The Guardian - Cryptic crossword No 23,347 - Jan 10 2005

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Clues Answers
A natural aptitude is present GIFT
Appears on stage again, or makes another record REENTERS
Clothing strike CLOBBER
Colour I call unusual LILAC
Feathered, they skim the water OARS
Forgotten about defect that's returned and grown worse DEGENERATED
Game to get down to bare essentials STRIPPOKER
Going back to living quietly INRETREAT
He's stopping at work DENTIST
Head admits old student with expression of admiration NOLESS
Humourless nonsense, but it could bring the house down DRYROT
In French, France for example NOMDEPLUME
It produces high sound, if turned on HIFI
Lie on bed, resolved to be extremely lazy BONEIDLE
Look out, it may have a high tar content CROWSNEST
Clues Answers
Made concession to be allowed in ADMITTED
Married girl from spite MALICE
Needed to retaliate when opponent gets the first blow? SECONDWIND
Not qualified to speak UTTER
Not the winner - but should be? SECONDBEST
Outline of a short piece SKETCH
Problem children ISSUE
Retribution seems in order NEMESIS
Take out and clean SCRUB
This month in Westminster INST
Tied sort of worker? WHITECOLLAR
Untrustworthy chaps who've been jailed more than once? TWOTIMERS
Useful for cracking the surface before a dip at breakfast time EGGSPOON
Watch a marksman getting optical range EYESHOT
Where shantymen were bound to go RIOGRANDE