April 2024 Puzzle Solutions

Across: 1 Task (jOB) minus 1st letter (initially forgotten) next to (by) waiter (SERVER) = OBSERVER (Sunday), 6 Comparatively obese (fATTER) minus (wanting) (f)ellow with (M)oney to start (upfront) = MATTER (affair), 9 EX (late) + MOOR (hitch) = EXMOOR (national park), 10 (F)emale + dog (hOUND) + unconscious (OUT) minus (h)usband (nowhere to be seen) = FOUND OUT (discovered), 11 Enjoy (LIKE) + stories (LIES) + 1st letter (principally) of (T)he = LIKELIEST (most predictable), 13 Last letter  (in the end) of amuse(S) + drunkard (LUSH) = SLUSH (sentimental drivel), 15 Shot in Edinburgh (DRAM) + for instance (AS) = DRAMAS (Films & TV shows maybe, DBE), 17 Homophone (we gather) of 0 (AU) + 2 (PAIR) = AU PAIR (additional home support), 18 Anagram (alter the layout) of PLANES = PANELS (dashboards), 19  (S)mall (C)ollege  + A surrounding border (HEM)= SCHEMA (diagram), 21 Reversal (flipping) of commotion (STINK) = KNITS (wrinkles, as verb, knit/wrinkle/contract eyebrows), 22 Anagram (butcher and cook) of EAT SHITE R(ecipe)  = HEARTIEST (the most jovial), 25 Concerns (FEAR) surrounding (about) you in St Tropez (TU) + the middle letters (in the centre) of arr(ES)ted = FEATURES (highlights), 26 Outer letters (limits to)(E)ducatio(N)  + OUGH(t) minus last letter (to be detailed) = ENOUGH (adequately), 28 Played a key role (STARrED) minus (away) (R)ight = STARED (watched intently), 29 DD of SUSPECTS. 

Down: 2 Personal issue (BO) + kiss (X) = BOX (this case) , 3 Before (ERE) containing (taking) overdose (OD) = ERODE (break down), 4 VER(y) minus last letter (brief) + twitch (TIC) + friend (ALLY) = VERTICALLY (straight down), 5 DD of REFUSE (one of the senses of refuse in Chambers is ‘to decline to meet in battle’, ie take on), 6 Alternate letters of Emmanuel (every now and then) = STRUGGLE (maul), 7 Sound file (WAV) inserted (going) into anagram (extraordinary) of DETAIL = TIDAL WAVE (overwhelming display, eg of support/emotion), 8 Key (E) + pursuits (QUESTS) containing (interrupted by) an anagram (unexpected) of RAIN = EQUESTRIANS (cavalrymen say, DBE), 12 DD of INDEPENDENT, 14 Nick (cut) + goes round the bend (CORNERS) = CUT CORNERS (attempt to save money), 16 Hidden answer (take sample from) in clergymAN NOT AT ORdination = ANNOTATOR (he explains), 20 Particular learning requirements (SEN, special educational needs) + help (SoS) replacing (with loss of…for) love (O) with (E)nglish = SENSES (feels), 23 1 (I) + O (NONE) = IN ONE (aggregate), 24 Lament (DIRGe) minus last letter (never-ending) and reversed (in lift)   = GRID (grating), 27 Reversal (is heading North) of boat (TUG) = GUT (fine/good in German, i.e. from Hamburg).