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Brain addled after too much fizz! 1d--"Machine, a French one, bearing fruit" (9) starts with A; and 2d---"Mary Jane avoids Polynesian apparel" (5,6), starts with G-- might get me going! Thanks in advance Bustard

Grass skirts ? MJ - grass + skirts?

Un + bearing- aubergine?

1d is automaton

That looks like a genuine double - both answers quite convincing!

1d
A
French one = un
Bearing fuit - tomato
Au(tomato)n

Yes indeed, albaxwad, but "machine" as anagram indicator for a French one (UN) and (BEARING) to give "fruit".

I suspect that AUTOMATON is the required answer, though.

Indeed it is Chrise. fInished the xword yesterday

I beg to differ chrise but machine is the lead to the answer, ie, automaton

Thanks for the confirmation, jazzy.