Thanks to Tracy for a well crafted puzzle which required some unscrambling and contained some great clues. Whilst I think I can say that it wasn’t in the easy category, I find it difficult to say much more as I was ferreting away at the word plays for blog purposes. Some may immediately see 24ac (which was my sting in the tail) and pass lightly on to fast times. 14/20 on my blogger scale.
Could I please ask the usual suspects to answer any questions today (due to travel) - thanks.
ACROSS
3. Handball - game. With (AND) and (B)randy taken inside manor (HALL).
7. Grouse - double definition. A game bird depicted on whisky bottles and beef/grump.
8. Reminder - hint. Concerning (RE), bodyguard (MINDER).
9. Over - double definition.
10. Tie - draw. Level not quite (TIE)r.
11. Transmit - broadcast. (M)onarch in carriage (TRANSIT).
13. Rich - full in the sense of rich with history. Rhode Island (RI), church (CH).
15. Weep - shed tears. Small (WEE), page (P).
17. Sardonic - cutting. Anagram (shuffled) of CARDS NO I.
19. Ash - tree. So (AS), (H)appy. Anyone else fall into the trap of thinking that the 'at first' applied to (S)o (H)appy (A)t and then trying to work out why it should be anagrammed?
22. Dais - platform. Anagram (to be repaired) of SAID.
23. Layabout - good for nothing. Song (LAY), referring to (ABOUT).
24. Icarus - legendary character - with wings, wax and the sun. Famous tenor briefly (CARUS)o on island (I). Enrico Caruso was an Italian operatic tenor. Not knowing old Enrico, I limped home here based on some inspired consideration of carousing and then saw the answer. No surprise this was LOI.
25. Streamer - flag. Vessel (STEAMER) carrying right (R).
DOWN
1. Traverse - cross. Note (TE - from the tonic sol-fah) about those at wild party (RAVERS). Any thoughts on makes 'one' cross? One who crosses is a traverser but the surface needed something I suppose.
2. Fun run - charity event? The question mark means that fun runs can be but don’t necessarily have to be charity events. (Along) with pleasure (FUN), organise (RUN).
3. Herd - animals in large group. Some of ot(HER D)raft. Excellent hidden answer wins my COD.
4. No matter - it’s unimportant. Gossip (NATTER) about old (O) and medium (M).
5. Banner - flag. British (B), queen (ANNE) and king (R).
6. Leek - vegetable. Fish (EEL) served upwards, on top of (K)ing-size. Should that be king-sized?
12. Mushroom - grow rapidly. Greek character's (MU'S), hot (H), chamber (ROOM).
14. Critique - appraisal. Little credit (CR) with one (I) and an anagram (awful) of QUITE.
16. Palace - royal residence. Locality (PLACE) surrounding a (A).
18. Ordeal - trial. Alternative (OR), arrangement (DEAL).
20. Pact - agreement. Homophone (what sounds like) full - packed.
21. Stir - commotion. Another lovely clue to finish. Starts of (S)howers (T)hen (I)nmates (R)iot. Such an event potentially taking place in a prison - also know as 'stir'.
Could I please ask the usual suspects to answer any questions today (due to travel) - thanks.
ACROSS
3. Handball - game. With (AND) and (B)randy taken inside manor (HALL).
7. Grouse - double definition. A game bird depicted on whisky bottles and beef/grump.
8. Reminder - hint. Concerning (RE), bodyguard (MINDER).
9. Over - double definition.
10. Tie - draw. Level not quite (TIE)r.
11. Transmit - broadcast. (M)onarch in carriage (TRANSIT).
13. Rich - full in the sense of rich with history. Rhode Island (RI), church (CH).
15. Weep - shed tears. Small (WEE), page (P).
17. Sardonic - cutting. Anagram (shuffled) of CARDS NO I.
19. Ash - tree. So (AS), (H)appy. Anyone else fall into the trap of thinking that the 'at first' applied to (S)o (H)appy (A)t and then trying to work out why it should be anagrammed?
22. Dais - platform. Anagram (to be repaired) of SAID.
23. Layabout - good for nothing. Song (LAY), referring to (ABOUT).
24. Icarus - legendary character - with wings, wax and the sun. Famous tenor briefly (CARUS)o on island (I). Enrico Caruso was an Italian operatic tenor. Not knowing old Enrico, I limped home here based on some inspired consideration of carousing and then saw the answer. No surprise this was LOI.
25. Streamer - flag. Vessel (STEAMER) carrying right (R).
DOWN
1. Traverse - cross. Note (TE - from the tonic sol-fah) about those at wild party (RAVERS). Any thoughts on makes 'one' cross? One who crosses is a traverser but the surface needed something I suppose.
2. Fun run - charity event? The question mark means that fun runs can be but don’t necessarily have to be charity events. (Along) with pleasure (FUN), organise (RUN).
3. Herd - animals in large group. Some of ot(HER D)raft. Excellent hidden answer wins my COD.
4. No matter - it’s unimportant. Gossip (NATTER) about old (O) and medium (M).
5. Banner - flag. British (B), queen (ANNE) and king (R).
6. Leek - vegetable. Fish (EEL) served upwards, on top of (K)ing-size. Should that be king-sized?
12. Mushroom - grow rapidly. Greek character's (MU'S), hot (H), chamber (ROOM).
14. Critique - appraisal. Little credit (CR) with one (I) and an anagram (awful) of QUITE.
16. Palace - royal residence. Locality (PLACE) surrounding a (A).
18. Ordeal - trial. Alternative (OR), arrangement (DEAL).
20. Pact - agreement. Homophone (what sounds like) full - packed.
21. Stir - commotion. Another lovely clue to finish. Starts of (S)howers (T)hen (I)nmates (R)iot. Such an event potentially taking place in a prison - also know as 'stir'.