DT 30612 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30612

by pommers  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30612

Hints and tips by pommers

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Hola from Almoradí where spring has made a welcome return.  The weather is really very nice at the moment with blue skies, light wind and temperatures reaching the mid-twenties during the afternoons.  From now on it will slowly get hotter and hotter until we get to mid-August.

I don’t think many of you will need the hints today as the puzzle has six anagrams and a few gimmes so there’s plenty of checkers available to help with the rest of the clues.  I’ll be interested in your comments to see if I’m right.

As usual my podium three 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           Bizarrely a microscope works causing laughter (5,6)
COMIC  OPERAS:  Anagram (bizarrely) of A MICROSCOPE.

7a           King dressed in skimpy pants in crowds (7)
THRONGS:  Put an R for king into (dressed in)  some skimpy knickers.

8a           Big wave from star, after time with French friend (7)
TSUNAMI:  Put our nearest star after a T(ime) and follow with the French word for friend.

10a        Popular, articulate Democrat is sent a bill (8)
INVOICED:  The usual two letters for popular followed by a word which can mean “to articulate” and finally a D(emocrat).

11a        £51 in cash (6)
LIQUID:  Roman numerals for 51 followed by a slang term for a pound.

13a        Puts on The Godfather and the start of Scarface (4)
DONS:  The title of a Mafia Godfather followed by S (start of Scarface).

14a        Illegally hunted, say, good breakfast food? (7,3)
POACHED EGG:  The first word of the answer means illegally hunted and the second is made up of two letters for say and a G(ood).

16a        Pyrex is one peculiar synthetic material (5,5)
EPOXY RESIN:  Anagram (peculiar) of PYREX IS ONE.

18a        Where the workers put white coats on  dogs (4)
LABS:  Double definition.

21a        Swimmer tucking into wine swayed unsteadily (6)
REELED:  A long, thin type of fish in some wine.

22a        Reportedly was aware food shop makes capital in Asia (3,5)
NEW DELHI:  This Asian capital city sounds like (reportedly) a word meaning was aware of and a food shop.

24a        Retreating veteran sneakily conceals trap (7)
ENSNARE:  This is a lurker hiding in (conceals) VETERAN SNEAKILY but it’s backwards (retreating).

25a        Coach touring Ecuador’s borders and landscape (7)
TERRAIN:  A word meaning to coach around (touring) an ER (EcuadoR’s borders).

26a        We test coral out in bathroom (5,6)
WATER CLOSET:  Anagram (out) of WE TEST CORAL.

Down

1d           Two vehicles going around a towed vehicle (7)
CARAVAN:  You need two type of road vehicle around the A from the clue to get another vehicle which is towed.

2d           Male model turned up, one possibly praying (6)
MANTIS:  The word for a male person and then a reversal (turned up in a down clue) of a word meaning to model or pose.

3d           So careless, cooking stews (10)
CASSEROLES:  Anagram (cooking) of SO CARELESS.

4d           Little bit of butter European spread (4)
PATE:  The word for a small portion of butter followed by E(uropean).

5d           Driver out in Escort maintains habitual actions (8)
ROUTINES:  Another lurker. It’s hiding in (maintains) the first four words.

6d           Reputation as utter eccentric (7)
STATURE:  Anagram (eccentric) of AS UTTER.

7d           Maybe a doctorate’s gruelling oral examination? (5,6)
THIRD DEGREE:  You get a Bachelor’s degree and then a Masters before your doctorate so what does that make the doctorate?

9d           Strangely, dieting is no problem for diner (11)
INDIGESTION:  Anagram (strangely) of DIETING IS NO.

12d        A western deprived of Oscar, which is unexpected (10)
ACCIDENTAL:  The A from the clue followed by a word meaning western but without its letter O (deprived of Oscar).

15d        Totally gutted sports players repeatedly given identical roles (8)
TYPECAST:  TY (TotallY gutted) followed by two letters for sports lessons at school and finally the word for the players in a play.

17d        Finished with cutting tool, getting supervised (7)
OVERSAW:  A word meaning finished followed by a cutting tool.

19d        Finally conserving energy, if nothing else (2,5)
AT LEAST: Take a phrase meaning finally and insert (conserving) an E(nergy).

20d        Fuss over Royal Navy heading for ship’s decks (6)
ADORNS:  Decks as in decorates.  It’s the usual fuss followed by two letters for the Royal Navy and then an S (heading for Ships).

23d        In Germany, Mr Right supports that lady (4)
HERR:  The German for mister is an R(ight) placed after (supports in a down clue) a word meaning that woman.  Not she, the other one.

My podium today is 11a, 18a and 7d with 11a on the top step.

Quick crossword pun:

HIGH     +     BURN     +     EIGHT     =     HIBERNATE

82 comments on “DT 30612”

  1. Great Monday fayre with a helpfully constructed grid surrounded by accessible anagrams so a */**** start to the week. My favourite was the economic 11a and 18a a close second. Thanks to pommers and our setter.

  2. A very gentle start to the week, and I’ve not much else to say beyond that! LOI was 5d and COTD was – by a country mile – the delightful 11a.

    I’m sure I’ve seen 7d a few times now. Sort of a semi-serengeti. Am I imagining things? */***

  3. 1*/3* for a light and fun start to the week.

    I’ve said it before and no doubt I’ll need to say it again, but for me Collins is spot on with the definition of “bathroom”:
    1. A bathroom is a room in a house that contains a bath or shower, a washbasin, and sometimes a toilet.
    2. A bathroom is a room in a house or public building that contains a toilet. [US]
    We have enough words for toilet in Britain without needing another one which seems to be a coy attempt to deny that you need to use it for a natural bodily function.

    I’ll go along with pommers’ podium picks: 11a, 18a & 7d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to pommers.

    1. Except that ‘toilet’ is itself a coy attempt to avoid mentioning natural bodily functions, just one that went through its euphemistic shift earlier.

    2. As soon as I got the answer I knew this would be one for RD. I personally find some Right-pondisms OK, but when the they use the same word for something different, then I do object.

        1. Absolutely, I was facing South when I wrote that! Sorry!
          Too much lurking!

    3. I know what you’re saying about bathroom/WC, but in our household we’ve been calling the room with all the eqipment for ablutions, etc “bathroom” for quite a few decades. And what’s wrong with being “coy” – us Brits are naturally coy, aren’t we?

    4. My apologies to all who have seen this wee chestnut before, but it still tickles me :-)

      The W.C. Joke.

      An English lady, while vacationing in Switzerland, fell in love with a small town and the surrounding countryside. She asked the pastor of a local church if he knew of any houses with rooms to rent that were close to town, but out in the country. The pastor kindly drove her out to see a house with a room to rent. She loved the house and decided to rent the room. Then, the lady returned to her home in England to make her final preparations to move to Switzerland.
      When she arrived back home, the thought occurred to her that she had not seen a “W.C.” in the room or even down the hall. (A W.C. is short for “water closet” and is what the English call a toilet.) So she immediately emailed the pastor to ask him where the “W.C.” is located.
      The Swiss pastor had never heard of a “W.C.,” and so he Googled the abbreviation and found an article titled “Wayside Chapels.” Thinking that the English lady was asking about a country church to attend near her new home, the pastor responded as follows:

      Ms. Smith,
      I look forward to your move. Regarding your question about the location of the W.C., the closest W.C. is situated only two miles from the room you have rented, in the centre of a beautiful grove of pine trees. The W.C. has a maximum occupancy of 229 people, but not that many people usually go on weekdays. I suggest you plan to go on Thursday evenings when there is a sing-along. The acoustics are remarkable and the happy sounds of so many people echo throughout the W.C.
      Sunday mornings are extremely crowded. The locals tend to arrive early and many bring their lunches to make a day of it. Those who arrive just in time can usually be squeezed into the W.C. before things start, but not always. Best to go early if you can!
      It may interest you to know that my own daughter was married in the W.C. and it was there that she met her husband. I remember how everyone crowded in to sit close to the bride and groom. There were two people to a seat ordinarily occupied by one, but our friends and family were happy to share. I will admit that my wife and I felt particularly relieved when it was over. We were truly wiped out.
      Because of my responsibilities in town, I can’t go as often as I used to. In fact, I haven’t been in well over a year. I can tell you I really miss regularly going to the W.C. Let’s plan on going together for your first visit. I can reserve us seats where you will be seen by all.
      Sincerely,
      Pastor Kurt Meier

    5. I agree RD. I like precision in language, although it’s not so good for crosswords. I don’t suppose the editor would have allowed the DT to test coral out in a bog?

    6. I was always told it was called a lavatory and that only the lower classes called it toilet as a supposed sop to good manners. The lavatories provided for the public were called public lavatories. When I left grammar school 61 years ago the Deputy Headteacher said to me that I had obviously learned some things at school but the school had failed in its most important mission. I had no sign of ever becoming a gentleman. For a long time after that I was always loth to use the Gentleman’s lavatories in case old Bertie would clap his hand on my shoulder and tell me to get out of where I don’t belong.

    7. I with you all the way with this one, RD.

      If anyone says ‘bathroom’ in my company when they mean ‘loo’ (the word ‘toilet’ is a hangable offence), I will flush them down the nearest one. It is, of course, an Americanism. If anyone disagrees with me, then you’ll be wasting your time as I will have my fingers in my ears, saying….’Not listening. Not listening.’

      I ask you.

      This was a very pleasant start to the week, made all the more fun as I had to create the grid. I don’t have the paper version due to being away for the week and online ain’t for me (I’m not bothered how much it could save me. I will never not buy a rag as I love it)

      I remember Jose saying that he enjoys this challenge. It really is a buzz when you get it done.

      I love the word for ‘western’ and 16a goes on to my personal ‘El Tel’ list. My science at school was ‘meh’ other than my Maths.

      My podium is 11a, 7d and 15d.

      Many thanks to Rob? Y/N and Herr Pomerania.

      1*/4*

      1. Aren’t both ‘ loo’ and ‘john’ comparatively modern ways of avoiding ‘lavatory/lav’ or the dreaded ‘toilet’?

        1. Yep, John works for me as it’s been this side of The Pond for many decades for it not to require an indicator (that’s where RD and I differ)

            1. You’ve changed your alias since your last comment in 2018 so this needed moderation. Both aliases will work from now on.

            2. What a brilliant word necessarium is, Peter! Thank you for alerting us to this mediaeval term.

              The etymology is so straightforward and funny: a place of necessity.

              Here’s the wiki entry that includes another brilliant word for it.

              Gotta luv the English language..

              https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reredorter

          2. Lavatory, lav etc. loo, bog, crapper (after the inventor of the flush lavatory) plus other more Anglo Saxon terms are acceptable, but never bathroom or John. When asked by a Yank in a pub where the bathroom was I replied I don’t even think there’s a shower room. I could hear the whooshing noise as it went over his head.

  4. A good start to the week.
    Top picks for me were 11a, 18a and 2d.
    Thanks to Pommers and the setter.

  5. Nothing to frighten the horses here but a very enjoyable crossword.

    2 downs are a common sight here in Kefalonia. Fascinating things.

  6. Very gentle, rather sweet. 11a was whip-smart, 26a’s surface tickled me (coral has to be up there with avocado) and 12d is fun. 7d, though its origins are masonic, is possibly a tad same-sidey and 16a is, surely, for The List, no? But ‘twas all very enjoyable. Thanks to the setter and pommers.

  7. A very pleasant start to the week with succinct clueing and some amusing surface reads. For me, a little heavy on anagrams, but I do appreciate the clever construction of the likes of 16a and 9d. The winner today is, of course,11a, sharing the podium with 7d and 15d. Thanks to our setter and pommers.

  8. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining kick start to the crosswording week that was a joy to solve. I liked the surface of 12d, my final entry, but my favourite by a mile was 7d. An honourable mention, too, for 16a.

    Thanks very much to our Monday setter and pommers.

  9. Whoosh!
    What a gift.
    Problem free.
    Many smiles
    And greetings to
    Old friends.
    Many thanks to
    The setter and
    pommers.

  10. A gentle start to the non-working week, just what I like to see.
    Quite happy to go along with pommer’s selection of rosette winners and I’d put 16a into the mix.

    Thanks to our Monday man and to the afore-mentioned pommers for the review.

  11. Light and fun, and just right for this Monday morning. My picks were 14a’s good breakfast food, 18a’s dogs (RIP, Peter), and 15d’s gutted sports players, with clue of the day (and possibly of the month) being 11a’s £51 — so clever!

    Thank you to the setter (X-Type?) and Pommers.

      1. Thank you for confirming. In that case, I found this by far the simplest of the recent puzzles by our ‘other’ Monday setter.

        We’re collectively going to have to work out a ‘tell’ to distinguish you!

  12. A lovely start to the week, very enjoyable. 7d my favourite and 11a my last in and very clever. A lovely balance of clues.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Pommers for the hints.

  13. Enjoyed starting the week with this nice breakfast guzzle. While I liked 11a a lot, I’m choosing 7a for Gold not least because I thought for a long while that pants was indicating an anagram!
    Many thanks to the setter for a fine start to the week and to Pommers for the blog.

  14. A very enjoyable start to the solving week – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 11a, 14a, and 7d – and the winner is 7d.

    Thanks to X-Type(?) and pommers.

  15. Just returned home from a weekend away to find that I have missed the births of many lambs in the adjoining field. It’s not too hot for them, and they are gaining strength before leaping around. They are still very new.
    Oh yes, the crossword. That was fun, completed in bed, as usual. I puzzled over 11a for too long before it became obvious.
    Ofttimes there are discussions on this blog about lavatories. Well, in my (not really too posh, Tom) upbringing we were persuaded to resist the ‘common’ T word. Loo was acceptable and remains in use to this day.
    I first saw use of the word ‘bathroom’ in Australia, of all places. Despite my efforts I was unable to find a bath there.

    1. I was never allowed to say toilet – always lavatory or loo. Likewise taboo – serviette. It had to be napkin – after each meal placed in a silver Christening present ring, still used to this day.

      2. My Mum used one that was given to her just after WWI. It was made from ebony and aluminium from a German dirigible shot down somewhere on the south coast. It had the date and Mum’s initial engraved on it, I think it was 1915. I gave it to one of Mum’s great-nieces in south London who has the same initial.

        1. I too daily use a silver napkin ring bearing my initials from the time of my christening.

  16. A nice puzzle to start the non-work week. Seems like most of the last few Monday offerings, so a wild guess it is X-Type … but what do I know.

    2*/3.5*

    Favourites 8a, 11a, 14a, 1d & 7d — with winner 14a/11d toss-up

    Thanks to X-Type(?) & pommers for hints/blog

  17. Loved it- laughed out loud!
    My Irish grandfather (b1894) a WW1 veteran started doing the DT Crossword in 1925.
    He worked in the Dept of Education in London.
    His daughter, my Mum, Lakeland Dad and other relatives of the 20s/30s generation continued- as do my siblings and I in solidarity.
    We have all retained a quick and cheeky sense of
    humour.
    So – at the age of 70- I felt them all with me at 7 Across.
    Time and politics change- I’ve lived in Scotland for 40 years- but humour and well crafted clues transcend. God bless us all, every one!

  18. I was dead on wavelength today, enjoyment from 1a to 23d, I loved it. This was exactly what I expect a Monday to be. I could keep going on and on. Do you get the impression I liked this? I wanted fave to be 11a, how clever is that? Alas, Sadie has exercised her “boss” status and insists on 18a, I’ll go along with that.
    Thank you setter for bushels of fun, and pommers for the hints and tips.

    1. The dog always had the last word – unless there is a cat in the house as well!

      1. There’s a cat in the house but she’s far too busy with other pursuits, e.g. hunting my poor little lizards.

  19. Many thanks to pommers for the tremendous blog and to everyone dropping in to comment. Wishing everyone a great week!

  20. Agree with most that this was a gentle and entertaining start to the week . 11 a was my favourite and 16a was a new one for me. Thanks to the setter and Pommers.

  21. A fun day to start the week despite 26a, which I find a strange description for a bathroom. I liked the Asian capital and the dogs wearing coats but my COTD is the brilliant (I thought) 7d.

    Thank you setter, whom I have just seen is Robyn, for a fun solve. Thank you, pommers for the hints.

  22. I’m late having been out to lunch (Royston Ladies Luncheon Club as you ask – 70 years old next year and we decided at today’s AGM that next May we shall all wear hats in memory of the early days! One of our speakers some 40 years ago was Barbara Cartland – utterly charming and handing out jars of vitamins and creams to everyone) so nothing really to add to what has already been said. Great pleasure, 7a so funny, as was 14a – loved it all. Arts Society meeting tonight in Cambridge with a lecture on Grayson Perry. It’s not a bad life. Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Hinter.

    1. Talking of vitamins, as people get older they become less able to absorb vitamin b12 and folic acid (which I believe are synergistic). Also medicines that lower stomach acidity reduce the ability to absorb b12, which people tend to take more of as they age. B12 plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin and given his recent troubles I wondered whether it might be worth talking to the doctor about whether supplements might help George.

      1. Interesting as I am battling anaemia and they can’t find out why but tell me not to take B12. I am just happy to wake up every morning to be honest.

        1. I am not sure why the doctors would tell you not to take vitamin B12 (although I am not suggesting you don’t heed their advice!). It is water soluble and the NHS says supplements up to 2mg are unlikely to cause harm. There are supplements on the supermarket shelves now that are well above 1mg. However, deficiency of B12 can cause anaemia (e.g. pernicious anaemia). I wonder if they are saying they’ve ruled that out.

          1. Going to see Doc on Thursday so I will ask. The anaemia is getting worse according to latest blood test. My levels are now down to 85 when (apparently?) they should be between 120 and 160. Sorry to everyone for going so off topic! Maybe it will give the setters some fun to create a puzzle full of aches and pains LOL!

            1. I’ll be interested to know why they said don’t take B12, should you be willing to share. I wouldn’t worry about going off topic. It happens all the time. It’s quite a social crossword blog!

              1. I will let you know. My life is an open book as I have been online since the pre-WWW days.

        2. I have pernicious anaemia, which is a deficiency of vitamin B12. It’s caused by the fact I have been taking omeprazole for years for excess stomach acid. The doctor has prescribed cyanocobalamin and that has sorted it out.

          1. I will mention that on Thursday. I too have had stomach ulcers twice that kind of exploded resulting in surgery and am on that drug………….. very interesting. Thank you all my crossword family and me and Alan really mean it that if any of you find yourselves in Ontario you will be most welcome and we will print off the crosswords for you !

          2. I’ve been taking omeprazole for years, I presume they’d tell me if I need to take B12. I take something called Gentle Iron daily for anæmia, I get it on Amazon. My legs were all wobbly, causing me to fall, since the iron I’ve not had that problem.

          3. That is interesting. I was having trouble with cracked skin on my hands and at first assumed it was because I was washing my hands all the time during Covid. But then I read about B12, which, incidentally, works with B9, and started taking B12 and B9 supplements (although the NHS say not more than 1mg of B9 as overdoing that can cover up B12 deficiency), and my skin is now fine. That’s why I thought I would mention it to Daisy. Although she was going out, so she might not see it.

            1. I have seen it Mark and was going to reply to you tomorrow as it was late. Now even later, and wide awake – yuk – and can say I do make sure we both take B and D throughout the year , being so old. And I take liquid cod liver oil shaken up in a little orange juice ( with bits, Terence). But I was interested in Steve’s comment about Omeprazole which I too have taken for years although I’m not sure why !
              I bet some of the youngsters are fed up with this medical orgy. But it Looms Large in our Legends as we age.

              1. Lovely to see you too Daisygirl. Yes age does hit hard, for me it affects the crosswords because of the occasional UK slang word that has come into play since we left, I sometimes ask my sister in the UK and even she doesn’t always know!

  23. Robyn didn’t remotely cross my mind as the setter of this delightful kick off to the new week. 11a probably nabs top spot with strong competition from 7,12&15d. Lovely stuff.
    Thanks to Robyn & to Pommers

  24. Still working on this one and thoroughly enjoying it. I am doing my very best not to succumb to temptation and click on the answers here. I love the extra clues though.

    Meanwhile, the ironies of getting older. Alan has all the time he needs to work on the garden but his dodgy hip restricts that and being a devout coward he won’t go to the doctor about it. Meanwhile I have 3 kinds of eye drops to prevent me going blind and each drop means I can’t see a thing for half an hour. I have books I want to read but it’s hard work, I might have to take my son’s advice and resort to audio books.

    Also, sorry as ever for going off topic please feel free to delete if you wish: I woke Alan during the full Northern Lights display and said “Hey old man, it’s a light show out there.” and he replied “I’ll see it in the morning there will be millions of photos on the net.” He was right of course. If this uploads it is a photo taken just up the road from us.

    1. Most envious of your light show! Sadly, I’ve never seen them….Lancaster University is but a few miles from us and they run AuroraWatch UK…. I really should sign up.

      1. Well if they ever happen again you will be most welcome to visit. We do have the luxory of clear skies with no light pollution where we live.

    2. Hi Carolyn,
      Good to hear from you but sad to hear of your health issues. For what it’s worth, I’ve used Audible for years now and can recommend it if your sight is poor.

      Wishing you and Alan all good wishes.

      1. Thank you. I have been resisting audio books because like my crosswords I enjoy the feeling of reading the paper. But I will give it a go. Thanks for the best wishes.

    3. Nice to hear from you, Carolyn in a geodesic dome home just outside Marmora ON. Thinking of you in particular at this time when we have to re-enter our names each time we comment!

      1. I noticed that too. I thought it was me. I used to be a techie but now we are almost at the point where we have to borrow a 5 year old to change the TV channel and as for our phones……………. :)

  25. What a brilliant crossword, most enjoyable for a long time. Too many good clues to pick a favourite but I used to wear a white coat for living!
    Thanks to Robyn, more please, and to Pommers

  26. A gentle kick-off to the week completed whilst still abed thanks to a reliable crack of dawn newspaper delivery. Would never have thought of the 16a type of material rather than a fabric had an anagram not been involved. Needed Mr. Google’s help to confirm 2d. Joint Favs 7d and 23d. Thank you Mysteryone and pommers.

  27. Despite a late start as I spent to long at the pub after dog training this was happily straightforward. Favourite was 11a thanks to the setter and Pommers.

  29. 1/3. Very easy start to the week and some enjoyable clues headed by 11a. Thanks to the setter and Pommers.

  30. Very many thanks to Robyn fir this most enjoyable crossword with its excellent clues, many of which deserve a rosette. How can one choose a fav? What a pleasure to have a puzzle that is challenging enough to test the grey matter while still being doable. NB to our esteemed crossword editor- more like this please. Thanks to Pommers – I always read and enjoy the hints, even if as on this occasion they are not necessary.

  32. How can you tell who the setter is? For Toughies and Prize Toughie’s the setter’s name is visible. For these standard cryptics it’s not. Thanks

    1. Welcome to the blog, James M.
      We can’t always tell but some setters (e.g. Ray T) have recognizable styles and others are kind enough to claim ownership of the puzzle by commenting on the blog.

      1. Thanks for the welcome and your reply. Much appreciated.

        Is there anyway I could get a list of Robyn’s non-labelled puzzles? I do very much enjoy solving her crosswords. She’s my favourite by far.

        1. Robyn is definitely a he not a she. He also sets puzzles as Picaroon (in the Guardian), Buccaneer (in the FT) and Rodriguez (in the Independent). You should be able to find his puzzles by searching for these names in Fifteensquared.

  33. Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t know “Robyn” was a he. Thanks for letting me know on both counts. Now I’ve got a bunch of back issues I can work through.

    It would be good if there was also a list of Robyn’s Telegraph puzzles listed somewhere.

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