NTSPP – 261

NTSPP – 261

Now That’s Simple Pure Pleasure by Windsurfer

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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.

This puzzle has been written especially for this slot – see how long it takes you to work out why.  Copies were circulated at the Bridge House last week.

A review of this puzzle by 6d follows.

We had fun solving this at Bridge House for the Blog’s birthday.  Several of the NTSPP setters, bloggers and the boss make an appearance in the puzzle.  I shall restrain myself from selecting a favourite clue!  Many thanks to Windsurfer for the entertainment.

Apologies for the brevity of the review today.  Father-in-law fell and broke his hip on Saturday so things are in a bit in the air at the moment.

Across

1 Surfers Paradise? (9)
CYBERCAFE – A cryptic definition of where those who surf the net would be in seventh heaven.

6 Former university with pressure for growth (5)
POLYP – The shortened form of polytechnic (colleges that were upgraded to universities) followed by the abbreviation for pressure.

9 Crash after pound limited (5,2)
CAGED IN – Another word for a pound or enclosure followed by another word for a loud noise or crashing sound

10 Smart TV that remains cold in hot weather (7)
COOLBOX – A word for smart or trendy followed by an informal word for TV.

11 Bottom of French intruder breaks projector (6)
READER – The French for “of” goes inside another word for bottom.  I think projector here is one who projects their voice when speaking from a text.

12 Ability of a piano teacher inspires beginners to play duet (8)
APTITUDE – The A from the clue followed by the initial letters (beginners) of Piano Teacher Inspires followed by an anagram (to play) of DUET.

14 In awe, nanny returned again (4)
ANEW – The answer is hidden (in) and reversed (returned) in AWE NANNY.

15 She could use a clue (10)
CRYPTICSUE – An inverse clue for our stalwart blogger and test solver.  Split 7, 3 the answer could be an anagram clue for the word USE.

18 The writing’s on the wall for him (10)
HEIROGLYPH – A NTSPP and Independent setter as a cryptic definition of Egyptian writing seen on the walls of tombs and other structures.

20 He’s missing the last one in Palestine (4)
GAZA – A blogger and NTSPP setter.  Remove one on the last letters of the alphabet from an area of Palestine.

23 Cold-weather gear last two characters are lacking protects people initially – it’s for him (8)
SKIPJACK – A NTSPP setter.  A type of coat you would wear when taking part in alpine sports with the final two letters removed goes around the first letter (initially) of People.

24 Most of crab left to wash out (6)
CANCEL – The astrological house represented by a crab with the final letter removed (most of) followed by the abbreviation for left.

26 This is before second monk’s report (5,2)
PRIOR TO – A homophone of two after another word for a monk.

27 Indulge in love reattained (7)
OVEREAT – The answer is hidden in LOVE REATTAINED.

28 The Spanish fish for him (5)
ELGAR – Vlad the Impaler himself as a setter in all the daily papers and the NTSPP – The Spanish for “the” followed by a type of fish.

29 European member is the leading activist perversely to have feelings for (9)
EMPATHISE – The abbreviation for European followed by the abbreviation for a member of Parliament and an anagram (perversely) of IS THE A, the A being the first letter (leading) of activist.

Down

1 Teacher introduces enigmatic rock for six-footer (9)
COCKROACH – An anagram (enigmatic) of ROCK inside another word for a teacher or trainer.

2 He makes primarily blue video games lacking some dissolute models (3,4)
BIG DAVE – The head honcho himself – An anagram (models) of B (primarily blue) VIDEO GAMES after removing the rearranged (dissolute) letters of SOME from the letters to be used in the anagram.

3 He might rearrange larder (6)
RADLER – A NTSPP and Inquisitor setter.  An anagram (rearrange) of LARDER.

4 Guy missing first relation (4)
AUNT – Remove the first letter from a word meaning guy or tease.

5 Key to send up character before exercise – it’s exhausting! (6,4)
ESCAPE PIPE – One of the keys on a computer keyboard followed by a word meaning sent up or mimic, a character in the Greek alphabet and the abbreviation for exercise.

6 He‘s productive fellow disappearing for a kiss (8)
PROLIXIC – A NTSPP and Independent setter.  Another word for productive has the abbreviation for fellow replaced by the letter representing a kiss or cross.

7 Party’s jobs (7)
LABOURS – A double definition of the current opposition party and a jobs as in the tasks undertaken by Hercules.

8 Cobbler welcomes 11 fairy (5)
PIXIE – The Roman numerals for 11 goes inside another word for cobbler as a type of food.

13 Baffling crimes fool gay (10)
FROLICSOME – An anagram (baffling) of CRIMES FOOL.

16 Point to French woman’s ornament (9)
EPAULETTE – … an ornament worn on the shoulder by military personnel.  One of the points of the compass followed by the name of a French woman.

17 One who can mislead bluff panellist (8)
CONJUROR – Another word for bluff or fool followed by a word for a person who sits as one of twelve on a court panel.

19 Composing bad tidings shortly after beginning of exclusion (7)
EDITING – An anagram (bad) of TIDING (tidings shortly) goes after the first letter (beginning of) Exclusion.

21 He broadcasts magic (7)
ALCHEMI – A NTSPP, Independent and FT setter.  A homophone (broadcasts) of another word for magic.

22 Previous organisation that preserves secret (6)
LATENT – Another word for previous or dead followed by the abbreviation for an organisation involved in conservation or preservation of our heritage.

23 He composed brief meal (5)
SUPPE – Remove the final letter (brief) from a late evening meal.

25 Sad opus for him (4)
SOUP – A NTSPP setter.  An anagram (sad) of OPUS.