DT 29465 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29465

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29465

Hints and tips by Olivia De Havilland

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

My parents said if we all took our problems to the common and told them to the crowd we would all be quite happy to take our own problems home.

Regina Brett said “If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back”

I said “The sun is always shining. Sometimes we just can’t see it”

How true those statements are.

As for today’s puzzle. Well that’s it. Merely a puzzle, a trivial entertainment, a diversion from the rigours of modern day living. Nothing to get too excited about. A pleasant way to while away the minutes, hours or days.

Stop thinking too much. It’s alright not to know all the answers. That is why they make pencils with erasers on the end.

Saint Sharon and I built a shed

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a Making an enemy of a right awful giant (10)
ALIENATING: Begin with a gift from today’s setter. The letter A from the clue. Add a word meaning the right to keep another persons property until a debt has been paid. Finish off with an anagram (awful) of GIANT

9a Wander round as dog without tail? (4)
ROVE: What was once a common name for a dog needs its final letter removing. Apparently the top ten dogs names in the uk in 2019 were Bella, Poppy, Alfie, Lola, Max, Charlie, Luna, Bailey, Teddy and Buddy. Whatever happened to Fido and Spot?

10a Argument against leads to stress, we hear (10)
CONTENTION: A regular crosswordland three-letter argument against is followed by a homophone of a word meaning stress

11a Design event at Edinburgh? (6)
TATTOO: There are two annual events in Edinburgh both of which can be said to be an adornment to ones person. One pictorial and one hairy. Choose wisely grasshopper

12a Boring noise that comes with percussion instrument (7)
HUMDRUM: A low steady continuous sound like that of a bee is followed by a musical instrument. One played by such as Paul Clarvis

15a Mollycoddles maiden in rags? (7)
PAMPERS: These rags a sold by newsagents. The abbreviation for maiden needs to be inserted into the common name of what they sell

16a Some of these dances — one may get carried away! (5)
SEDAN: The answer lies hidden within the words of the clue as indicated by the words some of

17a Club card provided by Head of Membership (4)
MACE: A playing card which can be high or low or one or eleven depending upon your game follows the initial letter of the word Membership

18a Crazy about one girl (4)
MAID: A three-letter synonym of the word crazy sits about the letter that looks like the number one

19a Entrance blocked at front by a stone (5)
AGATE: An entrance to ones garden maybe is preceded by the letter A from the clue

21a Pardon prisoner getting discharged (7)
CONDONE: A regular crosswordland three-letter prisoner is followed by an unusual synonym of the word discharged

22a Son, one who blabs — a sneaky type (7)
STALKER: The abbreviation for son is followed by a person who utters words

24a Second sign delivered in extremes of merriment (6)
MOMENT: A portent or sign sits inside the outer letters of the word merriment

27a He searched all over the place — reaction with nothing found? (4,6)
HARD CHEESE: Anagram (all over the place) of HE SEARCHED

28a Five not appearing in new season (4)
NOEL: The Roman numeral for five needs to be removed from a word meaning new

29a Rule good for top people with external connection (10)
REGULATION: The abbreviation for the word good and the letter used to denote the upper classes in the 1950s sit inside a connection
Down

2d See old male come into view (4)
LOOM: A two-letter word meaning see is followed by the abbreviations for old and male

3d Former nurse making offer (6)
EXTEND: A two-letter prefix meaning former (like an old discarded lover) is followed by a verb meaning to nurse

4d Ring girl? You will, you confess finally (7)
ANNULUS: A three-letter girls name is followed by the last letters of four words in the clue as indicated by the word finally. Thanks to Smylers for putting me right with the parsing of the last four letters of the clue

5d Bird — is one black on top? (4)
IBIS: The word is from the clue needs the letter that looks like the number one and the abbreviation for black placing above it

6d Information on container that protects a plant (7)
GENTIAN: A three-letter word meaning information is followed by a container for baked beans perhaps that includes (protects) the letter A

7d Winchester’s recycling facility? (6,4)
BOTTLE BANK: The Winchester in this clue is neither the city nor the repeating rifle. It is a strong glass container often used for heavy duty use and perfect for mixing, storing and dispensing chemical solutions, pharmaceutical liquids and aromatherapy oils. The clue is asking for the name of a recycling facility suitable for the collection of such items

8d Think again about swilling cider, son! (10)
RECONSIDER: Our regular crosswordland word meaning about is followed by an anagram (swilling) of CIDER SON. I swilled some Dunkertons Black Fox cider last night. Jolly good it was too. Now I need to take the empties to a 7 down

12d See me mooching around in return journey? (10)
HOMECOMING: Anagram (around) of ME MOOCHING

13d There’s a boom when it goes over one (4,6)
MACH NUMBER: A cryptic definition of the speed one needs to exceed to generate a sonic boom

14d Join forces in summer get-together (5)
MERGE: The answer lies hidden within the words of the clue as indicated by the word in

15d Bits to fasten up (5)
PARTS: When reversed these bits or components make a verb meaning to fasten in place

19d A throne to be destroyed? Not this one! (7)
ANOTHER: Anagram (to be destroyed) of A THRONE An anagram of the answer appeared at 17 down in yesterday’s puzzle

20d I cheat terribly, last character in school to be moral (7)
ETHICAL: Anagram (terribly) of I CHEAT followed by the last letter of the word school

23d Poor national charity gets to moan (6)
LAMENT: A word meaning (of an excuse) extremely poor or feeble is followed by a national charity that makes interesting old buildings and gardens boring

25d Move slowly as monster that’s lost leg (4)
DRAG: This fire breathing flying monster needs a term for the leg side of a cricket pitch removing

26d Regarding saint wearing a halo (2,2)
AS TO: Begin with the abbreviation for Saint. Place the letter A from the clue before it and the letter that looks like a halo after ii

That’s all folks

Quickie Pun: crew+ditty=crudity or crudités


 

97 comments on “DT 29465

  1. This was a most enjoyable puzzle today. I was expecting a Ray T but I have obviously got my Thursdays mixed up. No idea who the setter is and I wouldn’t even like to make a guess but the puzzle had just the right amount of straightforward clues alongside more taxing ones. The SE corner was the last to succumb. Plenty of favourite clues but my COTD is 24a.

    Many thanks to the setter and to O de H for the hints, which I did not need but did read.

    1. Crikey Steve,
      I read your account of your recent troubles very late last night & by golly you really were put through the wringer. Best wishes for a speedy recovery & please pay heed to to nurse Kath’s sage advice.

    2. With help from Merusa, I finally found your pdf and understood what an awful time you have experienced. Very scary, and glad you got to the hospital and were diagnosed in time. So glad you had a doctor who was on the ball. Your wife and Hudson must all be so happy you are home.

  2. Nothing to write home about but pleasant enough. North was warmest. Unaware of Winchester in 7d. 27a rather broad. 15a amused – rags! Thank you Mysteron and MP.

  3. Enjoyed this despite there being seven pesky 4 letter clues which I always find tricky. More difficult to parse than actually do but I managed to do both with the exception of 7d which was a biff and wait for the blog.
    I particularly liked 2&3d plus 12a. As MP said, it’s a crossword and it did what it said on the tin.
    2.5/ 3.5*
    Many thanks to the setter and to MP for his usual entertaining blog.
    Liked the Neil Young clip.

  4. A pleasant puzzle, with a few tricky clues in the SE, which took me almost as long as the rest of the clues. I liked 7d, a very clever clue and it took a few moments to remember what that sort of Winchester was. I wasn’t so sure of the definition for 27a but eventually figured it out from the anagram. Thanks to Olivia for the hints and to the setter(I didn’t recognise the style).

  5. 7d had to be but I had no idea why until I saw the hints. Thanks for that MP. Saint Sharon may need to put a waterproof covering on the roof of your shed. A splendid effort. What’s going in it? My daughter has recently installed one in the garden and hers appears to contain junk moved from the garage. A bit pointless swaps to my mind but best to keep quiet! **/*** today for the crossword. I like 12a and 15a but favourite goes to 12d. I was expecting Ray T but this clearly wasn’t his flavour. Thanks to all.

      1. Hello Greta, The shed will have racking put in on one side next week. My work bench and tools will adorn the other side where I will make beautiful bespoke coffins as Christmas presents for beloved family members

          1. Not at all. I only read books in the languages they were written in because translations lose so much.

    1. Man cannot live by shed alone, but it’s a good start.

      PS. Nice puzzle and MP is right, the sun is shining and lunch in the garden is beckoning.Mr X’s toughie will have to wait.

  6. One of our best non-Ray T puzzles in a while, I thought: witty and intelligent and enjoyable. Even though 7d, my LOI, proved a slight impediment (I mostly bunged it in), I finished in good time and thought that 27a was the COTD (with 13d and 12d runners-up). We Americans don’t have an expression like 27a (as far as I know), but it certainly captures the state of our union right now. Well, thanks to Olivia, whose hints I’ll read now, and to today’s setter.
    2* / 4*

    Another great Toughie today.

    1. I don’t know if you remember the actor Terry Thomas, with the famous gap between his front teeth. He used to say it laconically with a huge grin that split his face from ear to ear. You couldn’t help laughing! He was the funniest man.

  7. Really enjoyed this puzzle today everything fell into place quite quickly lots of good clues I liked 1a,6d and my fav is 24a.
    **/****
    Thanks to MP and to the setter.

  8. Didn’t get a chance to look at the crossword yesterday so I’ve had a Jay (excellent as usual) & today’s offering to occupy me this morning. All pretty straightforward today although needed MP to explain why my 7d bung in was what is was. Not often I’d pick out pesky 4 letter clues as highlights but I did like both 2d & 28a. Two Toughies to tackle later if time allows.
    Thanks to the setter & MP – great music clips as usual & loved the Olivia quote.

  9. Like so many others, I really enjoyed this puzzle, didn’t know the Winchester (as well as the rifle and the city, it was also Arthur’s club), and got stuck in the SE.

    Many thanks to the setter and MP.

      1. It was. Being repeated on ITV3, looks very dated now. Patrick Malahide as ‘cheerful Charlie Chisholm’ was great.

    1. Welcome, Gertysweetpea. Looking forward to more comments from you. Whether or not you will get a shed from the man of many aliases remains to be seen.

  10. Fairly straight forward for a Thursday back-pager. Only 4d didn’t quite work for me as there didn’t appear to be a homophone indicator for contracting the ‘you will’. 7d dragged the ‘Minder’ club from the darkest depths of my memory – and it is now back there where it belongs as I remembered the chemical connection. Apart from that, it was a jolly good romp.

    Thanks to the setter for the puzzle and to the retired pub landlord reviewer for his blog. Regarding the shed- I think it looks very good but would perhaps benefit from a roof, door and window :cool:

    1. For 4d, I think “finally” applies to all 4 of words preceding it (not just “confess”) — then no strange contraction or homophone is involved.

    2. All three windows have toughened glass in them that I scrounged from a bloke at the tip last year.

  11. Daisygirl.

    Is that letter in the DT entitled “ refused surgery” from you? If so I Hope it has an effect, and hope the knee is not too painful today.

    Haven’t looked at today’s crossword yet – only on the letters page at the moment,

    1. It didn’t occur to me that the letter might be from Daisygirl. Even if it isn’t, I do hope something is done soon. We oldies need a voice and a loud one at that.

    2. Yes, ‘fraid so. I actually wrote it a few days ago and thought it was yet another of my letters the editor had dismissed as being from that mad Melbourn madam.I considered emulatIng our leader and try writing under various noms de plume like Vivien Leigh or Beatrice Potter. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles works every time! I was spurred on by Alison Pearson (she lives in Cambridge) and the NHS is one of her causes at the moment.

      1. Hello Daisygirl. I couldn’t mend your knees as arranged as I was busy treating Mr Cowling in his hour of need. I am not ‘our leader’ that title belongs to Big Dave.

        1. Yes I had noticed that you put Steve AND your shed before my needs. Not that I begrudge Steve, he was critical but the shed could have waited. Unless it is going to do double duty as an operating theatre?

          1. When I went to our surgery on Tuesday to have the wound in my leg dressed, I was preceded by a man who had obviously just had his knee done in the last week or so. I’d have said he was well over 70. Another case of postcode lottery? I, like CS, live in Kent.

          2. I am rather humbled that I came before the excellent shed! Thanks, Olivia.

            Daisygirl, please keep badgering the NHS.

      2. I didn’t realise things were so bad for you, Daisygirl. I do hope things change soon and surgery is allowed once more.

      3. It is appalling that surgeries are not taking place in the UK. Here in Florida our Covid numbers are higher than the UK, and yet doctors practices have been coping all along. I had a skin cancer surgery, one of our daughters had surgery for a torn meniscus, a neighbour had surgery for breast cancer, and surgery was suggested for Peter, my husband, for his torn rotator cuff. But he is holding off for now of his own choice. Dentist, eye doctor etc. we’ve seen them all along. I’ve read reports where some NHS nurses are saying it is very quiet in their hospitals right now, I do hope you can get your surgery soon.

  12. What a lovely puzzle today from which I gained much enjoyment and new knowledge especially from 4d and 7 d. Whilst getting the right answers was only thanks to the checking letters. I did slow up my solving by putting a fringe in for a design in 11a.
    I loved Olivia’s writings and I too would like a shed to replace our summerhouse which is now in disrepair..

  13. What a nice crossword on a lovely sunny day here in Cambridge. Lunch in the garden (home grown tomatoes and salad leaves) and really only got stuck on 26d and needless to say I did not get the crickety reference for the monster at 25d. George got the boom at 13d he tends to get distracted from the job in hand. Would I be labelled a crawler if I said I much preferred you, Olivia, to Vivien in Gone With The Wind? You were so pretty.

    1. Were so pretty? Were? I’m still pretty Daisygirl as you can see in the galleries under the features banner at the top of the page

      1. And I’ve been looking for the right spot to tell you, Olivia, that your performance (against Montgomery Clift) in ‘The Heiress’ is one of my all-time favourite star turns. You were magnificent and deserved your 2nd Oscar! I hope you’re enjoying your Time in Eternity.

    2. Amazing Daisygirl I immediately thought of you when I read the letter in the DT but didn’t realise you wrote it. A friend of ours here in N Norfolk is having his hip done in the Spire, Milton in November so keep pushing them. Are the Pink Geranium and Sheen Mill still going? I was at one of the two years ago wearing new shoes. I went out to the loo and when I came back my new shoes were like ice skates and I shot across the room and ended up sitting on the table of two nice chaps. I thought it was hilarious, they didn’t! Keep pushing for your knee Daisygirl, pull every trick in the book and you’ll get there.

      1. We actually live behind the PG and knew the owner very well. Both my girls waitressed there on Saturday nights for pocket money. It changed hands, went downhill, became a Thai restaurant and for the past 5 years has been a private house. Many lovely memories though.

        1. I do hope you can get your surgery done soon. I grew up in Melbourn, remember the Pink Geranium and spent happy days fishing at the back of Sheene Mill before it was the restaurant. I am usually at my late parents (Gwen and Derrick Thurley) house on Chapman’s Close at this time of year but currently in the US and do not feel safe flying back yet. Love reading your comments and would so enjoy meeting you when I eventually get back to Melbourn. Meanwhile , Daisygirl, all my best to you.

  14. Lovely crossword – it took quite a while for me to untangle but in a very enjoyable way. Needed help with 4d which was new to me.
    Lola has come to love the gazebo on non-windy days. It has ‘windows’ on two sides and she moves with much lethargy to remain in the sunshine.

    Thanks to the setter and ‘Olivia’.
    Love to Daisygirl.

  15. A most enjoyable crossword — compliments to the puzzle-chef. And the review was fun, too (but then I knew that would be).

    I think I needed a few hints, or a break in the middle for lunch. Or possibly both. Now the children are back at school, spouse and I are enjoying the novelty of a quiet lunch together.

    A group of locals, plus Fergal Sharkey, have submitted our local river to be the first in the UK with ‘bathing water’ status — as part of their campaign against Yorkshire Water being allowed to pipe raw sewage into it whenever it’s a bit rainy. This week a bunch of councillors have issued a statement against it: they think being a designated bathing river might encourage folk to bathe in it, and that’s the sort of thing which could lead to Ilkley being overrun with Outsiders. Better to have our sewage-ridden river all to ourselves than risk having to share a clean river with People Not From Round Here.

    PS: Congratulations to both the shed-builder and the published letter-writer, and I hope each of your constructions has the desired effect.

    1. I hope you are successful – That which Olicarians put in the Wharfe today will pass Calcaria tomorrow (and likely end up in the brewing water)
      (behind in my puzzling – see yesterdays toughie) but thanks to setter and the shedded one in advance

      1. Thanks, though I’m not part of the campaign group. However, even the councillors who are against out-of-towners enjoying our nature are saying the river should be cleaned up, so hopefully it will happen. (The only ones in favour of emitting sewage straight into the river seem to be Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency.)

        Love “the shedded one”! Enjoy the crossword when you get to it

  16. Super puzzle and M.P. in even better form than usual.Did not understand 7 d without the hint but like many others remember George Cole as bringing great humour whilst escaping to the Winchester.Thanks to all.

  17. Took a while to get going then made smooth progress. Finished just under *** time for me.
    Couldn’t see 7d but then the big “Winks” we used in the lab. came to mind & all became clear. A commonplace item to every lab. technician but obscure GK to others I guess.
    Clever association so gets my COTD.
    Entertaining & absorbing puzzle. Just about my level
    Thanks to setter & the Dame of all reviewers for the usual entertainment.

  18. Very enjoyable, not too taxing.
    23d was last in, I need to put the charity away in the memory bank for future use.
    Thanks MP and setter.

  19. Oh dear – a “just me being grumpy day” – I thought it was quite difficult and I didn’t really enjoy it all that much – I don’t mind difficult but I could have done with something to laugh at. :sad:
    I’d forgotten about what a Winchester could be and, although I knew that I knew it, couldn’t remember the first bit of 13d for a very long time.
    I did like 12 and 15a and thought that 27a and 8d were good anagrams.
    I also liked all the quotations in the introduction and think it looks like a pretty good shed.
    Thanks to whoever set this one and to today’s hinty person.

  20. “Madam, your body was a desert duty forced me to wander though alone.” Henry II (Peter O’Toole) to Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katherine Hepburn) in The Lion in Winter.

    I felt that if the words were adjusted for crosswords then this was my opinion of today’s crossword.

    For those who are too young to have seen the film the comment is a response to the suggestion that Henry rather enjoyed sex with his queen.

    1. One of my favourite Hepburn movies, Corky. After Eleanor has been mentally and physically abused by Henry, she most memorably asks, “What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?” (Or close to that.)

  21. A nice crossword with one or two head scratchers 🤔 ***/*** Favourites: 5, 13 & 26d 😃 Thanks to the “shed lady”, the only De Haviland I knew was a vampire😬 and of course to the Setter

  22. Late on parade today due to golf and Waitrose. We have been blessed this week with some super puzzles that haven’t required sitting in a darkened room with a wet towel around ones head! Todays is no exception, very enjoyable. My fav is 12a, very good!
    Thx to all
    **/****

    1. Brian, are the letters in the DT about your name anything to do with you? They are quite amusing.

  23. Googling Winchester ( I was looking for the rifle 7d) brings up some distressing images of the horrible bus crash this morning. I hope the Injured recover quickly

  24. What with sheds, published letters and surgeries the crossword was almost an afterthought. Thoroughly enjoyable and not too taxing as my brain is scrambled from too much sun. 7d and 12a take the top honours this evening.

    Thanks very much to our setter for the fun and to MP.

  25. Nice puzzle for another sunny (and going to be HOT) day on the west coast of B.C. **/**** rating for me with the SE the last holdout area. A couple of hmm clues (21a & 6d) but some great ones too … 11a, 27a, 7d, 8d & 13d … winner 27a with 7d a close second.

    Thanks to setter and MP

  26. Didn’t find this too difficult to solve but had issues with understanding the answers to: 27a (still don’t really understand it), 4d, 7d & 25d so thank goodness for Olivia and her explanations. Mr Cowling’s piece made me cry, so glad you made it through the storm.

  27. Just up my straße, loved it! I thought I’d got the wrong day. The only one I needed help with was 7d where I used a word search, even so it was a bung in as had no idea what a Winchester was, apart from a rifle.
    I was so smug that I got 13d and 25d, guy things that girls aren’t expected to know but I did, so there!
    Fave 27a for the memories of Terry Thomas.
    Thanks to our setter and to Olivia for explaining 7d.

  28. I managed to finish this before going out for lunch, with the exception of 7d. I ended bunging the answer in when I got back, but still couldn’t understand “Winchester” and needed the review for the explanation. Thank you setter and Miffypops. The shed definitely has a feminine touch about it. Please congratulate Saint Sharon for all her hard work. She might need Olivia’s help to carry in the wood burning stove, and to cut a hole in the roof for the chimney.

  29. A very enjoyable puzzle. Like some others, I was puzzled by the Winchester reference and I shouldn’t have been, I worked for ICI (remember them?) for a number of years and used them all the time! Thanks to the shed builder and the setter!

  30. Thanks to the setter and to the Master of Aliases for the review and hints. I enjoyed this one very much, but was completely beaten by 28a and 7d, I was thinking rifles for the latter. Had never heard of the container. Favourite was 13d. Was 3* /3* for me.

    1. Enjoyed this puzzle and was glad to complete it without recourse to the hints although I needed them to explain the parsing of a couple

      Just a picky comment about the hint for 10a. I think “con” is meant to represent “against” rather than “argument against” as “argument” is the definition.

  31. I was pleased that so many answers fell into place today. Loved 12a and7d. Up to now when I’ve been struggling with answers, I’ve first gone to anagram or crossword solver sites and then as a final resort clicked straight onto the BG answers. Today, for the first time, for my final 6 clues I went straight to the BG hints and used them, before clicking on the answer. I really don’t know why I’ve not just used the hints before as I always read them — but usually after I’ve clicked the answer! I’m realising that this is really very silly as this is the merit of the site! So my only allegiance from now on is to the BG site! Thanks so much to the reviewers and I love all the other chat too. .

  32. Olivia de Havilland was obviously a lady of great taste. Quite enjoyed this puzzle today, although the Winchester did throw me. Probably because I never paid much attention in chemistry, it was the formulas that did it in for me. I didn’t care for 27a, thought that was rather weak, and don’t think of 28a as a season. But otherwise a pretty friendly puzzle for a Thursday. Thanks to setter and the famous shed builder.

  33. I too had never heard of Winchester in that context so needed the hint to parse it. The only saving grace was that the answer had to be what the answer was. I felt 3d and 27a were a bit stretched too. Apart from that all good fun. Hard to pick a favourite but I’ll go for 22a because it took me so long to get the second half of the clue. Thanks to the setter and MP.

  34. Enjoyable solve that we made a bit more difficult for ourselves by bunging in an incorrect answer in the SW. Soon fixed though.
    Thanks Mr Ron and MP.

  35. Not a “shed”, Miffypops. The company that supplied ours called it a “Garden Studio”, in true Hyacinth Bouquet style.

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