Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30668
Hints and tips by 2Kiwis
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Kia ora from Aotearoa.
Crosswords have had to take a back seat for us lately as we have had lots of family things happening. Our daughter is currently with us for a couple of days but expect we will get back to our regular routine soon.
Another enjoyable puzzle which we suspect is from Twmbarlwm.
Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Comment on book that Luke is after (6)
REMARK : The two letters for on or referring to and the New Testament book that precedes Luke.
4a Flower is king’s symbol (8)
ASTERISK : A Compositae flower, then ‘is’ from the clue and the Chess abbreviation for king.
9a Delicacy from French Riviera resort, extremely tasty (6)
NICETY : A Mediterranean French city and the first and last letters of tasty.
10a Save following long ball from the wing that striker might hit (8)
CROSSBAR : A type of football pass and then save or exclude.
12a Thread topic about fast type of internet connection (5-5)
FIBRE-OPTIC : A thread or string and an anagram (about) of TOPIC.
13a Demanding performer I’d back versus American (4)
DIVA : ‘I’d’ from the clue reversed, then V(ersus) and A(merican).
14a Dalmatian male, here last of all once called (3)
NEE : Last letters from three words in the clue.
15a Revolting meal unfinished, appetite not entirely sated (11)
DISTASTEFUL : A meal or platter without its last letter, then appetite or penchant and a word meaning sated, without its last letter.
18a Once rhythm increases, mostly ad lib (11)
EXTEMPORISE : The prefix for once or former, then rhythm or beat, followed by increases or goes up without its last letter.
20a Prohibit firework that’s half gone off (3)
BAN : Half of a firework that makes a loud noise.
21a Valley lake dope goes around (4)
GLEN : Dope or info contains L(ake).
22a Delivery driver from the north who gets little help? (5,5)
SANTA CLAUS : A cryptic definition. The little help comes from elves.
24a Extreme self-regard? Nothing will stop me again, anyhow (8)
EGOMANIA : An anagram (anyhow) of ME AGAIN contains the letter looking like zero.
25a Mother hiding a convict in Spanish resort (6)
MALAGA : A familiar term for mother surrounds ‘A’ from the clue and another name for a convict.
26a Square leg initially significant for bowler’s game (8)
NINEPINS : The second square number, then a supporting leg and the first letter of significant.
27a Relaxed team more likely to win here? (2,4)
AT HOME : A double definition.
Down
1d Call on dodgy dealer to secure area (4-5)
RING-FENCE : Call on the telephone and a dealer in stolen goods.
2d Outside a vacant bar, staff chilling (7)
MACABRE : A staff used in the ceremonial opening of Parliament contains ‘A’ from the clue and the first and last letters of bar.
3d Cur barking around Dutch port (9)
ROTTERDAM : A cur or scoundrel, then the reversal (around) of barking or crazy.
5d Son is in viral US TV broadcast for doomsday preppers (12)
SURVIVALISTS : S(on) then an anagram (broadcast) of VIRAL US TV contains ‘is’ from the clue.
6d Bearing oleasters in need of pruning (4)
EAST : A lurker, hiding in the clue.
7d To sum up, trendy cheese fine (2,5)
IN BRIEF : The two letter trendy, a soft French cheese, and F(ine).
8d Discussed more peaceful Buddhist tenet (5)
KARMA : A homophone (discussed) of a word meaning more peaceful.
11d One who believes in a Pepsi cola that’s fizzy (12)
EPISCOPALIAN : An anagram (that’s fizzy) of IN A PEPSI COLA.
16d Cutting first bit of Turkish delight after resistance (9)
TRENCHANT : The first letter of Turkish, then the Physics symbol for resistance and delight or fascinate.
17d Candles pa moved to show painting (9)
LANDSCAPE : An anagram (moved) of CANDLES PA.
19d Couple with drink in hamper (3,4)
TIE DOWN : Couple or join together and then drink quickly.
20d Nail old Virginia breaks showing off (7)
BRAVADO : A small nail and O(ld) contain the abbreviation for Virginia.
21d My entertaining run, close to Simon Callow (5)
GREEN : My or golly, contains the Cricket abbreviation for run then the last letter of Simon.
23d Seductress essentially driving a politician (4)
VAMP : The central letter of driving, then ‘A’ from the clue and a Member of Parliament.
Our last in and favourite today is 22a.
Quickie pun rota + tum + mask + hearse = Road to Damascus
Oh yes, tougher today as the week progresses, off like a longdog with the first few clues, but then it was more like a limping dachshund after that.
Bottom half far more taxing than the top, but with really great clueing (apart maybe from the Americanism in 21d) but great fun nonetheless.
Really had to stretch to remember the word at 18a, can’t say I’ve ever used it.
My two of the day (out of many) were 26a and 20d.
This was very much a ‘follow the instructions and all will be well’ kind of puzzle. I had a few sticky moments but generally it went in smoothly, with 22a and 20d my favourites, and 19d the last to parse.
My thanks to the setter and the 2Ks.
Like (nearly) Officer Dibble’s nemesis, I found this more challenging the deeper I got into it. I caused myself a delay as my brain insisted the second word for 27a was ‘ease’ even though I knew it wasn’t, because of the answer to 20d.
It is generally believed it was the First World War that signified the end of the Ottoman Empire. However I feel it was worldwide revulsion at their invention ‘Turkish Delight’. Never was a foodstuff more erroneously named. The bar of Turkish ‘Delight’ (should be renamed ‘Turkish Dismay’) was always the last item left in the box of a Christmas chocolate selection box. And with good reason.
Look at this: ‘flavored with rosewater, mastic gum, the confection is often dusted with icing sugar, copra, or powdered cream of tartar to prevent clinging. In the production process, soapwort may be used as an emulsifying additive.’
Enticing, eh?
Oh, many will argue that the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne was the final straw for those Ottomans, but clearly the writing was on the wall the moment they started to distribute their appalling Turkish Dismay.
Thanks to the setter and The TwoKays
I always thought of TD as Marmite, you either love it or hate it. For me it’s a case of love one and hate the second.
Terence, for some reason my family thought Turkish delight was my favourite, I always accepted it gratefully and I did eat it, sweets were a rare treat in my youth and not to be wasted. This continued in later life and I didn’t have the heart to tell them otherwise.
I sympathise. It was my mother’s favourite sweet, and I could never understand that. It is always the one avoid in a box of chocolates.
As Brian says, it’s a case of one man’s meat is another man’s poison so you and I should get together BL. I love a proper TD.
Perhaps the Turks were delighted if you bought it
A midweek beaut from Mr Tumble. Very enjoyable.
Lots of great techniques on display as is always the case with this setter. The synonym for ‘my’ in 21d is fine with me as I’ve used it for decades and this is where RD and I differ (I suspect, like Officer Dobble above, he may want an indicator). Apologies if you’re okay with it, RD.
An oleaster has been duly noted and the parsing of 14a defeated me.
It’s pretty hard to look past 22a for my COTD with the other medals going to 15a and 18a.
Many thanks to Mr T and Le Touquet.
3*/5*
Aha, Terence! I posted this not having seen your post. ‘Top Cat’ was absolutely superb as was Sergeant Bilko that it was based on. Maurice Gosfield, who was Doberman, was Benny’s voice. Btw, to bilk is to con. I’m very happy with that,
Hi Tom, no indicator needed nor wanted by me, just don’t like the word, always reminds me of Mickey Rooney, and he makes my flesh creep.
A good actor but a bonkers private life, eclipsing Liz Taylor with eight different partners.
National Velvet…what a film!
Apologies for misunderstanding your ‘Americanism comment’.
A good actor? I’ll just say one thing to that, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, I rest my case m’lud.
TDS, I’ve only just seen your comment.
It is a horrible word,which would never ever pass my lips. However, I first came across it early in 1961 courtesy of Cliff Richard, so I certainly wouldn’t describe it an Americanism. The song was written by Hank Marvin and Ian Samwell, two Brits.
I would never use the word either and have never met anyone who has. I did look at the BRB, which I assume we still consider determinative. Neither it nor for that matter dope in the sense used in 21a, which I think of as American (but fortunately knew), is indicated as American in my version of the BRB.
‘Gee whizz’ is another one I like and my daughter recently introduced me to ‘Geeze Louise’ that I have used from time to time.
Others are Jeeny Mack and it’s extension Jeeny Macinora (love that one), Jeepers Creepers…there are loads.
Like stopping yourself saying ‘Jesus!’, ‘Sugar’ is the classic substitute for ‘s**t’.
It all works for me.
Apologies for the late response, btw.
Why is it I always fumble
With crosswords set by Mr Tumble?
But in the end I struggled through
And didn’t need a second brew.
Tremendous!
👏
An entertaining midweek puzzle – thanks to the setter and 2Ks
I liked 15a, 1d, 16d and 19d (as well as the amusing Quickie pun).
I gelled with this puzzle far more than I normally do with this setter’s offerings so all credit to him. Top clues for me were 9&15a plus 1&19d.
Thanks to Twmbarlwm and to our busy 2Ks for the review.
Zingers galore. I’ve seen similar clues to 22a before but this one stands out a mile. “Little help’” is just brilliant. Very smart, very elegant. 18a’s lovely too. I could go on, and on. Was this really T~? He’s on his very best behaviour if so as I can’t imagine this causing any trumbles. Huge thanks to him and the 2Ks. And may I just applaud Terence for his typically spot-on revulsion re Turkish Delight. Yuk!
Maybe it should be called ‘Turk Delightish’.
For what it’s worth, I love it!
Tom, go to your room this instant. It’s utterly frightful. Are you quite mad?!
An extremely fair comment, Alpy Walpy.
I have no defence.
Silly question Alp🤪
How very true. Ha!
It can’t be denied, gentlemen.
Nurse!
2.5*/4.5*. This was excellent. Assuming it was set by our Welsh hillock, in my opinion this was the best we’ve seen from him for a little while, back to the heady days of Rookie Corner and the NTSPP. More like this please!
With plenty of ticks on my page, my podium choice is 9a, 1d & 19d.
Many thanks presumably to Twmbarlwm and to the 2Ks.
I’d like to write a little ditty
In response to Rabbit, what a pity –
I want to rhyme with that ‘Welsh hillock’,
Can’t find the right word, what a failure.
You’re on fire today, Pips!
Turkish Delight: well I like it and have made my own in the past. Just gelatine, water, sugar, flavouring (lemon, mint or rose water) and icing sugar and cornflour to dust.
Puzzle: got there eventually, bottom left held me up. Favourite clue 18a, something I enjoy doing. Thanks to setter and Kiwis.
A very entertaining Wednesday puzzle with fine clues of moderate difficulty providing an enjoyable solve. Favourite clue: 18a. 3*/4*.
*I feel duty-bound to comment on Turkish Delight – a vitally important issue! I don’t much care for “real” Turkish Delight – those rather insipid blocks of powdery stuff. But Fry’s Turkish Delight bars are delicious, especially when eaten straight out of the fridge. They are regularly on offer – a pack of 3 for a pound – at Morrisons!
Jose, NO!! Fry’s is the absolute worst of it. I’m sure Sheila’s home-made concoction is delicious but Fry’s?? Wafer-thin cheap chocolate and a splodge of unidentifiable goo that tastes of old ladies’ perfume. I still have ghastly memories of finding one in my lunchbox 100 years ago (my mum thought it sounded posh) but I managed to swap it for some Monster Munch. So no real harm was done. You never fail to amaze me!
I love both traditional Turkish Delight and the Fry’s confection of the same name. Both are delicious, but entirely different. I would think that Fry’s could possibly be taken to task by the Trade Description police.
I have, in the past, requested that delicious bars of Fry’s Turkish Delight be provided on the Naughty Step – much preferable than random homemade cakes!
There is nothing random about my cakes and a slice of any of them would be infinitely preferable to any of that revolting stuff, whether the original Turkish variety or that produced by Frys
Excellent puzzle if a bit churchy but at least there were two sports clues. The setter is obviously trying to annoy both Kath and me!
Found the Quickie very tricky in parts due to sloppy definitions (cute=pretty, I don’t think so and nor does the BRB).
Thx to all
**/****
A very enjoyable Wednesday puzzle.
My ticks are for 1a, 9a, 15a, 18a, 2d & 11d, with COD for 1a.
For such a fine puzzle, it was surprising to see a couple of average clues in 14a and 17d, which did not seem to match the quality of the others.
I have read aloud the Quickie pun several times, but I still don’t think it works for me. Perhaps I should try it in a Welsh accent?
Good fun. Thanks to Twmbarlwm (if it is he) and to the Kiwis. Disappointing that England lost both matches to the All Blacks, but at least they showed encouraging signs of progress, with several young and exciting players in the line-up now.
Lots of fun earlier this morning, a super and quite gentle midweek challenge. Honours Board features 18a, 26a & 23d for me.
Many thanks to the setter – if it’s Twmbarlwm he’ll probably appear later – and to the 2Ks
May I put in a recommendation for today’s excellent Toughie – it’s very approachable, witty and amusing, definitely worth a shot!
I seem to have tuned in to MrT for this puzzle which I found very friendly. I stumbled on 15A and entered a wrong answer which seemed OK to me but on reflection didn’t really parse and mucked up other answers. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t bother parsing 2D and 3D – must do better.
Favourite by a mile was 22A.
**/**** Thanks to Twmbarlwm and the 2Ks for the hints.
I knew it was Toombarloom on reading the first couple of clues, but I did manage (with copious ehelp) to solve most of it, DNF in the SW. I do try, really I do, but I find his puzzles so heavy, plodding uphill in mud. My top three were 1a, 1d and 9a.
Thank you Toombarloom, and the 2Kiwis for your help to parse many and to finish.
Oh – was this really set by Twm and how do we know (and are we sure anyway?)
I’ll shut up now but I’ve never managed one of his before – way too difficult for me usually!
I enjoyed this very much.
I thought 21d was a nice change from the usual one.
Everyone else seems to like 22a – I wasn’t very keen because of the wrong time of year!
I really appreciated 9 and 12a (not that I’ve ever heard of it!) and 2 and 5d. My favourite was 24d.
Thanks to whoever did set today’s crossword and thanks too to the 2K’s for their hints.
He’s claimed it on X. So yep, it’s one of his!
Ah – give in – thank you!
My only holdup was 22, needed the hint for that followed by head slapping. Once that was sorted the rest fell into line with 22 as favourite even though it held me up. Nice puzzle with a good feel to it. Thanks to all.
5-27-7-2-17. Best sentence I could manage today, I was trying to get 23 into one but no luck.
SE corner last to yield
COTD 11d a clever anagram
22a absolutely brilliant. Maybe he could deliver some Turkish Delight to me, especially if it’s the Greek variety (s). It’s a bit like vodka in that there are so many different types and flavours. Hit on the right one and your in Nirvana.
A difficult set of questions today but I thought very entertaining.
Thanks to all.
Turks will make better aliments, really liked Welshman’s mind-bender
Morning all.
Pleasing to see that our setter guess was probably correct this time. Expect that he, like us, will be surprised at how much comment the innocent 16d clue attracted.
Cheers.
Nice puzzle but very tricky in places 😳 ****/*** Favourites 4a, 13a & 22a 😃 Thanks to Twmbarlm 🤔 and to the 2 x Ks 👍 Nicest day of the year here in the East 🌞 long May it last!
I am usually at a loss with the unpronounceable one’s puzzles, but was quite excited to find I was having a lot of success at solving today. Until I got to the bottom half when it began it reveal its true nature. LI, and least favourite, was 21d as I truly have an aversion to that synonym. But overall enjoyed in that I solved more than expected. Thanks to the man whose name I can never spell, and to the 2Kiwis.
Very enjoyable – I particularly liked those 2 long anagrams going down (5D, 11D) and of course 22A.
Thank you to all commenters and solvers, and especially to 2Kiwis for the ace blog.
Thanks also to Slur Kermit @21 for one his trademark acrostics! I can’t say I’m a big fan of 16d myself, although the concept of edible bath cubes is pretty ingenious.
Thanks for the great puzzle Twmbarlwm.
As an ‘interesting’ aside on your name, our son and his family live at Pukerua Bay. In Maori puke = hill and rua = two.
Thanks. I’ll probably remember that.
I can still recall that the first part of the place name with 50+ letters – Taumata … – means brow of the hill, or maybe summit.
Possibly the Maori equivalent of Anglesey’s Llanfairpwll … in terms of natives being asked if they can say it!
Good evening
I see from the above post that Twmbarlwm is today’s setter: well, me owld marra, I have to say that today’s was a darn’ sight easier than the last one you set, which was a struggle!
Not to say that it was easy peasy – no, not at all! Some head-scratching throughout, especially in the SW quadrant; I entered AT EASE for 27a, which just goes to prove that you should think first and write later. Having deduced 20d, I could go back and correct myself.
24a was last to fall and is COTD.
Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and to the 2Ks.
Late post early solve (4.30am). Cracking guzzle which (yet again) I didn’t peg as a T production. Gentle by his standards but great fun. As with our reviewers my last in & runaway fav was 22a with 26a in the runner up spot & numerous ✅s elsewhere.
Thanks to T & to the 2Ks.
Ps quite partial to the odd bit of proper Turkish Delight.
As for others, I found this offering from MrT much more friendly than some of his and I did thoroughly enjoy the challenge. South fell first and but North required a little more deliberation. All good clues with 2a (once I had realised a flower/river wasn’t called for!), 3d and 21d among the best for me. Many thanks indeed MrT and likewise to the 2Kiwis.
Mostly straightforward with some severe head scratchers. About right for a Wednesday though. Happy to finish as I often struggle with this setter. 11d was a new word for me, I’m always happy to learn. Favourite was 18a. The toughie, which I haven’t started will have to wait until tomorrow. Thanks to T and 2K’s.
A busy day so only just managed to pop on, I did finish this but in very disjointed fashion as I had limited time. In the end I got there and as ever these are very satisfying to get to the end of. Too many clever clues to pick a favourite and a couple which will need help with parsing.
Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and to the 2 kiwis
I had to sleep before tackling the SE. Got the valley straight away this morning having been fixated with vales and dales yesterday. I knew 18a being familiar with extempore judgments in Court. Gave me the first letter for 19d. Guessed the word when Tea didn’t fit but took longer to find the second word. 26a in as soon as I divorced myself from cricket. Thanks Twwhatever and 2Ks
3*/3* ….
liked 25A “Mother hiding a convict in Spanish resort (6)”
Hello to anybody still reading this 6 days later! Twmbarlwm is one of my favourite setters, so after missing this crossword last week, I wanted to come back and do it, and I’m glad I did
Lots of fun, yet all being pretty straightforward — my kind of crossword! Thank you to to the Kiwis for explaining 19d, where I (stupidly) was only looking for, and failing to find, nounal drinks. I didn’t know the nail in 20d, but I did know a bradawl, so it was easy to guess.
Thank you to Twm for the entertainment. I particularly liked the trendy cheese in 7d (food-based clues often seem to end up among my favourites!), 11d’s long anagram, and 22a’s “little help”.