Times 25639 - Season's Greetings

Solving time: 53:03

I was out for my company Christmas do last night (yes, I know it's only November, but I didn't organise it!), so I probably should have swapped my blogging duties with someone else, but I never got round to it. As a result, when I tried picking this up at midnight, I stared at it for about half an hour without really getting very far. In the end I went to bed and got up early this morning, whereupon I polished it off in about 20 minutes.

There were a few clues I wasn't keen on - 9a, 12a & 18d all seemed a little unsatisfactory, but this was made up for by several that I particularly liked. I thought the semi-&lits at 11a & 1d (my FOI) both worked well, and I enjoyed the reference to Browning at 23d. The marvellous definition at 21a gets my COD though. It certainly made me chuckle.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (--)*, and removals like this

Across
1	GO + WERe - A part of Wales that projects into the Bristol Channel, just west of Swansea
4	TOURISTIC = (CRIT IS OUT)*
9	EASY-GOING = EASY (obliging) + GO IN (to enter) + G (good) - I wasn't convinced by 'obliging' for EASY. I suppose in the promiscuous sense it just about works.
10	SEW UP = SUP (drink) about E/W (partners in bridge)
11	TURBAN = TURN (wind) about Boy + A (article) - semi-&lit
12	SANSKRIT = SANS (without) + "CRIT" (critique, or notice)
14	HIGH TABLE = (BIG HEALTH)*
16	STILL - dd
17	TROLLop - an excellent surface
19	THURINGIA = THUR (half of Thursday, so twelve hours) + IN + A (area) about GI (soldier)
21	SATURDAY = STURDY (robust) with two As inserted - 'a night of fever?' was a brilliant definition, after the iconic John Travolta movie. Easily my COD
22	P(LUG)IN
25	A TOLL
26	I'M PERFECT - The imperfect tense in grammar is used for continuous actions, grenerally in the past, e.g. I was swimming
27	blacK + AND + IN + SKY
28	DETOX = D/E (lower classes) + TO + X (vote)
Down
1	GREAT WHITE SHARK = (HIGH WATER TAKERS)* - A neat semi-&lit
2	WISE + R - wise is an archaic word for way or manner, hence 'way once'
3	pREGNANT - I don't know much about Marie Antoinette, but I'm guessing she never ruled France, hence 'as queen, MS wasn't'
4	TRIP - dd
5	UNGRATEFUL = (FUNERAL GUT)*
6	IN + SISTerS
7	TH(WART)ING
8	CAPITAL GAINS TAXi
13	OBITUARIES = OU (University, i.e. Open University) about BIT (worried) + ARIES (sign)
15	GHOST TOWN = HOST (army) in GT (great) + OWN (have)
18	LORELEI = LO (see) + "RELY" (bank)
20	I + LLB (lawyer) + RED (far left)
23	G(H)ENT - A reference to Robert Browning's famous poem 'How they Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix'
24	SPRY = dancerR in SPY