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DT 29810

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29810

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

Hello, everyone, and welcome to a very satisfying puzzle that easily earned an extra star for enjoyment. In addition to the fun of the solve, I learned a new word and a new definition. Pretty sure I have identified the setter, but this week I will let others offer their attributions. I have a feeling that we might hear from our compiler at some point today. 

In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    Partner-in-crime caught in police camera (only half working) (10)
ACCOMPLICE:  The cricket abbreviation for caught is inserted in an anagram (working) of both POLICE and half of CAMERA 

6a    Headgear given to Oscar for playing bridge? (4)
CAPO:  A simple item of headgear with the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by Oscar.  The answer is an accessory for a guitar, for example 

10a   Staff turn to get fruit (5)
MANGO:  A verb synonym of staff with a turn or attempt 

11a   Changes hat in place where just one at a time is allowed (9)
TURNSTILE:  Changes or flips with an informal word for hat 

12a   Living thing (northern one) in immoderate excitement (8)
ORGANISM:  The single letter for northern and the Roman one are together inserted in a word that, I learned from the BRB, can also mean "immoderate excitement". I did not see that wordplay coming     

13a   Sacred performance on the radio -- it's true (5)
RIGHT:  A homophone (on the radio) of a sacred performance or ceremony 

15a   At home, singer gets bill (7)
INVOICE:  The usual short word for "at home" followed by another word for singer 

17a   What smoker might have that's not as serious? (7)
LIGHTER:  An item that a smoker might carry with them also means "not as serious" (entertainment, perhaps) 

19a   Security device gets secretary and student in place of those accused (7)
PADLOCK:  The abbreviation for a type of secretary is followed by the place in a courtroom where the accused are put containing the letter indicating a student or learner driver (student inserted in … )

21a   Free  rent again? (7)
RELEASE:  A double definition, both verbs, both in the BRB 

22a   Satan getting confused -- he brings presents! (5)
SANTA:  An anagram (getting confused) of SATAN 

24a   Scotsman behind whisky dispenser? Get some glasses here! (8)
OPTICIAN:  A male Scottish name comes after (behind) a bar dispenser for whiskey and other spirits 

27a   Trip with former partner and dog having commotion (almost) on the way back (9)
EXCURSION:  Concatenate a usual former partner, a worthless dog, and the reversal (on the way back) of a commotion or din minus its last letter (almost)

28a   Reproduced sound from Saudi office (5)
AUDIO:  The answer is found hiding among (from) the remaining words in the clue 

29a   Powder smuggled into eastern tattoo salon (4)
SOOT:  The answer has been hidden inside (smuggled into) the reversal (eastern, read as "from the east") the remainder of the clue 

30a   Deals with mere criminal penned by representatives (10)
AGREEMENTS:  An anagram (criminal) of MERE contained in (penned by) some representatives in business 

 

Down

1d    Charity from members, we hear (4)
ALMS:  A homophone (we hear) of some members on your body 

2d    Brought about and violently driven to top of cliff (9)
CONTRIVED:  An anagram (violently) of DRIVEN TO and the first letter of (top of) CLIFF 

3d    A means of making cloth set up to make money (5)
MOOLA:  A from the clue and a machine for making cloth are fused together and then reversed (set up, in a down clue)

4d    Current leader of chain in coffee network (7)
LATTICE:  The physics symbol for electric current and the first letter of (leader of) CHAIN are inserted together in a drink of coffee with milk 

5d    Sweet creature seen around Arkansas (7)
CARAMEL:  A desert creature containing (seen around) the abbreviation for Arkansas 

7d    Mimicking a request to self-isolate? (5)
APING:  A from the clue with what the NHS COVID app might do

8d    It's obvious and merited -- reportedly, it's reversed! (10)
OVERTURNED:  Obvious or public with a homophone (reportedly) of merited or deserved 

9d    Moulding and shaping a star female (8)
ASTRAGAL:  An anagram (shaping) of A STAR is followed by an informal word for girl. More about the answer here 

14d   Maybe princess's group of deputies on ship strip? (10)
DISPOSSESS:  Join together the informal name of a famous princess with her 'S from the clue, a group of deputies often seen on horseback pursuing outlaws, and the abbreviation for a steam ship 

16d   I have a go at the French attempt to worship image (8)
IDOLATRY:  Put together I from the clue, a word meaning "have a go at", the in French, and an attempt 

18d   A place to drink, or grow, a certain beverage? (3,6)
TEA GARDEN:  A cryptic definition of a place where a popular beverage may be served to you or a place where it might be grown 

20d   Aware ruler should receive present (7)
KNOWING:  A ruler contains (should receive) present or at this time 

21d   Followers always holding one up (7)
RETINUE:  A poetic form of ever or always containing a synonym of one is all reversed (up, in a down clue) 

23d   German after old Mexican food (5)
NACHO:  The German word for after is followed by the single letter for old 

25d   Charles Manson's first opening? (5)
CHASM:  A contraction of Charles with MANSON's first letter 

26d   Provide small space, initially, to sleep (4)
DOSS:  Link together provide or prepare, the clothing abbreviation for small, and the initial letter of SPACE 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. Top clue for me was 7d. Which clues did you like best?


The Quick Crossword pun:  WART + EARL + OOH = WATERLOO


116 comments on “DT 29810

  1. A very comfortable solve this morning with some inventive and entertaining clues. I agree with our blogger that 7d ticked all the boxes, but my favourite was 24a.

    Thanks to both Misters involved in today’s production.

  2. A nicely clued **/**** affair with not too much GK required and the rather risqué 12a bringing a smile. I am pretty sure we have seen 1d very recently and I did discover 14d in a crossword appear it in another news OTT his weekend although there it had an “h” on the end of it. My favourite was 14d so that is my COTD. With thanks to MrK and our illustrious setter

    1. Correction just spotted spellcheck took over mid way. Should have read …” in another newspaper this weekend”. Apols all

  3. Very much enjoyed this quirky and clever puzzle, one of the best Tuesdays for a while.
    I thought the wordplay in 12 (and Mr K’s comment!) slightly risque but a good clue. Had to check the German adjective in 23d to parse it but the solution was obvious.
    My ticks go to 6a plus 7, 8 and 14d
    2.5/4*
    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the fun.

      1. Yes it is (or an adverb or conjunction for that matter). I don’t know why but my mind switched to old not after.

  4. Good fun while it lasted, indeed the enjoyment increased as the grid filled. With the exception of 9d, which was new for me, no specialist knowledge required. A couple of slightly quirky surface reads but I thought the clues all well constructed and very fair, and the lurkers nicely concealed.

    Several ticks for Hon Mentions – 13a, 19a, 24a, 8d and 25d; close runners-up for COTD were 12a (my laugh-out-loud LOI) and 7d, with the laurels going to 14d, a quite wonderful clue and mental image!

    1.5* / 3.5*

    Many thanks to Setter and to Mr K

  5. Sorry but I don’t like use of words such as that in 9 down. If I have to look it up to see if it exists then it doesn’t ‘rock my boat’.

    1. I’m sorry that you don’t seem interested in learning new words and expanding your vocabulary. If you don’t mind my saying so, that’s a rather limiting view for someone who wants to solve crossword puzzles… Surely part of the fun is finding new words? It is, for me!(Bur then, I guess you’ll never be a fan of the EV?)

      1. I’d like to second this observation. Having deduced the word from the clue, as I had never heard of it, I had to look it up to see if it existed (which obviously it did). That for me was the satisfaction.

          1. You’re like the blogger who said likewise about writing down letters in order to work out an anagram – surely we are all in this cruciverbal lark for the fun of it in our own ways?!

              1. By the way congrats on your honourable mention in DT weekly clue writing competition – I think in company with at least 2 other BD44 bloggers. 👏.

                1. Thanks, Angellov. I can’t work out the others because they use aliases on here but it would be good to know who they are.

                2. Altogether, I recognized 8 of our company.

                  However, it is probable that those who use aliases would prefer to remain anonymous.

                3. I see the term “Honourable mentions” has returned. For a while recently “Commendations” was used. Not really sure why I mentioned that…

            1. I don’t think I ever said writing out anagrams was cheating Angelov. Just that I never write them out preferring to solve mentally. I can’t remember the last time I wrote out an anagram but they always get solved.

          2. Hello, Alasdair. Interesting view. If you’d spied the word beforehand in an ad for architectural mouldings placed next to the puzzle, would that be cheating? If it comes up again in tomorrow’s cryptic and you use your newfound dictionary knowledge to fill it in, is that cheating?

            While it is of course satisfying to complete the grid fill and the parsing without needing more than what is in your head on that day, in my view labelling as cheating verification of of a word that the setter has helped us build is going too far. I’d call it expanding my vocabulary.

      2. When I can usually solve the DT in ****** without cheating my vocab isn’t so bad. A cryptic is in the puzzle not the obscure words. Leave that to Kate Mepham.

        [meh solving time redacted because site policy wisely says we don’t post them here]

        1. If you can readily work out the answer by solving the puzzle of the clue, what difference does it make if that answer is an obscure word or not? Checking that your solved answer is valid isn’t cheating.

      3. Quite right too X-type. Great puzzle and muchos gracias. The perfect accompaniment to a breakfast bacon sandwich!

      4. Thanks for popping in X-Type, and thanks for a fun puzzle. Congrats on getting the amusing 12a in – today appears to be the first time that the “immoderate excitement” word has appeared in a Telegraph cryptic clue.

        1. Hi Mr K, hey, your comment after your 12 A hint raised a smirk here.
          Not sure you meant it as a Carry-On writer would, but it did amuse me.

          Thanks to X Type for a lovely crossword today.

    2. You should consider my proverb, first unleashed in DT 28234:

      Jose
      October 1, 2016 at 2:04 pm
      There’s quite a lot of talk on here about stretched synonyms and obscure words, so I penned this pertinent adage: Lament not at the of reading an unknown word – but rejoice that it can be yours on a later day.

          1. I write my anagrams in circles and I do not think that is cheating not is looking up a new word to see if it exists – otherwise what is the point?

          2. I wouldn’t worry- can’t think of anytime most people would want to use it! – but I agree that is great to work out the cryptic clue and then confirm that you worked out the clue!- that’s the fun of it, isn’t it??!!

              1. I also had to look it up – and then I realised I had some on my woodworking spares shelf. How about that for lateral thinking?

    3. I agree Alasdair. When a word such as 9d is thrown into the mix, something I’ve never heard of or read (and I’m an avid reader), it spoils the puzzle for me. I do like learning new words and it might help with future puzzles, but it took down the enjoyment of this one. And if I have to look it up, then it is definitely not all my own work, and feels like cheating.

    4. I’m a “looker upper” of words. If I’m reading a book or anything that has a word I don’t know, I’ve got to look it up, I just love words, I must know what they mean, just looking them up is fun. I can’t help it, it’s in my DNA, I take after my Dad.

      1. Clearly a contentious issue. I had not heard of the word but, to me, it is perfectly acceptable when easy to work out from the wordplay. The three letter female was easy to get with the checkers. A from the clue and an anagram of a four letter word. Answer obvious. Final check is to look it up, make sure it exists and confirm the meaning. You know from the clue that you are either looking for a moulding or a female. You have the female so Hey Presto. I look things up all the time, in crosswords and other activities. If no-one ever looked up anything the result would be ignorance

        1. Exactly WW.
          Surely the objective of solving crosswords is to derive a word from the clue. If you do that correctly you have solved the clue whether you know the word or not. QED as they say.
          To say it is “cheating” to check the answer you get is correct is just plain wrong to me. If the following day (or instantaneously if you do the e version) you look at the solution and see you have the correct answer but don’t know the meaning have you cheated then?
          There are apparently over 170,000 words in the OED which the average person has a “passing acquintance” with 40,000, as cruciverbalists we would probably be above average, say 60,000 that leaves 110,000 we haven’t come across.

          1. Absolutely! Couldn’t have put it better myself. But you’re wrong with one thing – it’s only 109, 999 now we’ve all discovered 9d. :-)

  6. Good fun today,agree with Mr K on a **/****.
    7d brought on a smile and 9d was a new word.
    Guessed the parsing of ‘german’ in 23d-thanks Mr K.
    Liked the surface of 1a, favourites were 3d and 6a-nice mislead!
    Excellent Quickoe Pun-thanks setter.

  7. Plain sailing apart from 9d which was a complete guess from the checkers and a slight hesitation over 13a because I don’t think a “rite” is necessarily sacred. I now know as much about mouldings as I’m ever likely to need! **/*** Favourite is 14d. Thanks to all.

  8. Quite straightforward today with lots to like. My COTD is 24a. My email from Big Dave arrived today so thanks to everyone yesterday who showed me what to do. However, I see the ‘Notify me’ box is now unticked again so I will see what happens tomorrow. Maybe I have to tick it every day. Thanks to the setter and Mr K for the pictures.

  9. Now this was a Tuesday with a difference–and one well-received from me. I really enjoyed unravelling and unwrapping so many clever clues, though I’m not aware that medical services over here in the Benighted States offer the same 7d signal that the NHS offers. If so, no one has clued me in. And so 7d was a bung-in for me. Otherwise, 14d, 12a (LOL!), 20d & 21d get my top votes, and 29a was a hoot! Thanks to Mr K (where did you find a cat on the 11a anyway? Amazing!) for the usual high quality review and huzzahs to today’s setter. 2.5* / 4*

    48 chilly degrees F right now here on the Carolina Coast.

  10. It must be me. I didn’t enjoy this puzzle (2.5*/1*). There was a lot of guessing and reverse engineering the meaning of the clues. The wordplay was either utterly mystifying or rather straightforward. I was still in the dark about parsing for four clues, when I finished, although they were correct. So thanks to Mr K for the hints, they were much needed today. Thanks also to the compiler for his efforts.

    1. I agree with Crisscross and would give it 2.5*/1* as well.. Not an enjoyable puzzle for me today.
      I didn’t need the hints, the checkers solved that problem but the electronic dictionary was to the fore.
      Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  11. 2*/3.5*. This was good fun and all fell into place smoothly.

    As a guitar player, I would never describe 6a as a bridge (even with the question mark). A guitar bridge is a strip of wood, plastic or metal attached to the body which supports the strings. I would also not have considered “voice” in 15a as synonymous with “singer” but I see the BRB thinks otherwise. 9d was a new word for me but fairly clued.

    My favourite was 7d, closely followed by 24a.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K,

    1. RD. I can see what you mean about 6a but, to be fair to the setter (who may not be a guitar player), the first definition in the BRB for Capo is: A moveable bridge … of a lute or guitar. The bridge on a guitar provides a permanent fixed point for the bottom end of all the strings. The capo provides an adjustable bridge (or fixed point) for all the strings anywhere along the neck/fretboard.

      1. I AM a guitar player – but also, as a crossword setter, I will happily accept any definition that the dictionary allows: therefore “bridge” (to my way of thinking) was a perfectly fair definition – and “playing bridge” (ie, a bridge used when playing) nicely misled you solvers, I hope…

        P.S. Looking up a word you’ve never heard of is most definitely NOT cheating! (Is learning to speak and read cheating?) What nonsense!

        1. Take no notice of the nay sayers. I thought it was great. So good I thought it was Chalicea 😅
          It annoys me when people talk about “cheating”. I have completed every puzzle for over 8 years. First I try on my own,(obviously) then electronic help. Then fill in some gaps by reading the across hints. Follow that with the down hints then the bloggers comments.
          If all else fails use Danword. To me every difficult clue is a learning experience. You learn nothing from blank answers. Sorry for the rant.
          Thanks to you and mr K although no help needed today.
          **/***

        2. That was one of the most enjoyable of the 1000 or so DT puzzles I’ve done – many thanks.

          Looking up and learning new words is a key part of the fun for me, especially when the clues are fairly easily solved from anagrams or common abbreviations such as was the case here.

        3. Thanks, X-Type. 6d was one of my favourite clues, but (not knowing the device could be described as a type of bridge) misinterpreted the question mark as indicating “for example” and the definition as ‘an object for playing the bridge, for example [or indeed any other part of the song]’.

          Having worked out the answers, I happily looked up 9a, 21, and the German in 23d to confirm my new knowledge.† That’s no more cheating than the web page telling me that I’d completed the grid or checking the answers in tomorrow’s paper.

          † I saw “knowledge”, but I guess that depends on my not having forgotten it by this time next week …

        4. Well said, XT. It’s good to get it bluntly straight from the horse’s mouth. But perhaps you should have directed your comments to RD and Alasdair – I was agreeing with/defending you an all the points you make.

    2. Hi, RD. I had the same reaction to 6a, thinking that if anything it’s a moveable nut. In the end I decided the BRB definition was OK if one views their entry as describing a device that bridges or spans the strings, and not as a moveable version of the guitar bridge.

      1. No, it’s not. But a 9a is described in the BRB as “a moveable bridge secured over the fingerboard and strings of a lute or guitar, to alter the pitch of all the strings together.”

  12. (Mostly) very enjoyable puzzle today which I managed to do alone and unaided and understood all of the clues.

    But……has the Telegraph crossword editor got it in for me ? Two days running the same homophone that doesn’t work for me! (1d in case anyone is in any doubt).

    Thanks to the setter for a great puzzle with lots of lovely clues (except 1d , bah!) and to Pommers.

    Pouring rain here for another day…..and there are still some apples hanging grimly on to the trees. I’m not going out today for them. If they fall off I’ll make jelly of them.
    By the way, someone here gave a recipe for Apple Pudding Cake some time ago. I tried it and it is delicious. Went down very well here.So thank you, whoever you are. Very sorry to have forgotten your name ;-(

    1. Ora
      Perhaps today the clue should have said “the Scots can’t hear”! 🤔
      As has been said homophones often work in some regions & not others.
      Regarding repetition compare 21a with 17d in today’s Toughie.
      Weather up here equally grim. Sadly it doesn’t seem to have doused Biggles’ enthusiasm for the great outdoors.

      1. I thought of you Ora and LrOK, when I saw that homophone for the second day running. Regional acce ts do mean that homophones are a bit of a lottery in crossword clues

      2. Oh is it a glorious day here in South Cambs tho’ very windy. Washing flying round gaily in the wind. George under strict instructions to bring it in if it raid whilst I am at Book Group.

        1. Having had my washing machine repaired this morning, Daisy, I have run a load of washing and would hang it out to dry, if it weren’t for the risk of it taking off in the blustery wind.

          1. Maybe it’s a police raid? Some places have rules on hanging washing outside, so maybe George needs to remove the evidence before Daisygirl gets caught with illicit laundry …

            1. Hey Smylers and Peccavi – you are both so sharp you might cut yourselves. 😃For raid read rain. I am guilty of over hasty typing and not checking the text before I hit send – predictive text does not help either. Life is so difficult ……..

  13. That was a fun wordsearch even including some bad pennies. 21d was a bung-in for me. Little 6a and 29a came in last. Unlike Alasdair I am always pleased to extend my vocabulary as per 8d. Fav was 24a to which I have now added 19a after help with parsing. I did wonder about non UK residents being familiar with 7d Covid term. Thank you Mysteron and MrK.

  14. Not at all surprised to see X-Type popping in today, this one had his hallmarks stamped all over it!
    I did need to check on 6a plus 9d, not to mention the German word, but they were all fairly clued.
    Top marks went to 24a & 7d.

    Thanks to X-Type and to Mr K for the review – beautiful photo to accompany 25d, where was it taken?

    1. Hi Jane. Afraid that I don’t know where the 25d photo was taken. Just one I grabbed from the internet rushing to get the blog done.

        1. Thanks for doing the digging, Mr K, although I’d hate to think it was just a computer generated image!

  15. I was going to say ‘Typically Tuesday for whichever of the Tuesday Setters this is,’ but, now, based on his response at Comment 5, I presume I can say ‘Typically X-Type.’ **/****

    Favourite – a toss-up between 30a and 8d – and the winner is 8d.

    No problems with the ‘new’ 9d, like the *********** mathematician I worked it out with a pencil (and paper and an electronic check to follow).

    Thanks to X-Type and Mr K.

    P.S. The Moeraki Toughie is ‘very accessible.’

  16. Found this above average difficulty for a Tuesday but a **** fun solve. Like Senf had to look up 6a & 9d but everything else came together in just under *** time.
    19a gets my COTD with 24a close second.
    Thank you X-Type and Mr K for the review.

  17. Raced through but needed to check a couple of constructions; one which I would not have described as a bridge. Thanks to Mr K and X-Type.

  18. A comfortable ** time solve of a very enjoyable puzzle & one I thought might prove trickier after the first read through. 7d was my pick & the biggest smile was Mr K’s hint for 12a. Didn’t know the German word or the one at 9d but both were fairly obvious answers. Not sure whether 6a is strictly speaking a bridge – the word brought to mind the marvellous scene near the end of Godfather 2 when Tom Hagen visits Frankie Pentangelli in custody & they talk about how the Mafia was structured on the old Roman legions.
    Anyway the sun has come out to play here in Harpenden so a walk beckons & the Toughie will have to wait.
    Thanks to the setter (no idea who) & to Mr K

  19. A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle, which I finished unaided. I did not know the moulding at 9d but it could be nothing else given the clue. I still checked with Mr. G, though. 7a was quite topical and 12a was somewhat cheeky but my COTD is 19a.
    I finished it this first thing this morning but had to take Mrs. C. for an eye test. She passed!

    Many thanks to the setter for great entertainment and to Mr. K for the hints and pusscats.

  20. I thought it was a little harder than usual Tuesday fare but good clueing enabled us to complete it except for 6a where all I could thing of was halo. Many thanks Mr K for putting me straight and expanding my vocabulary 😇. I liked 5d (I have a sweet tooth) and 24a and 19a. I shall worry about who is feeding the cat at the station but no doubt it is a well cared for fixture. Off now to discuss 10 Minutes 38 seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak. I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Mr Setter for the challenge.

  21. In agreement with most correspondents that this was a fun solve with some ingenious clueing. I didn’t know the German word nor the guitar bridge nor the moulding. Although I think I should have and now I do! All were bung-ins.

    Thanks to Mr K for the enlightenment and our Setter. **/****

  22. Some good clues as usual eg 12a and 7d but surely 23d should have ‘before’ instead of ‘after’? Thank you X type and MrK

    1. Well spotted, Terence. I thought of the song when filling in the Quick answer, but had forgotten about it by the time I got to the end of the cryptic.

      More information about the link can be found here.

      1. Read the book by Vincent Bugliosi (spelling?) of the murders and trial what seems like a thousand years ago. What goes on in a brain like Manson’s?

  23. Nice puzzle again today of the same ilk as yesterday’s. **/**** for me.
    Candidates for favourite include 1a, 12a, 4d, 25d & 26d with winner 1a
    New word in 6a for me.

    Thanks to X-Type & Mr K

    1. … was meant to say in last line “New word in 6a and unheard of word in 9d for me.”

  24. Brilliant puzzle and learned 2 new words at 6a and 9d.The answer to 6a was obvious but I was reluctant to use it as it has a much more sinister association with Concentration Camps in Nazi Germany.Good to know it has much a much pleasanter meaning.Thanks to setter and to Mr K.

    1. I had to look that up, willieverlearn and did not know this meaning for 6a. At least it is a different spelling.

  25. My enjoyment of this Tuesday puzzle was taken down a notch or two by 6a (knowing nothing about guitars), 11a (never seen tile as hat), and 9d which was to totally new to me. Doubt if I will remember that one. Otherwise a good steady solve with several satisfying clues. My enjoyment for puzzles comes from pulling the answer out of my head, not from having to look it up. But I do love hints on this site, whic are such a godsend when I am truly stuck. Thanks to Mr K and X-type.

    1. Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile?
      Isn’t it a nobby one and quite the latest style.
      I should like to get one, just the same as that –
      Where e’er I go they shout Hallo,
      Where did you get that hat.

  26. Tile was used in the old Music Hall song “Any Old Iron”, Lizzie. “Dressed in style, brand new tile and m’fathers old green tie on, but I wouldn’t give you tuppence for your old watch and chain, Old Iron, Old Iron”. It was definitely used for a hat, by some of the older generation in my extended Cockney family, when I was young.

    1. We’ve had it a few times before. I felt very chuffed and quite brilliant for remembering it today. I feel very smug.

    2. Thanks. Heard the song a million times, but I guess the tile bit never registered with me.

    3. My mother was one of seven girls and all sang and played the piano. I was brought up on music hall songs and in the piano stool right now are piles of sheet music going back to the year dot. What the devil do I do with them?

  27. A good fun puzzle today, though I did feel lost a couple of times, 6a, 7d and 9d, all bungins. I’m in the camp that likes learning new words, I can only hope that I’ll remember them at my advanced age! At last I’ve remembered the hat at 11a and the whisky dispenser at 24a. I had to look up the German word at 23d, thank goodness for the translation thigummy, I think it’s called an app.
    Thanks X-type for the entertainment, and to Mr.K for the unravelling and the gorgeous pics, particularly the white puss.

  28. Lovely crossword today 😃 **/**** at the moment we have a lot of flies around in Cambs at the moment and one flew into the ointment of 6a and left me flummoxed 😬 I was convinced the answer was a card game word, total misdirection 🤔 Favourites were 30a and 14d and of course I learned a new word at 9d, if only I had a memory! Thanks to Mr K and to X-Type

  29. Once again completed unaided although I must admit I put a lot in because they fitted and seemed to match the clue in a way. Didn’t bother looking any up to confirm the answers as I know from experience the setters are always right. And how dare the setter use words that some people have never heard of 🤷‍♂️, WTF is that all about. If they only used words I know they would not have many to choose from. Thanks to all.

    Every days a school day

  30. Thank you X-Type — I had lots of clues marked as potential favourites, but (having discovered above I was misinterpreting 6a), I’ll concur with those choosing 7d. And to Mr K, especially for explaining 11a’s hat.

    I didn’t find this as easy to finish as I usually do on a Tuesday, though conversely it was easier to start: I probably got the first half of the answers faster than typical. I pretty much gave up on 26d: the checkers didn’t help much, and I didn’t manage to think of the word for “Provide”.

    And thank you to all the above commenters — an interesting, thoughtful, and informative read.

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