DT 30072 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30072

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30072

Hints and tips by pommers

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Hola from the Vega Baja where we’ve had a few days when the temperature hasn’t topped 31°C, which was a welcome relief after the heatwave. However yesterday it got up to 41C° so the summer isn’t over yet!

Today we have the usual Monday fare which is mostly fairly easy but with a handful of head scratchers. There are eight clues involving anagrams so I know some of you will be pleased. As far as I can see there are only two puns in the Quickie which makes a change from my last blog when there were five!

As usual the ones I liked most are in blue.  The definitions are underlined in the clues and the answers are under the “click here” buttons so don’t click on them unless you really want to see the answer.  Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a           Annual celebration when one has to set fire to various things (5,5)
BURNS NIGHT:  A Scottish celebration held on Jan 25th.  You need a word for set fire to and then an anagram (various) of THINGS and then split the result (5,5).

6a           Social set’s endless boast (4)
CROW:  A social set, referred to as “the in ?????”, without its last letter (endless).

10a         Remaining matron male ignored (5)
OTHER:  Another word for matron without the M (Male ignored).

11a         Pair back in plant become dull (5,4)
CLOUD OVER:  This is the weather becoming dull. You need a word for a pair backwards (back) inserted into (in) a plant which often grows in a lawn.

12a         A politician impressed by county’s glasswort (8)
SAMPHIRE:  The A from the clue and the usual politician inserted into (impressed by) another word for a county.  Hands up those who went through Bucks, Herts etc.

13a         Second team’s swindle (5)
SCREW:  S(econd) followed by a team that might row a boat.

15a         Acquit without blame a bishop found with crack (7)
ABSOLVE: A from the clue and letter for the bishop in chess notation are followed by a word meaning crack, as you might crack this clue.

17a         Copy clients ordered (7)
STENCIL: Anagram (ordered) of CLIENTS.

19a         Satellite telephone, brilliant (7)
TELSTAR: A communications satellite from the early sixties is an abbreviation of telephone followed by a word which can mean brilliant as in very good.

21a         Vital element of German city church (7)
ESSENCE:  Crosswordland’s favourite German city followed by an abbreviation of the Church of England.

22a         Defeat old-fashioned party (5)
OUTDO:  A word for old-fashioned, as in no longer in, followed by the usual party.

24a         Laundress finally leaving wicked hypnotist (8)
SVENGALI: Start with an S (laundresS finally) and then an anagram (wicked) of LEAVING.  I spent too long trying to think of another word for wicked from which I could remove an S, d’oh!

27a         A daughter calling for recognition (9)
ADMISSION:  A from the clue and a D(aughter) followed by a calling or vocation.

28a         Furry aquatic creature has wizard scratching head (5)
OTTER:  J.K. Rowling’s wizard without his first letter (scratching head).

29a         Toy from Tokyo — youngster’s (2-2)
YO YO:  A lurker hiding in the last two words (from).

30a         William unfortunately outed by kiss and love letter (6-4)
BILLET DOUX:  A nickname for William followed by an anagram (unfortunately) of OUTED and the the letter which represents a kiss.  This isn’t the last you’ll see of this letter today.

Down

1d           Disappointment for fan? (4)
BLOW:  Double definition.

2d           Catches held in proper practice session (9)
REHEARSAL: A word meaning catches with the ears is inserted into (held in) a word for proper or genuine.

3d           Drinks knocked over in temper tantrum (5)
STROP: Some drinks from Portugal backwards (knocked over).

4d           Popular country singer makes list (7)
INCLINE:  The usual two letters for popular followed by the country singer Patsy. And here’s a bit of Patsy . . .

5d           Sirens upsetting to horse (7)
HOOTERS:  Anagram (upsetting) of TO HORSE.

7d           Partygoer in right state (5)
RAVER:  R(ight) and a word meaning to state.

8d           Mythical creatures, we elves, row violently (10)
WEREWOLVES:  Anagram (violently) of WE ELVES ROW.

9d           Traveller in poem, American, saving Yankee steamship (8)
ODYSSEUS:  An ancient Greek traveller whose name is synonymous with a long journey.  Start with the usual poem and two letters for American. Into this you need to insert (saving) a Y (Yankee in the phonetic alphabet) and two letters for a steam ship.

14d         Serving as a warning about Tirana, you suspect (10)
CAUTIONARY:  A letter for about followed by an anagram (suspect) of TIRANA YOU.

16d         Free from restraint,  made a sudden remark? (3,5)
LET LOOSE:  Double definition.

18d         Painter of cattle on a spread (9)
CANALETTO:  Anagram (spread) of CATTLE ON A.

20d         Composer raised in Rimini’s so rich (7)
ROSSINI: This composer is lurking in (in) the last three words but he’s backwards (raised in a down clue)´.

21d         Non-stop outside after vote cast (7)
ETERNAL:  Take a word meaning outside and remove  (cast)  the letter representing a vote.  We had this letter representing a kiss in 30a. Versatile little rascal!

23d         Private soldier in rock opera (5)
TOMMY: A term for a private soldier in the British army is also a rock opera by The Who.

25d         Spirit produced by good landlord (5)
GHOST:  G(ood) followed by a landlord.

26d         Wine-producing region — cross central point (4)
CRUX:  A wine producing region followed by a letter which looks like a cross.  Here he is again!

My top three today are 1a, 12a and 19a with 1a on the top step.


Quick crossword puns:

Top line:     SEEK     +     HALF     =     SEA CALF

Bottom line:     REEF     +     YULE     =     REFUEL

78 comments on “DT 30072

  1. Another great start to the week from Campbell. 1a held me up because November 5th refused to get out of the way and I spent ages trying to make it fit. In the end, it became my COTD. Another that held me up was 12a because “glasswort” meant nothing to me. However, when I had the checkers it could only be that particular plant, which I definitely did know. Will I remember “glasswort”? Maybe not as I only tend to retain words that amuse me such as “mondegreen”, which I have tried to use daily since it appeared.

    Many thanks to Campbell for the fun and pommers for the hints. As someone said recently, I must stop spending too long looking for puns in Monday’s Quickie and get on with the cryptic.

    1. I got that one, as when I lived in Paris and bought fish from Monoprix, you were automatically given it for free.

      1. I first came across samphire at the Island Hotel in the Isles of Scilly many years ago. The samphire still exists but the hotel, alas, is no more.

      2. We buy seafood on line from The Whitby Catch and it always comes with some samphire.

  2. Yes Pommers I am one of those who enjoyed the plethora of anagrams including the nicely concealed 24a which was nearly my COTD pipped by the brief but excellent 26d. Like SC I had no idea what a glasswort was but the answer was clear. Thanks to Pommers and the setter for a solid start to the week.

  3. Lovely Campbellish Monday morning with just a little GK and thought required. Favourites 24 & 30a. LOI 1d, no excuses.
    Thanks pommers and Campbell.

  4. Sound and enjoyable light Monday morning mental workout from Campbell, something of an anagram-fest but much amusmenent and many smiles to be had from the typically polished clueing. Eyebrow twitched at the wine ‘region’ in 26d, but the BRB’s definition justifies the usage, I guess. Hon Mentions to 6a, 12a (over-rated veg., though) and 9d, with COTD to 30a – that’s paps & the modern ‘mejia’ for you!

    1.5* / 3*

    Many thanks to Campbell (good QC, too) and Pommers

  5. Super duper puzzle today so thank you. Yes, I certainly started 12a looking for counties! I didn’t know the word glasswort although we have it in abundance in Norfolk, delicious. We have been told off for using the wrong parking space at our rental accommodation here in Aldeburgh – we parked bang outside because its easier for us and the occupier of next door is away. David meekly moved the car but me being me will move it back again! Thanks to the setter and Pommers.

  6. I have been following your blog for a few years and have found it to be both informative and entertaining. Today’s puzzle was fairly straightforward except for the NW corner which held me up for a bit. 3d as a synonym for a temper tantrum was new for me. Thanks pommers for the review.

    1. Welcome to the blog, Nautilus.
      Now that you’ve introduced yourself I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.

    2. Welcome, Nautilus and, as Gazza says, please do comment again. As an aside, I wonder if you know that your name is the same as that of quite a rare porcelain from Glasgow.

  7. I couldn’t parse the obvious 2d but it had to be what it was. My COTD is 12a. I love to eat samphire and had no idea it was also called glasswort. What an unattractive name!

    1. I’m familiar with the appearance of ‘wort’ in many old plant names (soapwort, stitchwort, lungwort, dropwort etc) but having just checked the BRB it says of wort, “n any herb or vegetable (now rare except as combining form)”.

      I see the term glasswort “came into use in the 16th century to describe plants growing in England whose ashes could be used for making soda-based (as opposed to potash-based) glass […] Glasswort and saltwort plants sequester the sodium they absorb from salt water into their tissues (see Salsola soda). Ashing of the plants converts some of this sodium into sodium carbonate “

      Gosh!

      The answer in the puzzle with its alternative name apparently derives from “herbe de Saint Pierre”.

      Will probably forget by the time it next crops up, though …

  8. Thank you to setter and blogger.

    Today’s quick crossword uses 25 letters of the alphabet. I probably could have completed it quicker if I hadn’t noticed that (and also if I hadn’t put the wrong word in 20d, based on its first 2 letters, thereby messing up that corner of the grid).

  9. I enjoyed the puzzle greatly and appreciated both the anagrams and the element of GK. There were a few tricky clues but most of the clues were straightforward. 30a was my COTD because it was realky well put together, followed clossely by 12a, which was easy to get from the wordplay if you didn’t know the plant
    And 14d, which involved some clever misdirection. Many thanks to Pommers, the hints were much needed for the 2 clues that I couldn’t parse and also to Campbell for a very absorbing Monday puzzle.

  10. A toss-up between 1a and 30a for top honours today in this very friendly start to the week. For once, I think the backpager outstrips the one online (#722), especially with such runner-up winners as 11a, 8d, & 12a. A very likeable puzzle, so thanks to Campbell for another treat, and a special thank you to pommers for the Patsy Cline clip: my favourite C&W singer still–what a soulful voice, what a huge loss. ** / ****

  11. Was worried that my brain had turned to mush having started a statin and not managed an unaided solve since . However managed this delightful puzzle so hopefully back on track . COTD 11a Thanks to the setter and Pommers for explaining why my bung ins worked

  12. Thanks Campbell and Pommers – I enjoyed this one and finished without help. Often I find that I have all the intervening letters and can see the word but it is only then that I understand the clue. That happened twice today and for me it’s just as satisfying. Agree with Pommers blue markings and indeed 1a & 6a were last in.
    Like others I do like Mondays. Tonight also it’s the Aretha Franklin tribute Prom – hoping it will be as good as the Nina Simone one (pre Covid).

  13. Gentle, fun-filled kick off to cruciverbal week although NE was slightly sticky. 6a would seem to be rather loose “social set”. Really enjoy picking (mainly on North Norfolk coast) and eating 12a but did not know synonym. Didn’t parse 21d nor 4d as had not heard of Patsy. Fav was 30a. Thank you Campbell and pommers.

    1. Didn’t notice a second Quickie pun as I had completed with my own feasible solutions for 27a and 30d.

  14. An excellent primer for the cryptic.
    Only hesitation, 12a, which involved experimenting with its checking letters.
    My COTD 30a.
    Many thanks, Campbell, for this confidence building puzzle to start the week and thanks to pommers.

  15. Lovely start to the week, this was pretty much read and write for me, which I’ve not been able to say before.
    Favourite was 1a, which made me laugh with the visual imagery that it conjured up.
    Thanks to Campbell and pommers.

  16. It’s Monday – :good: It’s Campbell – :good: – 1.5*/4.5*

    Although the OLPP was a bit more of a head scratcher for me.

    Candidates for favourite – 13a, 21a, 3d, and 25d – and the winner is 21a.

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers – in your ‘excitement’ at how many times the 24th letter of the alphabet appeared, you have mis-identified the definition in 26d :smile:

  17. Like a comfortable pair of slippers, a Campbell puzzle is an agreeable and reliable way to start the crosswording week.

    My favourite is a toss-up between 1a & 30a.

    Many thanks to Campbell for the fun and to pommers for the review.

  18. Lovely way to start the non-working week. Started smiling as soon as 1a went in, hummed along to 19a and enjoyed the flavour of France in 30a. Like others, I didn’t know the alternative name for 12a but I’ve certainly collected it on several occasions – delicious with fish.
    Just waiting for one of our number to pop in with his usual ‘too dated’ comment but it certainly suited me!

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers for the words and music.

  19. A typically light and most enjoyable Monday morning offering from our regular double punner. With such a high number of terrific clues, picking one is nigh on impossible, but the superb 1a gets the top spot.

    My thanks to both Campbell and pommers.

  20. Gotta love an anagram or two (or eight). A terrific Monday puzzle as always from Campbell.

    Hurtled about yesterday morning and lunchtime in order to get some duties done before Leeds v Chelsea (on TV) at 2pm. Now wish I had dillied and dallied and missed the whole caboodle. Dear oh deary me…

    Thanks to Campbell and El Hombre de Valencia.

    1. Yes not a good afternoon for you. No stimulus like last match ! I might hide away this evening too when United play.
      Good puzzle today, lots to enjoy. 1a caused some problems. Thankyou all.

    1. There was a discussion about this, including some suggestions by Mr K, at comment #16 on the blog of DT 30068 last week.

  21. Top draw Monday puzzle , have to agree with most bloggers 1a favourite.
    Next in line was 21d.
    Held up by 11a in the NE corner as I put in-voice for 4d then Patsy surfaced D,oh.
    Going for a **/****.Thanks to Pommers for the blog,ready for The Who.

  22. Really enjoyed today’s puzzle – thanks to setter and pommers. And thanks too to the whole team keeping the site going in BD’s absence. Where would we be without you?

    I actually read the link about comment etiquette (shame on me that I hadn’t done so before) and immediately corrected my nickname (my initials) so I’m no longer shouting! Though it did remind me of my first proper job when I joined a team who had a swear box to collect for our Christmas party. They considered PAH to be a swear word and I was fined regularly for being me!

  23. A good start to the week for me too. I may be finally getting to grips with Campbell. Solved alone and unaided and managed after a bit of thought to parse everything.

    Thanks to Campbell and to Pommers.

    Gloomy and raining on and off here….definitely jersey on weather at the moment….but who knows? 20 minutes can make all the difference in Tayside.

  24. It’s Monday, so it must be a Campbell.
    No trouble this week at all other than one word I do not know in 12a other the than first letter and the last four that describe many counties.
    2*/3*

    Favourites include 1a, 18a, 9d, 14d& 25d with winner 1a

    Thanks to Campbell and pommers for puzzle and hints.

  25. 20d appeared in last Thursday’s Ray T backpager, clued in exactly the same way…..as a reverse lurker. What are the chances and all that.
    I rather liked strop, blow and crow but my favourite, even though it’s fallen out of use was the very cleverly constructed 30a.
    Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers

  26. A pleasure from start to finish – 23d. The pocket rocket was here this morning and asked if she should cut down a shrub and what was it called. I said my mother always called it Old Man but I thought it was wormwood. We got the Herbal book out and it was still here in the table so I was able to look up Samphire, just two pages before Southernwood. We still have not had any rain, it is moving all around us but we are like the Kalahari. Oh dear. Thanks to Campbell for taking our minds off the manifold and great problems and giving us others easier to solve – and thanks also to Pommers
    of course, for the analysis.

      1. Those flipping witches! I have to ask their permission when I am pruning the elder trees,
        with that and saluting magpies – superstitious? Moi?

    1. Can sympathise about the rain, or lack thereof. We’re well into our summer rainy season here, yet June and July were abnormally dry, a couple of downpours this month and nothing since. Like you, even when there is rain it seems to somehow miss us.

  27. Whilst certainly not a difficult puzzle, I found this a tad harder than Campbell’s usual Monday delights. Probably a mood thing, but it didn’t help much that I managed to enter the wrong artist at 18d (must remember to read the whole clue before jumping in head first) and the incorrect spelling at 30a (my favourite clue today).
    Got there in the end after a word with Mr G to confirm re groundwort at 12a.
    Thanks to the setter for the workout and Pommers for the blog.

  28. As always with Campbell puzzles I always find them somewhat harder than most. Glasswort was new to me and some of synonyms were a little stretched. The best thing about this puzzle was the inclusion of The Tornados in the hints. The puzzle was dull in my opinion.
    ***/**
    Thx for the hints

  29. Most enjoyable solve. Some excellent unscrambling, 9d in particular, and other light bulb moments a go-go. Thanks to all for a perfect Monday kick off.

  30. Although I have written a good many 30a in my youth, I have never heard them called by that name before – every day is a school day, they say. Otherwise a very satisfactory start to the solving week. 1a made me laugh out loud and was first in. My younger son and I were discussing 12a and it’s culinary uses only yesterday, so that one caused no problems for me. Other than 1a I can’t say that I have any particular favourites, but it was an enjoyable solve all the same. My thanks to setter and the ‘hint-meister’ .

  31. A really nice start to the week, with lots of very doable clues. And quite a few more that revealed themselves one the checkers were in place. I too was stuck on 1a trying to make it something to do with Mr. Fawkes, until 1d set me on the right track. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers.
    Big smile here, Wordle in 2. But I have to admit I do think that is pure luck, but made me happy nonetheless.

  32. Greetings from NW Norfolk where we are spending the week. We are currently enjoying the calm before the storm, as five granddaughters arrive on Wednesday!
    Plenty of 12a up here and it is delicious. The Brancaster oysters are pretty spectacular as well!
    Anyway, back to the puzzle. Most enjoyable, as ever. I biffed constable for 18d, which held me up for a while, but otherwise, not too many issues.
    I too couldn’t get Guy Fawkes out of my mind for 1a – a neat misdirection.
    Plenty of ticks, but 2d probably sneaks it as my CoD.
    Thank you Campbell and Pommers

  33. Glasswort was a new to me but I realised it had to be a plant. Most of today’s puzzle flowed well for me but I was misdirected with 12a for awhile and silly spelling mistake with 9a but it didn’t affect the checking letters. Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

    Daisygirl we have just been having a heavy shower here in the North West but at least we have plenty of reservoirs to fill.

    1. Oh you lucky stick! I have five water butts all empty and it is quite a drag taking a
      full watering can down to the greenhouse! Did I mention that George made a lovely jug of Pimms
      last week with slices of orange, lemon – and courgette? He thought it was a cucumber.
      Don’t try it.

      1. Love that, DG. Good old George has to get an A* for effort but I rather suspect that the Home Ec. teacher might keep him in after school!

        1. Oh dear – I fear it shows my age but in my school days Home Economics was known as Domestic Science.

          1. And mine, Angelica, I was just trying to be more ‘modern’ in case someone took me to task!

      2. Love the idea of George making Pimms with courgette! Our kind neighbour brought us a bag of tomatoes and a nice looking green pepper (surfeit from his allotment) so planning to make a Ratouille this evening with some of the bounty!

      3. Reminds me of the time Mrs. C. made herself a ham sandwich. She said she didn’t think much of the ham. She had made it with a bacon rasher.

        1. I have to confess to making a cheese and ham toastie for my granddaughter when Mrs Shabbo was hors de combat. Apparently I used a slice of lasagne instead of cheese.

  34. The OLPP 722 is well worth doing as well. Found this as easy as the back pager today.
    1.5*/3.5*

    Favourites include 1a, 12a, 19a, 8d & 14d — with co-winners 19a & 14a that seem to go together for this type of puzzle

    Thanks to Campbell

  35. Well it was a DNF for me,failed on 26d and 30a, I have enough trouble with English without French answers being included. And as for 12a how dare you include a word I haven’t heard of🙄. Enjoyed the challenge as usual so thanks to all.

  36. How great to have everyone on their best behaviour after Tilsit’s comments. Long may it continue! I loved DG’s Pimms story. That is what this site is all about isn’t it?

  37. A nice start to the week 😃 ***/**** Favourites are 1a, 11a and 28a 👍 Thanks to Pommers and to Campbell, I have never come across the first phrase in the Quicky before 😳

  38. A nice puzzle. I like 1a 24 a. I may have had the wrong specs on for 12 a. I was trying to find a county famous for its glass work.

  39. An enjoyable start to the cross wording week with Campbell in pretty lenient mood I thought – and a pleasant blog to read through too.
    Thanks to all: setter, reviewer and well behaved bloggers!I’m

  40. 30a short heads 1a as pick of the bunch for me with 24a on the lower step of the podium. Unlike Brian didn’t find today’s puzzle from Monday’s Mr Consistency in the least bit dull. Like Senf the OLPP has a couple of head scratches in it for me also – & still scratching over a couple of them.
    Thanks to Campbell & Pommers (good choice of the album rather than the EJ film version of Pinball Wizard)

  41. A great crossword and a great blog, like RD, Huntsman and Robert I am torn between 1a and 30a, if pushed 30a gets the honours. Thanks to Campbell and pommers, some great music today.

  42. Thoroughly enjoyed this today.

    Spent an inordinate of time on 24a before the penny dropped.

    Thanks to all.

  43. Tough for a Monday offering, but a very enjoyable solve in the end. 30a COTD for me. Thanks to the setter & solvers.

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