Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28429
Hints and tips by 2Kiwis
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***– Enjoyment ****
Kia ora from Aotearoa.
While several of you have been having fun at the George in London, we have been remembering that it is exactly two years since we were at the same gathering and met so many people from the world of cryptics. Sometimes New Zealand does feel to be a long way from where the action is and we are grateful for the internet and for this blog that lets us all share our enjoyment of crossword solving.
This week’s Jay puzzle we found a little trickier than usual, especially in the NW corner.
Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Exercise requiring words of encouragement (4-2)
CHIN-UP : Without the hyphen we have a phrase meaning ‘don’t be crestfallen’.
5a Manages to get redesigned hive accepted by experts (8)
ACHIEVES : A word for experts or number ones of cards, surrounds an anagram (redesigned) of HIVE.
9a Docked support vehicle at game (8)
BACCARAT : A word meaning to support loses its last letter (is docked), then a type of motor vehicle and ‘at’ from the clue.
10a One’s batting bottle is undone by this (6)
OPENER : The one’s batting is the first person in a cricket team to face a bowler.
11a Aviators with female in agony must get fuel (8)
PARAFFIN : The armed service which includes aviators and the abbreviation for female are inside a word for agony.
12a Party chief’s sphere of influence (6)
DOMAIN : A two letter word for a celebratory party and then chief or most important.
13a Dogs eating last of dinner for miners (8)
COLLIERS : Breeds of dogs (the ones we see an example of in Kath’s avatar) contain the final letter of dinner.
15a Yield from planned economy rejected (4)
CEDE : A reversed lurker (or rekrul if you prefer) hiding in the third and fourth words of the clue.
17a Part of small hotel, originally upmarket (4)
POSH : The first letters of four words in the clue.
19a Two ducks in New Forest getting tired (8)
FOOTSORE : Two of the letter representing no score in cricket are inside an anagram (new) of FOREST.
20a Problem seen in Standard column (6)
PILLAR : A standard that could be an average golf score surrounds a problem or disorder.
21a Grannie’s lost income from investments? (8)
EARNINGS : An anagram (lost) of GRANNIE’S.
22a Short temper? (6)
SPIRIT : Double definition. The short here is a measure delivered by a publican.
23a A woman of the cloth accepts no church state (8)
ANNOUNCE : Start with A from the clue, then a woman who could be found in a convent surrounds ‘no’ from the clue. Finish off with the abbreviation for the Anglican church.
24a Marine bank anticipating the Spanish nonsense (8)
DOGGEREL : A marine area in the North Sea anticipates or precedes the Spanish definite article.
25a The First Lady, 50, seen in New York regularly (6)
EVENLY : Adam’s partner, and then Roman numeral fifty is inside the abbreviation for New York.
Down
2d Fine leaves boss of kitchen covering a problem (8)
HEADACHE : Start with with a 4,4 phrase for a boss of kitchen or chief cook. Remove the abbreviation for fine (the last letter) from this. Now insert ‘A’ from the clue to make one complete word.
3d Can he con criminal? Absolutely not! (2,6)
NO CHANCE : An anagram (criminal) of CAN HE CON.
4d Minister’s responsibility for output of artist (9)
PORTFOLIO : Double definition. The minister is not clergy but a minister of state.
5d An unexpected turn of events, and isn’t he a litigant in a muddle? (1,5,2,3,4)
A STING IN THE TAIL : An anagram (in a muddle) of ISN’T HE A LITIGANT.
6d Devil with evidence of debts showing lack of respect (7)
IMPIOUS : A small devilish creature and the four letters that imply monies owing.
7d French wine circle entertaining old boy up for hot food (8)
VINDALOO : The answer starts with the French word for wine and ends with the circle-shaped letter. Inside this we have a reversal (up) of the abbreviation for old, and a word for a boy or young man.
8d Brawn as speciality (8)
STRENGTH : Double definition. Speciality here is an area of expertise.
14d Fancy ordering a barrier for some immigrants (3,6)
RIO GRANDE : An anagram (fancy) of ORDERING A.
15d Framed Frenchman after company acted (8)
COMPOSED : The abbreviation for company, then the French equivalent of Mr and a word meaning acted or portrayed.
16d Residence or fine home within the outskirts of Dorking (8)
DWELLING : The first and last letters (outskirts) of Dorking surround a word for fine or in good health and the two letter word meaning at home.
17d Unusual prejudice seeing no judge initially offering treatment such as this (8)
PEDICURE : An anagram (unusual) of PRE(j)UDICE after the first letter of judge has been removed.
18d American revolutionary with chewed cigar left such spirit (8)
SURGICAL : Reverse (revolutionary) the two letters representing American then an anagram (chewed) of CIGAR and the abbreviation for left.
19d Delicate bit of cloth found in record cabinet (7)
FRAGILE : A record cabinet where dossiers may be kept surrounds a scrappy piece of cloth.
The North West corner was our last to sort out and 2d gets our vote for favourite clue.
Quickie pun isle + beeb + load = I’ll be blowed
3*/5*. A puzzle of two halves for me, but both equally very enjoyable. The top half fell into place quite smoothly but the bottom half proved to be much more challenging.
Although the answer to 1a was obvious I didn’t understand the relevance of “exercise” until I saw the picture in the 2Ks’ review.
My favourite was the quite topical 14d, with 19a & 18d running it close. Nice to see the misleading revolutionary.
Many thanks to the three birds.
P.S. Great Quickie pun!
Enjoyed this romp with only a couple of brief hold-ups. N E corner held out the longest. Straightforward clues and nothing too brain-wracking. Dull rainy day but we need the rain. Thanks Jay and the 2Kiwis. LOVED the Quickie pun!
Initially [see what I did there?] I had ROLE for 17a, on the basis that’s it’s a ‘part’ and appears reversed (‘up’) in hotEL ORiginally. But then it dawned on me that ‘upwardly’ would only apply in a down clue, and anyway, 17d was obviously an anagram with J removed. Duh!
19a comfortably my favourite in this excellent Jay puzzle. I thought it was his best for some time, which is saying something given his consistently high standard. This was 2*/5* for me, and cheered up a dank but dry morning here in the Marches.
Many thanks to Jay for a fine crossword, and to the 2Ks.
I thought the cluing was excellent today with numerous clever surface reads.
Going for a **/****,lots of my favourite charades, liked 11a,24a and 7d,unusal bank and old boy to mislead.
Thanks to the 2K’S for the blog pics, expected Victoria to feature in the one for 17a – maybe not ! no Oscar for David this year apparently.
Agree with RD on the Quickie pun.
Victoria did cross our minds as a pic for 17a but we decided that there were already enough spices in 7d for most people.
NW corner was the hardest for me too, with 1a and 2d the last in. I wonder if ‘rekrul’ will catch on? Off to the quickie now to look at the pun…
Yes, a great pun!
SW was the last bit for me. Favourite is 14d and I loved the17a and 20a. Many more ticks.
Very enjoyable day at the George yesterday, lovely to see people from this site, though with Nottingham as well last Saturday I’m tired now.
Let me shamelessly add a plug for my puzzle in the Independent today, please do have a go.
Many thanks Jay & 2Kiwis
No shame at all. Well done Dutch.
Printed out and raring to go!
We’ll done Dutch
Attempted to print out three times and not raring to go. I give up. The amount of time which can be wasted on b*****y computers!
Just done over our evening coffee. Good puzzle Dutch – a few tricky little clues. Not mad keen on 9 across. Put talkative to start with which completely threw us
Usual nice and straightforward puzzle from Jay **/*** 😄 To brighten a wet Wednesday 🌧🌧🌧 Favourites (amongst many) 20 & 22a 😜 Thanks to the 2xKs and to Jay
A fair start, then slowed down, and needed a few hints. Relieved to see it’s 3* rated, thought it was just me….
Never heard of 9a (not a gambling man)
Some great clues, fav prob 2d or 24a
Many thanks to 2Ks and setter.
You’ve changed your email address – hence the need to spend some time in ‘moderation’
Thank CS, I suspected as much. Was away for a couple of weeks at end of March, then needed new pc and email, plus catching up with the garden. I’m actually 8 weeks behinds on paper!
I found this very straightforward and very enjoyable, completed at a fast gallop – */****.
Three in contention for favourite 23a, 24a, and 7d. I think 7d comes out on top.
Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.
Unlike 2Ks, it was the SW corner that caused me a couple of problems – 22a & 15d being the last to fall.
My top three places went to 20a plus 3&4d.
Thanks to Jay for a really enjoyable puzzle (and Quickie pun!) and to 2Ks for an excellent blog.
PS Anyone fancying a bit more puzzling will find Dutch’s second offering in today’s Indy. It’s well worth a look.
Snap. Just couldn’t see these at all
Hi Jane,
Please look out for another excellent puzzle in next Monday’s Indy (no, it’s not another one of mine, I’m not as shameless as Dutch!). It’s someone you’ve met though and who is very well known to loyal solvers of Rookie Corner and the NTSPP…
Straightforward and enjoyable – thank you to Jay and the 2Ks
If we are mentioning crosswords in other places – there’s a Brendan (Virgilius) in today’s Guardian and a Loroso (Elkamere) in today’s FT
Add that to the Jay and the Petitjean, it is a great day for crossword solving
Good job it’s raining …
Lovely and sunny and warm here
Sunny & warm here too.just done over a bocadillo and a cold beer sat in the town Square.
While the Missus went off to make more Vitamin D here in San Vito Lo Capo, I had a quick go at today’s offering. A nice puzzle which went in smoothly but for 15d & 22a which needed a two-hour rest before they would yield. Thank you Jay and 2Ks.
**/***
Fairly straight forward for us but the SW corner put up a bit of a fight. 24a favourite for us. Nice topical clue at 14d!
Thanks to Jay for the puzzle and the 2KWs for the blog.
Hasta luego miss amigos
Brilliant as always on Wednesdays but a bit more so – tricky too.
I’m very glad to find that it’s not another of those ‘just me’ days with everyone else finding it dead straightforward.
Even having got answers for lots of these the sorting out seemed to take longer than usual.
The second word in the clue for 10a made me go blind and that was my last answer – dim.
I agree that the bottom left corner was the biggest problem area but I also had trouble with 9 and 23a.
I didn’t know that 1a was an exercise but the BRB did.
I liked nearly all of today’s clues but special mentions go to 22 and 24a and 7 and 8d – and, at the risk of being predictable, 13a.
Thanks to Jay and to the 2K’s – I was just thinking yesterday that it’s two years ago that you were here.
Torrential rain since first thing this morning – I’m ecstatic and so’s the garden. :smile:
Re 1a, it wasn’t in my old but much used BRB :sad:
My BRB is old(ish) – 11th edition. It’s very much used, mainly for checking spelling as I’m a bit like Winnie-the-Pooh, “My spelling is wobbly. It’s good spelling but it wobbles and the letters get in the wrong places”.
Found this considerably more straightforward than yesterday’s puzzle, and as enjoyable as Wednesday always is. Favourite has to be the quickie pun. Brilliant. Thanks to Jay and to the 2kiwis.
Another high-quality Jay puzzle, slightly trickier than normal in places.
I couldn’t quite fathom the inclusion of “initially” in 17d, when “j” is a perfectly acceptable abbreviation on its own for judge. My overall favourite was 21a.
Thanks to Mr. Mutch and the 2Ks, time certainly has flown since meeting you two years ago in London.
The usual Wednesday excellence. The bottom half took me twice as long as the top.
Lots of splendid clues,esp.10a 24a & 14d.
Thanks to the 2Ks.
Very, very tricky for me but very, very enjoyable.
I got hung up in the SW corner and needed electronic help for the last few, 22a last one in.
There were so many good clues, I have too many ticks and can’t choose a fave, though 14d gets points for being topical.
Thanks to Jay and to the 2Kiwis for the hints.
***/****. Back in the saddle at last. I thought I’d lost my solving ability yesterday but Jay’s excellent puzzle got my faith restored. Not easy in parts but rewarding when I got the parsing correct. Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks for the review.
I seem to have lost my original comments to the ethernet demons ! Therefore just a brief comment . 13a evoked many childhood memories since my father was a collier ( not a miner ! ) .Thanks to Jay and the 2K’s . Slightly on the easy side but very enjoyable **/****
Lovely crossword for a miserable day. How quickly we forget….
Great fun to do with the topical 14d being my clue of the day. 2/4* overall.
Thanks to Jay, and to the 2K’s over there for their review.
Excellent puzzle. NW corner gave me problems too but, otherwise, enjoyable and challenging at the same time. Many thanks to 2Kiwis whose hints were helpful and to Jay for the crossword
Just want to say a huge thank you to the dedicated team of bloggers on this excellent site who have taken me from zero to hero (well, in my mind anyway!) Have just completed my first 3* rated cryptic without resorting to any hints, Google checks or outright cheating…! It only took two years…. I’m sure I’ll be back on this site tomorrow but for this mini victory which will probably only last 8 hours – thank you!
Welcome to the blog Simon and well done!
We’ll done Simon. I’ve had my own personal blogger for about the last 7 years and I still often can’t complete a puzzle on my own.
Welcome and well done Simon.
Hi Simon. Well done. Thanks for your comment which will keep me providing hints for a while yet. Good luck tomorrow, they get harder through the week.
Well done Simon!
What a lovely comment – maybe we should all say ‘three cheers’ to BD.
We should do that for two reasons – the first being having the idea in the first place and the second being keeping the show on the road at all times, particularly recently with mindless people with not enough to do attacking the site.
Hear hear hip hop hooray for BD! 🌹
I’m rather tired today, I’ve been busy and the weather has been good for ducks. I shall blame that for my sluggishness, and will not tell you how long I spent puzzling over my last few in the SW.
My favourite (other than the quickie pun) is 19a.
Thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis – I hope you manage to make another gathering before too long.
We do have a couple of trips coming up this year but neither takes us as far as UK. Maybe next year.
Oh yes – next year. :smile:
I thought this was pretty tricky. Last in was 2d, the double-unch did not help.
Jay is a master of his craft and every clue was beautifully constructed.
Favourite was 9a, a game I have never played.
Off to the theatre now.
Thanks Jay and 2xK’s
Morning all.
We woke up to the sound of rain on the roof again this morning. At this rate we will be changing the name of our country from New Zealand to New England but we understand that one has already been taken. The forecast is only for showers and clearing though so maybe not bad enough to put golf off again.
Cheers.
A slow but steady solve with no major hold-ups, maybe **/*** for difficulty? Last in 22ac which was lovely and succinct, but took me a while to spot. A fixation on ‘A TWIST…’ meant 5d refused to fall for too long to help with some of the crossing clues.
Rain? That’s all we’ve seen for days here in Wales, but behold, sunshine at last.
You want sunshine, we down South are pleased to see the rain!
Galloped through most of this puzzle but was held up by 15d and 22a. The penny finally dropped for 15d but 22a was a bung in. My thanks to the antipodean bloggers and the setter.
A tricky but not impossible puzzle from Jay. Started well but got held up in the SW corner. I think I had heard of 24a across, but in the dimmest recesses of my cobwebby brain. But thanks to 2Kiwis hints I was able to finish, thank you. Tried for the longest time to make Melania or FLOTUS fit in 25a, but could see it wouldn’t work. Then the lightbulb went off and I realized which First Lady Jay was referencing 😊
Rather late today, things on my mind.
I really appreciate the connectivity of this blog , and of course the contributors , without whom the blog would not exist and of course , the very resourceful BD.
I don’t doubt that I would have made no progress at cryptics at all without our very own free private tuition.
The internet is brilliant and all that , but recently , while in London, I couldn’t help but notice that everybody was on their bloody phone all the time . We Irish use our phones too , but London is definitely even more addicted .When I say everybody , of course I mean the younger generation , those under forty .
I find it concerning.
Re puzzle,very hard .Nonetheless some very witty clues.
Yes, yes, yes – I couldn’t agree with you more, Una – I fear for our ability to communicate verbally, in fact, don’t even start me.
And another thing – what will happen, over time, to our memories since we no longer need them.
As for it’s being confined to the younger generation – well, you should try living with my husband – enough or I’ll be here all night . . . .
In my case , I have noticed a slight deterioration in my short term memory , and it’s got nothing to do with being addicted to my phone – I’m not .
The younger generation are not really required to memorize anything anymore at the earlier stages of their education , which I think is a grave mistake. Do we really want surgeons googling mid -operation , for example.
very enjoyable
***/*****