believe in commercial rights? (2-7)

"Improvisors" is the definition and those who believe in liberating commercials? AD LIBBERS.

11A - Beating fine (9)

DD: STRAPPING.

12A- Cheap feline returned to Kentucky (5)

"Cheap" is our definition "feline" = CAT being "returned" to TAC and the abbreviation for "Kentucky" = KY for TACKY.

13A - Beatle admirer in gold section (5)

Hidden word clue: "admireR IN GOld" for RINGO

14A - Lawyer with idiot drivers' glasses (9)

"Glasses" is our definition and "Lawyer" = SC for Senior Counsel which I had to google about for, and "idiot drivers" are HOONERS to make the very Aussie word SCHOONERS.

16A - Signs Noah's boat is entering French seas (7)

"Signs" is our definition and "Noah's boat" = ARK "entering French seas" = MERS for M(ARK)ERS

19A - Quiet stoner moved to this Melbourne suburb (7)

"Melbourne suburb" is what we need and "quiet" = P and "STONER moved" is fodder and anagrind for PRESTON. Never been there, is it nice?

21A - Bank codes to get rubbish suit pattern (9)

"Suit pattern" is our definition and "bank codes" = PINS and "rubbish" = TRIPE for PINSTRIPE.

23A - Group from south-west branch (5)

"Group" is our definition and "south-west" = SW and "branch" = ARM for a SWARM.

25A - Anxious workers co-ordinate (5)

"Anxious" is our definition with "workers" = ANTS and a "co-ordinate" = Y as in an x or y axis math stuff to make ANTSY.

27A - You interrupt composer indeed perverted (9)

"Perverted" is our definition and "you" = U which "interrupts" a "composer" = BACH with a sneaky one-word instruction "in DEED" to make DE(BA(U)CH)ED.

28A - Argument on new colour (4-5)

"Colour" is what we want and "argument" = BLUE and "new" = GREEN for BLUE-GREEN. I haven't come across "argument" = blue before and wonder if it's because of shouting until one's blur in the face? Why does blue mean argument?

29A - Small part arrived with ring (5)

"Small part" is our definition and here we need to think acting and not machinery with "arrived" = CAME and "ring" = O for a CAMEO. The Lemonheads sang it well "I just want a bit part in your life, a walk on would be fine."

1D - Fish doctor has hesitation with instrument from kit (4,4)

"Instrument from kit" is what we need and "fish" = BASS, "doctor" = DR and a "hesitation" = UM for a BASS DRUM.

2D - One born in late September turns 49 over breakfast (6)

"One born in late September" is our definition and "turns 49" = LI (not really it's supposed to be XLIX) reversed to LI with "breakfast" = BRAN for a LIBRAN.

3D - Hobby to breed housecats, perhaps (3,7)

CD: PET PROJECT. This was my first solve - what does that say about me?

4D - Taxi takes popular lead singer to budget accommodation (6)

"Budget accommodation" is our definition and "taxi" = CAB, "popular" = IN and "lead Singer" = S for CABINS.

5D - Gash suffered during somersault in main boat (8)

"Main boat" is our definition and "GASH suffered" is partial fodder and anagrind, "during" is a container signpost for "somersault" = FLIP to make FL(AG SH)IP.

6D - Bloke extremely into sex? That doesn't surprise me (1,3)

"That doesn't surprise me" is our definition and "BlokE extremely" = BE going into "sex" = IT for I BET. I think this is right.

7D - Leaves box in coach on East Street? (3,5)

"Leaves box" is our definition and "coach" = TEACH and "East STreet" = EST for TEA CHEST.

10D - Small hollow tyres caused eye problems (5)

"Eye problems" is our definition and "small" = S and "hollow TY(-r)ES makes STYES.

15D - Take the lid off bolognaise, say available to programmers (4-6)

"Available to programmers" is our definition and "take the lid off" = OPEN, "bolognaise, say" = sauce/ SOURCE (I keep running foul of this homophone. It doesn't work in my accent I'm not that New York and honestly, neither are you Aussies) to become OPEN SOURCE.

17D - Fled as gin & tonic regret resonated (4,4)

"Resonated" is our definition and "fled" = RAN, "gin & tonic" = GT and "regret" = RUE for RANG TRUE.

18D - Type in leak on the surface (4,4)

"On the surface" is our definition and "Type" = KIND going "in leak" = SEEP for S(KIN D)EEP

20D - Mention famous friends made porn...awkward! (4-4)

"Mention famous friends" is our definition and "MADE PORN awkward" is fodder and anagrind for NAME DROP which is the only full anagram in the whole puzzle.

21D - Another option for leaders in Parliament legislating Australia's nasty budget (4,1)

"Another option" is the definition and "Leaders" is a starting signpost showing us "Parliament Legislating Australia's Nasty Budget for PLAN-B.

22D - Retreating to English bed and breakfast to sing topless (6)

"Retreating" is our definition and "English" = E, "Bed and Breakfast" = BB and "(-s)ING topless" = ING for EBBING.

24D - In miserable hat turning emo (2,4)

"In" is the definition and "miserable HAT" is anagrind and partial fodder with "turning EMO" for AT H(OME).

26D - Every second of gym orgy is for guru (4)

"Guru" is our definition and "every second of gYm OrGy Is for" = YOGI.


There we go, it doesn't seem half so bad once it's all solved and explained but really it was quite intimidating with only a few solved and no anagrams to rely on to get us in there. Maybe the Age is far too kind with us and its amount of anagrams.

As always if you have comments, suggestions or alternate solutions, please add them in the comments. We love comments.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,678

A whopper of a theme for this week's puzzle. Not the usual NB for instructions either but a "WARNING" to strike fear in us all. The warning tells us that ten clues lack a definition and "the 20-21 camouflaged locations," camouflaged? What does that mean?

My first clues in were the 13s followed by the three non-theme clues off 13D. I then got the 20-21 for CAPITAL CITIES. which could mean any capital city in the world at that point. I could get from cross letters that the first word of 27A might be SAINT and then I googled capital cities starting with saint and got SAINT PAUL but then tried to see it and could see a possible anagram but with too many letters and no deletion which makes my frustration and confusion rise. US capitals? Let's try another and the most straightforward clue is 9A which again has too many letters for the (8) enumeration. No patience to be had I pop that into an anagram solver and green lights DES MOINES (I.A. ) That is the "camouflaged" bit in each theme clue, the state's abbreviation. They appear in the clue in the correct order.

I'm not going to break down all of the clues. I have double earache and a fever and I'm headed back to my bed with a fair dose of nurofen but here's the pic and you can pop into the D.A. Trippers where Ray has kindly provided the clue breakdowns for us already. Oh, ok I'll share them here too but the group is great for discussion. Ray, you wee angel.

from Ray:

ACROSS:
1A – Defn = “Model maybe”. “leading” gives a 2 letter word for letters 4,5. “after” = positioner. “wrestling victory” gives a 3 letter word for letters 1,2,3


4A – Defn = “Old Brit”. “German. Yes” gives a 2 letter word for letters 1,2. “by” = positioner. “manoeuvred” = anagrind. Fodder = “cab, one” for letters 3,4,5,6,7,8.


** 9A – “Disturbing” = anagrind. Fodder = “med(IA) noises”.


10A – “Ringmaster” gives a 6 letter name with fourth letter removed (“clown’s seat off) for letters 1,2,3,4,5. Defn = “punt”.


** 11A – “Initial regulars” gives letters 5,6,7. “succeeding” = positioner. “at (GA)la” gives letters 1,2,3,4.


** 12A – “Li(NE)” gives letters 1,2. “gets” = positioner / container. “pass” gives a 3 letter word for letters 4,5,6. “in” = positioner / container. “news” gives 2 letters for letters 3,7.


13A – “Gannet wings clipped” gives letters 1,2,3,4. “retracted” = reverse indicator. “old” gives a 2 letter word for letters 6,5. Defn = “wing”.


** 14A – “out” = anagrind. Fodder = “fa(CT)or” for 4 letters and “I left third” for the other 4 letters.


** 17A – “flogging” = anagrind. Fodder = “Mick’s bra(ND)”.


19A – “Jesus backing” gives letter 1. “religion” gives a 5 letter word for letters 2,3,4,5,6. Defn = “long speech”.


22A – Defn = “Pasta dish“. “distributed” = anagrind. Fodder = “alas” for letters 1,2,3,4. “left” gives a 4 letter word, with second letter removed (“wanting nothing”) for letters 5,6,7.


24A – Defn = “Checked”. “off” = anagrind. Fodder = “deep mid”.


25A – “Writer” gives a 3 letter word / name for letters 1,2,3. “wild” = anagrind. Fodder = “shrine of” for letters 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. Defn = “dog”.


26A – Defn = “Cultivates”. “photos” gives a 6 letter word with first letter removed (“topless”) for letters 1,2,3,4,5.


** 27A – “flounder” = anagrind. Fodder = “I’(M N)uts” and “a plan”.


28A – Defn = “causing deadlocks?”. “Two cheeky things” gives 2 words – a 3 letter word for letters 1,2,3 and a 5 letter word for letters 4,5,6,7,8.


29A – “Jarrah ultimately” gives 1 letter for letter 4. “broke” = positioner / container. “old” gives a 4 letter word for letters 1,2,3,5. Defn = “carpentry tool”.
 
DOWN:


1D – Defn = “Stands”. “whales collectively” gives a 3 letter word for letters 1,2,3. “cracking” gives a 2 letter abbreviation (with “up” = reverse indicator) for letters 5,4.


2D – Defn = “Young birds”. “flapped” = anagrind. Fodder = “linnets” for letters 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. “grass verges” gives letters 8,9.

** 3D – “lost” = anagrind. Fodder = “Hope N(AZ)I” for letters 1,2,3,4,5,6. “vote” gives 1 letter for letter 7.


** 4D – “Soprano Bronhill” gives 4 a letter name for letters 1,2,3,4. “(AK)a” gives letter 5. “the essential trump” gives letter 6.


5D – Defn = “Court’s burden”. “netting” gives a 4 letter word and “legal principles” gives a 4 letter word, which you then “Spooner”.


6D – “Bend” gives a 3 letter word for letters 1,2,3. “edges of Koran” gives letters 4,5. “books” gives letters 6,7. “Defn = “making two loops?”.


7D – “During” = positioner / container. “a” gives letter 1. “Brief row” gives letters 4,5. “getting extremely” gives letters 2,3. Defn = “punchy”.


8D – “Criminal gang” gives a 5 letter word for letters 1,2,3,7,8. “keeping” = positioner / container. “up” = reverse indicator. “racket” gives a 3 letter word for letters 6,5,4. Defn = “in the Caribbean”.


13D – Defn = “Walk”. “across” = hidden indicator. Fodder = “Pambula territory”.


15D – Double defn. Defn 1 = “Account anguish”. Defn 2 = “how jaded authors feel?”.


16D – Defn = “Gets to”. “on the outer” = hidden indicator. Fodder = “accept losses”.


** 18D – “after” = positioner. “31 days” gives 6 letter word for letters 1,2,3,4,5,6. “(ME)at” which loses last letter (“temperature drops”) gives letter 7.


20D, 21D – Defn = “Sofia and Victoria”. “skewed” = anagrind. Fodder = “practicalities”, with 1 letter removed (“ignoring roster from the outset”).


** 23D – “threadbare” = anagrind. Fodder = “M(OR)ales”.


25D – “Extreme desire” gives letters 1,2. “is superior to” = positioner. “desire” gives a 4 letter word with second letter removed (“nonetheless”) for letters 3,4,5. Defn = “dig?”.


Enjoy the day before the terrible rain strikes again. Thanks Celia Fate for checking up on me, you're a doll. I love the puzzle community, so many wonderful people.

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,674

I had a wee struggle with this one but got there eventually. I had about half done before the rest of the clues became tricky. I'd go away and come back, get a couple, go away again and repeat until about 1pm when I finally got 16D and could finish the puzzle. I also got further along on a painting more than I expected.

Another unique grid, too. This puzzle has 33 questions which is odd, and not just literally but I've noticed most cryptic puzzles use an even number clues. I don't see a Nina unless a message to pals Una and Tia.

I had a few I wasn't sure of that I was later able to parse but I'm only left with 11A as the one clue I can't fully figure out. Here's my pic:

Sorry it's a bit yellow but I didn't take a pic during daylight and it's the overhead lights. I had to lean the puzzle against my computer or my shadow covered most of the page.

11A - Singer and muso Brian into opening couple of tracks (5)

With the cross letters and a feeling "muso Brian" was Brian ENO I put in TENOR. leaving just the T & R to parse. Which right now, hours later, I can see clear as day (even though I couldn't see it during actual day) it's from "couple of TRacks" meaning to take the first couple letters from tracks. So my scribbles of "couple" = Two and "tracks" = Rails is a step I didn't need to bother with. Ah well.

Sorry just a quick post. I didn't finish the DA last week either. I'll probably save it for tomorrow or Wednesday. Unless Paul is printed in the Guardian. Oh I did have a go at the Wall Street Journal's Cox & Rathvon puzzle which has a fun theme and I have to wait a week for the solution which means a week to solve. It has "The Seven Cryptic Dwarves" as a theme and all of the answers have been altered by a different dwarf. Not only do you have to solve the clue, you then have to apply one of the dwarves' mechanics to get the answer to enter into the grid. Have a go here! Thanks to Ganesh Nayak for sharing in CCS, always fun to spread torment.

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,668

This Monday sees the return of LR which is going to be great for the next few weeks. My first thought was I liked the grid design. A new one to me and I noticed the large Fs on their sides resembling keys. I'm a bit aware of grid oddities and what they could mean after Phi posted on his blog about his puzzle that had an interesting theme which created a unique grid as well. If anything else was going on here, I didn't find it. No Ninas to my eye.

This puzzle stood out as so many of the clues had answers that were a (4,4) which took me a while as I solved 4A first and then went right to its down clues which aren't (4,4) and once you do see that it makes the longest clue, 15A make much more sense. Here's my pic and an explanation of the scribbles:

Definitions are underlined
Actionable signposts or words are circled
Anagrinds are in rectangles
Anagram fodder has a squiggly underline
Dashes above/below letters are beginning/end letters or odds/evens 
Some clue elements I try to separate are in parantheses
Underlined numbers are not fully parsed unless ticked, and circled numbers are ones I share with the Facebook Cryptic Crossword Learners club.

4A - Begin bible studies with king from sci-fi series (4,4)

"Sci-fi series" is what we're looking for and "begin" = START and "bible studies" = RE (for religious education) and "with King" = K to make STAR TREK

8A - Close contest? (4,4)

A cryptic definition clue: HOME GAME.

9A - Refuse to reduce volume (4,4)

Double definition: Refuse / to reduce volume = TURN DOWN.

10A - Pots banged by band very loudly on second of brief visits (4-4)

"Brief visits" is our definition and "POTS banged" is partial fodder and anagrind with "band" = O and "very loudly" = FF (forte forte the music instruction) with "second" = S to make STOP-OFFS.

11, 14A - Reefer I'd smoked gave welcome lift (4,4)

"Gave welcome lift" is our definition and  "REEFER I'D smoked" is fodder and anagrind to make FREE RIDE, nice cheeky clue.

12A - Kidnap quintet to relax briefly (4,4)

Double definition: Kidnap quintet / to relax briefly = TAKE FIVE.

15A - Curses this puzzle theme! (4,6,5)

Double definition: Curses / this puzzle theme = FOUR LETTER WORDS.

19, 24A - Slack cop lost key (4,4)

"Key" is our definition and "SLACK COP lost" is fodder and anagrind making CAPS LOCK, the keyboard key.

I had a short but funny mental block with this clue because due to watching some videos on Buzzfeed about men wearing women's g-strings for a day, for some reason the anagram I saw first was COCK SLAP.

23A - Teens messed with horses in reserves (4,4)

"Reserves" is our definition and "TEENS messed" is partial fodder and anagrind, "with horses" = GGS (and this is one of those cryptic elements that's purely used only in cryptic crosswords. It's a pretty old term now I believe and its origins are up for debate. British slang for horses is "gee-gees" and it's used around horse racing. I don't know if it's used around horse tracks these days, I'm not a horse person so I've just made a mental note in the puzzle solving section of my brain in case it comes up sometime)  the answer is (NEST E)GGS

25A - Very cool journalist's furniture (4,4)

"Furniture" is our definition and "very" = SO ("It's very cool" and "it's so cool" type of synonym. One that has tripped me up before), "cool" = FAB and "journalist's" = ED'S (short for editor) to make SOFA BEDS.

26A - Popstar in city with a daggy disguise (4,4)

"Popstar" is who we're looking for and "city" = L.A. (for Los Angeles) "with A DAGGY disguise" is partial fodder and anagrind to make LA(DY GAGA)

27A - Miserable divorcee froze (4,4)

"Froze" is our definition and "miserable DIVORCEE" is anagrind and fodder to make ICED OVER.

28A - Aggressive campaign to get tradesmen evenly into corridor (4,4)

"Aggressive campaign" is our definition and "tRaDeSmEn evenly" = RDSE as we remove the even letters and they're going "into" a word for "corridor" = HALL to make HA(RD SE)LL.

1D - Thus loud team leader thanks company for Mexican food (4,4)

"Mexican food" is what we're looking for and "thus" = SO, "loud" = F (forte), "Team leader" = T, "thanks" = TA (British slang or baby talk for thank you) and "company" = CO all together to make SOFT TACO.

2D - 2016 for one jumpy listener? (4,4)

"2016 for one" is the definition and "jumpy" = LEAPY (It's not a real word, how cheaty) and a "listener" = EAR for a LEAP YEAR.

3D - Mitch, Alf, Tim enjoyed parts of interval (4,4)

"Interval" is our definition and the key signpost here is "parts" telling us it's a hidden word clue and there in "mitcH ALF TIM Enjoyed" is HALF TIME.

4, 25D - Begins voyage to collection's auction we hear (4,4)

"Begins voyage" is our definition and "collections" = SETS and an "auction" is a SALE and "we hear" is a homophone indicator making "sale" into SAIL for SETS SAIL.

5D - Goddess starts an ugly rumour over rental agreement (6)

"Goddess" is who we're looking for and "starts" is a beginning/ends signpost telling us "An Ugly Rumour Over Rental Agreement" = AURORA the Roman goddess of the dawn.

6D - Cleaner got IT round to get pass right (6)

"Cleaner" is our definition and "IT round" = TI as we spin it around, "pass" = DIE and "right" = R to make TIDIER.

7D - Prince made three notes about battle (6)

A "Prince" is who we're looking for and "Three notes" means music notes (EGBDF and FACE)  going "about" or around a word for "battle" = WAR and the notes we need are E, D and D to make ED(WAR)D.

13D - Dine at home from each can (3,2)

"Dine at home" is our definition and "each" = EA as its abbreviation and "can" = TIN to make EAT IN.

16D - Knight raises $1000, for no cost, in safe (4-4)

"Safe" is our definition and "knight raises" = SIR being reversed to RIS (raises for a down clue means to enter the word backwards going up), "$1000" = K (metric abbreviation) and "no cost" = FREE to make RISK FREE.

17D - Honest person to ring and write to jeer king (4,4)

"Honest person" is our definition and "ring" = O, "write" = PEN, "to jeer" = BOO and "king" = K to make OPEN BOOK.

18D - How a miner finds courage? (4,4)

Cryptic definition: a miner DIGS DEEP.

20D - Fleet Alpha Romeo has crazy acceleration (6)

"Fleet" is our definition and "Alpha Romeo" = AR (from the phonetic alphabet), "crazy" = MAD and "acceleration" = A to make ARMADA.

21D - Destroyed a yard in toboggan (6)

"Destroyed" is our definition and "A Yard" = AY (To be fair, Yard is usually abbreviated to YD and not just Y)  going "in" a word for "toboggan" = SLED to make SL(AY)ED.  Let me know if there's another way to solve this and I'm wrong about the y/yd thing.

22D - File predicament (6)

Double definition: SCRAPE.

There we are, finished! A nice kickoff for the week. I've had a struggle with Friday's DA and may just slip it into the DNF folder for when I'm in a better state of mind. I've not been in the mood for anything too deep. I got over half done but was hung up in the SE corner and just didn't have the fight in me to push through. My husband had been away and returned from Korea that day and it was better spent with him watching a few episodes of Columbo

As always if you have questions, comments or alternate solutions or funny stories to share please leave them in the comments. Stay dry if you're in Victoria and have a great day.

The Age cryptic by DA #20,660

A much easier offering this week. I got about 25% through last week's before thinking I had better things I ought to be doing than tormenting myself. I gave today a good go and got the LHS done and most of the lower RHS before calling into the D.A. Trippers for a few hints to get me going in the NE. I got 6A&6D in last.

On many I could solve half of the clue which could get me the answer but I couldn't solve the end of the clue. Here's my pic:

11A - Supported seeing the future as doubly old? (8)

"Supported" is our definition and "seeing the future" = ESP but how does "doubly old" = OUSED?

19A - Boxer, thumped on face, came down to earth (4)

"Came down to earth" is the definition and "boxer" = ALI but how does "thumped on face" = T?

29A - Female all but staggered to describe pen stroke (9)

"Stroke" is the definition and I got the "female" = F part and needed cross letters to get that the rest made FREESTYLE but how I just don't see.

1D - Duck dunking wings in dock works (5)

"Duck" is the definition and "DunkinG wings" = DG going "in dock works" = DOE? Why does "dock works" = DOE? Oh is it DOE(-s)? Are we "docking" the end of DOES? That I would understand.

6D - Uni in Paris, or another Euro city, blocking separate vacation (8)

Cross letters and One Across got me this. I had no idea. I couldn't decide on which end was the definition or how to start with this clue.

13D - Rum-soaked sign on Holden wheel, baby (6,2,3)

I got this from cross letters and guessing the definition was "baby" but other than that I don't get it.

15D - Joined firm for beers - cold I shrugged? (9)

"Joined" is the definition and "firm" = CO, "for beers" = ALES, "cold" = C so how does "I shrugged" = ED?

That's me. Finished before 2pm is always a win so I am very thankful to DA for being kind to us this week. I will fire up the BBQ tomorrow and have a few yummies to celebrate the 4th of July and take the kids to out to see a movie or two.

I've been doing some painting, too. I've never tried it before and thought that abstract stuff would be ok to try. I've watched a few Youtube videos and had a go. It's fun. The walls in our house have been bare since we moved in so I'll make something that fix that (No I'm not painting on the walls...well only in the garage), even if they are amateurish. I need the distraction.

Thank you for the kind words and support, they are appreciated. I'm getting along, good days and bad. Have a great weekend.