DT 29936 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29936

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29936

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

It has been a busy morning. Our favourite computer chair was looking thread-bare and tatty so we decided to do a bit of DIY re-upholstery. Just over half way through now so should be all done by the time this gets published.

Our beautiful late summer weather continues. Day after day of calm clear conditions. Just what we like.

Another typical good fun puzzle too.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Origin of a name adopted by region in France (10)
PROVENANCE : The region of France where Aix is located surrounds ‘A’ from the clue and N(ame).

6a     Opportunity offered by heartless physician? (4)
DOOR : Start with another word for a physician and remove the two central letters (heartless).

10a     The girl left with no regulars may be on this! (5)
SHELF : An all-in-one clue. The wordplay is a pronoun for ‘the girl’ and the first and third letters of left.

11a     Scratch player’s last in rogue course record (9)
SCORECARD : Scratch or mark deeply, then the final letter of player is inside a rogue or bounder.

12a     Sleeping arrangement of identical graduate teachers? (4,4)
TWIN BEDS : Identical as Tweedledum might be and then the degrees held by many teachers.

13a     Remove a section of render, as eroding (5)
ERASE : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

15a     Ring exercises with speed work (7)
OPERATE : The ring-shaped letter, then physical exercises and speed or pace.

17a     Swear, oddly accepting disagreement is more awkward (7)
STIFFER : The first, third and fifth letters of ‘swear’ contain a minor row.

19a     Altogether new service in outskirts of Eastbourne (2,5)
EN MASSE : N(ew) and a church service are surrounded by the first and last letters of Eastbourne.

21a     One with a big bill may see the Spanish in terrible panic (7)
PELICAN : An anagram (terrible) of PANIC contains the Spanish definite article.

22a     Hang around hotel, superfluous (5)
HOVER : H(otel) and superfluous or more than required.

24a     Capable of changing a case about parking (8)
ADAPTIVE : ‘A’ from the clue and a grammatical case we remember from our Latin lessons contains P(arking).

27a     Confinement of French nervousness on air (9)
DETENTION : The French word for ‘of’, then a homophone (on air) of a word meaning nervousness or stress.

28a     Pivots and cuts across line (5)
AXLES : Cuts with a hatchet contains L(ine).

29a & 30 Across     Current job that’s pressing or otherwise? (4,2,8)
WORK IN PROGRESS : Another word for job and an anagram (otherwise) of PRESSING OR.

30a     See 29 Across

Down

1d     Note that’s added about a second advance (4)
PASS : A note that’s added to the end of a letter surrounds ‘A’ from the clue and S(econd).

2d     Crush whoever moved and left motorway (9)
OVERWHELM : An anagram (moved) of WHOEVER is followed by L(eft) and M(otorway).

3d     Mischievous model finances houses (5)
ELFIN : A lurker, hiding in the clue, indicated by ‘houses’.

4d     Harsh wind from the south and east (7)
AUSTERE : A poetic word for the south wind and E(ast).

5d     Wealthy monarch may be angry about EU after separation (7)
CROESUS : Angry or annoyed contains the letters EU but they are not contiguous.

7d     President offering ordinary degrees (5)
OBAMA : O(rdinary) then two arts degrees.

8d     Revolutionary call about the woman’s misleading article (3,7)
RED HERRING : The colour associated with revolutionary and call on the telephone surround a pronoun for the woman.

9d     Engineers face providing a fix (8)
REMEDIAL : the four letter abbreviation for military engineers and the face of a clock or watch.

14d     Suggest warning notice in exhibition (10)
FORESHADOW : A golfer’s warning call and then a publicity notice is within an exhibition.

16d     Artist in salon’s upset losers (4-4)
ALSO-RANS : An anagram (upset) of SALONS contains a Royal Academician.

18d     Force expert on treasure to give apparent worth (4,5)
FACE VALUE : F(orce) and expert or adept, then treasure or rate highly.

20d     High spirits of niece, say, losing head (7)
ELATION : Remove the first letter from what a niece is an example of.

21d     Mastermind may be clearer needing name for one (7)
PLANNER : Start with a word meaning clearer or more obvious and replace its Roman numeral one with N(ame).

23d     Constituent‘s veto damaged right (5)
VOTER : An anagram (damaged) of VETO plus R(ight).

25d     Distinctive sound of wife in Chinese dynasty (5)
TWANG : The Chinese dynasty that reigned from the seventh to the tenth century contains W(ife).

26d     Unaltered, since setter beginning to suffer (2,2)
AS IS : A synonym for ‘since’, then the personal pronoun Jay might use for himself and the first letter of suffer.

Quickie pun    beak    +    air    +   fool    =    be careful

70 comments on “DT 29936

  1. A week of terrific puzzles continues with today’s gem, which I finished unaided. Some real teasers, which needed the head to be scratched, among the more straight forward clues and a satisfying number of dropping pennies. Having been an antique dealer in the past I liked 1a because to have it would enhance the value of an item no end. I also liked the simple but effective 6a but my COTD is the equally effective 26d.

    A really fantastic and groanworthy Quickie pun today I thought.

    Many thanks to the setter (Jay?) for a fun puzzle and, of course, to The 2 Kiwis for the hints.

    A few showers in The Marches so the garden will give way to housework.

    Wordle in 3.

    1. An antique dealer! I wish you’d come and tell me what to do with all my ‘stuff’. No one wants old things these days ! My grandsons certainly don’t.

      1. I specialised in Tunbridge Ware, DG so not much help with other things, I’m afraid.

      2. I find the younger ones don’t want things like the silver, too much trouble to clean. Mine is going back to Jamaica, lots of people there to clean it for them.

      3. I would have bought all of your Jack Grimble but we’ve just moved to the smallest house I have ever lived in and there isn’t much room for stuff. I’ve got a container load of things to sell

        1. Added from the large root of an oak tree, he said it was the hardest wood he’d ever tackled!

  2. Found this to be ***/**** tough but rewarding. For some reason took me a while to spot the lurker in 3d. 11a, 29 and 30a, 14d and 20d I thought very good with 11a being my COTD. Thanks to the 2K’s and the setter.

  3. A really enjoyable puzzle with j the right level of challenge ((2.5*/5*). There were a lot of good clues, notably 1a,7d ( adifferent variation of which appeared recently) Nd little 28a. Thanks to the compiler and the industrious Kiwis for the hints. I hope the chair turned out well.

  4. By some distance the best puzzle of the week, I thought it was excellent from first to last.
    For parsing purposes only I had to confirm the case in 24a. 5d LOI and new to me but easy to guess from checkers and wordplay.
    Highlights in a strong field 1,10,11& 29/30a plus 14d and the Quickie Pun. Great stuff
    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  5. We have been spoilt this week so far, as SC says above, and this was for me the pick of the crop. With so many excellent clues, it is hard to pick just one, but I think 6a stands out above the rest.

    Many thanks to Jay for the challenge and to the 2Ks.

    Wordle in 2 this morning.

    1. I’m starting each days Wordle with yesterdays Wordle answer now. It keeps things interesting but took 5 attempts today. Here’s a slice of Wordle cake to keep you going

    2. I had flameout, crash and burn today, despite having 3 letters with my seed word. Too many possibilities.

  6. Typically enjoyable Wednesday fare with a good start by going Up the Downs, so I am going for this being a Jay production – **/****.

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 10a, 11a, 5d, and 9d – and the winner is 1a.

    Thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis.

  7. All good fun whilst it lasted. I did need to check my meteorology in 4d. Thanks to the 2Ks and today’s setter.

    1. Forgive me if you already know this Jonners but the name for the old enemy in The Ashes derives from 4d.

      Northern lights = Aurora Borealis Southern lights = Aurora ****ralis

      The Southern cross constellation (aka Crux) is on its flag.

      Everyday’s a school day.

  8. Finished today’s in good time (for me) but needed 2 Kiwis to tidy up 11a and 4d. That South wind had me struggling. Many thanks to the setter for a fine puzzle.

  9. A perfect Wednesday puzzle from Jay. Right at the top of the pile. Favourite clue 27 across which reminded me of the detention I received for attending a detention I hadn’t got in order to keep a mate company while he served his detention. Thanks for the memory Jay. And the puzzle. Thanks to the 2Ks for the blog. I’ve got four kitchen chairs to sort out when I can be bothered. A search on the net found this quick fix

  10. My rating is 2*/4.5* for a splendid puzzle, albeit one for which I had to turn off my repetition radar which has overheated after Sunday’s three “ups”, yesterday’s three “smalls”, and now today with manifold “abouts” to indicate containments and “ins” to indicate insertions.

    My podium choice is 1a, 6a & 14d.

    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  11. A splendid start to the crosswording day – it didn’t seem to take that long but I enjoyed every moment of it

    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks

  12. Another splendid JayDay gem. So many ticks (speaking metaphorically) on my e-page, it’s hard to isolate the very top clues, so I’ll just opt for the ones that bring back great memories: 7d (for the great one), 1a (for all of my art studies), 5d (for the expression “rich as…”), and 14d (for all the great misleading 8ds in literature). The week’s best so far. Thanks to the Kiwis and Jay. ** / *****

  13. Memo to self – memorise the names of winds.
    Satisfyingly completed unaided apart from 4d being a correct bung-in.
    In * time, as Jay was being quite gentle.
    Many thanks and thanks to the 2Kiwis for their colourfully illustrated review.

  14. Well, I DNF because I stupidly misread 29/30a. I realised the second word was an anagram but didn’t see it was split 2 and 8 so was trying to make a ten letter word. Years ago I passed my music ‘O’ level despite omitting to answer the compulsory question as I just didn’t see it. My Aged P actually wrote to the examining body to say I should have failed because of it so I am usually very careful at reading instructions. Hey Ho – must have done pretty well with the rest of the paper. Anyway a good fun puzzle so thanks to all. Wordle in 4.

    1. Manders re 29/30a you were not alone. I too wasn’t paying attention & was trying to find a 10 letter word. I can’t understand why these type of clues are enumerated differently on the digital paper app. On the telegraph puzzles website the clue is correctly shown as 29&30 (4,2,8) then 30 says see 29a. The digital app however shows 29&30 as (4) then 30 says (2&8). I wish CL would sort it out.

  15. The wealthy King has appeared recently enough that the spelling hadn’t escaped my brain. I had to give 1d quite a lot of thought too and I will check with the puzzles site to make sure I have picked the right one. 25d is my favourite today. Thanks to setter and 2K’s

  16. Another super puzzle in a week of them (the dreaded Thursday tomorrow!).
    The only one that held me up for ages was 9d. The answer was obvious but I spent ages trying to work out ‘medial’. Then the penny dropped!
    Lots of really good clues but my COTD goes to 21a just because they an absurd looking bird that always makes me smile.
    Thx to all
    **/****

    1. I got into trouble with 14d Brian trying to fit in RES for Royal Engineers. Silly me.

      1. I kept trying the REs Daisy. Then i remembered my uncle, a Mechanical Engineer, with the other lot, who went all the way from Arromanches, in Normandy to Berlin after the Normandy landings. I still have his diary, with a pencilled comment for D-day, “It’s a bit noisy here”. I’d like to pass that on to a museum or some other organisation, which would appreciate it, a bit like you and your antiques.

          1. Interesting. I have two written accounts by my father of life on the Artic and Gulf convoys during WW11. He was a radio officer in the “Wavy Navy”.

          2. ThThank you
            Joihn. I might see if they would like this item
            It’s a Mechanical Engineer’s diary and in remarkably good condition, considering the journey it has been on. I don’t think my son and his family are interested as he barely remembers his Great Uncle.

  17. Not one of my favourites but not really troublesome. Bunged in 4d as don’t think I have heard of that wind likewise for 3d parsing of which I had missed. Fav 21a once its 8d had been ignored. Thank you Jay and 2Kiwis.

    1. We had the wind before and not that long ago, as soon as I read the clue, bells started ringing.

  18. As usual for a Wednesday, the puzzle gets a little harder than the start of the week. 2.5*/4* today.
    Some tricky parsing to be had here as well as clues. Favourites for me were 1a, 6a, 12a, 27a & 16d with winner 12a for the humour.
    6a made me laugh as did 27a

    Thanks to Jay and the 2 Kiwis

    1. Tutors on BEd courses used to joke about the students starting the course with a clean sheet.

      1. Hi, Corky. Robert here. I’m about to finish Joe Country, the 6th of the Slow Horses series and have ordered #7, which should arrive just at the right time, allowing me to plunge right into the last one available. But I see that #8 is in the oven. How are you keeping and what are you reading? I do read other things, of course, but can’t seem to get enough of Mick Herron right now, like a dog with a bone.

  19. Started slowly but finished at a sprint, a very enjoyable puzzle. Appreciated the relatively low number of anagrams, which gave plenty of room for other clue types. Hon. Mentions to 5d and 26d, with COTD to 12a.

    2* / 3.5*

    Many thanks to the Setter and to the 2Ks.

  20. Wonderful puzzle, despite the inclusion of a Chinese dynasty!

    Last night we went to the theatre for the first time in over two years and what a splendid show we saw! Moulin Rouge at the Piccadilly Theatre. An astonishingly talented cast, wonderfully choreographed. I think it is the first time I have been to a theatre and expressed a ‘Wow!’ at the staging before the performance has begun.

    Thanks to Jay and the Two Ks.

  21. Another wonderful puzzle! And the Quickie pun was delightful too. Better than the weather here today which is cold and very wet. Stars by 21 & 27a (Friday afternoon in the Library although actually I was a goody goody and never had one) and 7 & 8d. A wonderful bird is the pelican, it’s beak can hold more than its belly can. Many thanks to the setter and the two Ks. I have a leather chair with a split in the arm if you are looking for business.

    1. … it can hold in its beak enough food for a week, a wonderful bird is the pelican. (Thank you Tommy Weekes, my Dad)

      1. The last line that we learnt was “,,,,and I don’t know how the hell ‘e can.”

        1. You’re right of course, my last line is the first line! It was such a long time ago, almost lost in the mists of time.

      2. My father used to say
        A wonderful bird the pelican
        Its beak can hold more than its belly can

    2. Would love to have a try at your chair DG but fear that you might find the ‘travelling costs’ part of the bill a bit expensive.
      Colin.

  22. A super Jay puzzle that took me far longer than it ought to have & not only due to 29/30a. The windy Roman god was unfamiliar but an otherwise problem free, albeit pedestrian, solve & parse. Top 3 for me – 1&19a along with 8d. Filthy weather here in Harpenden so it’s feet up with a cuppa to watch the Queen Mother at Cheltenham.
    Thanks to Jay & the 2Ks

  23. Spot on, perfect Jay. I only needed help how to spell 5d, I always have to look it up. I also needed help to unravel 26d, simple when you know how. No fave today, too many choices.
    Thanks Jay, you’re the best, and thanks for your snapshot of NZ, 2Kiwis, always enjoyable. Flameout, crash and burn Wordle today.

    1. This may help, Merusa.

      Roe is in the word.

      *roe*** could afford to eat caviar. None of this roe palaver.

  24. Nice puzzle to brighten up a horrible wet afternoon after some well deserved sunny days 🌨 ***/**** 😃 Favourites 1a, 28a & 7d 🤗 Thanks to the 2x Ks and to Jay. I suppose that a small advantage of ageing is not remembering the amusing clever clues that you must have met many times before 😳 Off to see if “The Festival” is suffering from this heavy rain 🐎

  25. Another good puzzle, in what’s been a great week. If this is a Jay, then I am even more surprised as I rarely finish one of his. This wasn’t a walk in the park, but slowly, slowly catchee monkey, and then it was done. The only one I had a problem with was 6a as I thought that a bit stretched as an opportunity. I had bunged it in, but with reservations. Depends if it is open or shut surely? A very satisfying solve today, thanks Jay. And to 2 Kiwis, for helping to explain a couple of my answers. Going to gird my loins for tomorrow…

  26. Morning all.
    Once again we note a pretty general thumbs-up for the quality of this puzzle. Amazing how Jay manages this week after week.
    Happy to report that the upholstering job was completed well before publishing time. I am sitting on the new looking chair to type this.
    Cheers.

  27. An engaging puzzle with a */*** for me.

    I wonder who will be Brian’s nemesis tomorrow…

  28. Lovely puzzle for Jay day – provided that, as RD said, you switched off the repetition radar in advance!
    Tops for me were 1a & 7d. I’m sure the latter must have been done previously but I hadn’t remembered it.

    Thanks to Jay and to our 2KS – don’t forget to let us see a photo of your newly upholstered chair!

  29. Another Wednesday when I finished the Toughie and just cannot get a handle on this. So strange.

    1. Normally the RE, Royal engineers are the only ones referred to as “ the engineers “. The REME , Royal electrical and mechanical engineers, are a different corps altogether and it would cause confusion if both were referred to by the same title. Plus the RE Jealousy guard that title and would not look kindly on someone trying to use it.

  30. They have plenty of stuff from the REME Normandy landings, I bet they would love to have a look at your Uncle’s diary. Oops that was supposed to go up there for ChrissCross

  31. Many thanks to the 2Kiwis for your super analysis and pics! and to all for the eagerly read comments.

  32. My last in was 4d even though I’m fully aware of the wind and the aircraft. In fact my father set up his aircraft repair/service business at Rheasby aerodrome next to the (not) aforementioned aircraft factory before moving to Stoughton (Leicester East). I remember my father taking my elder sister and me to Leicester East to see the queen arrive by plane in the late 50’s, I’m sure he took us both out of school for the occasion. My abiding memory is that it was cold and wet. So favourite was 4d for the memories. Thanks to Jay and 2K’s.

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