A Puzzle by Shabbo
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Shabbo provided the perfect Saturday lunchtime crossword, just right for solving over lunch, quickly drafting the blog and getting out in the autumn sunshine while it lasted
Across
1a & 6a. Shellshock more problematic for detective (8)
SHERLOCK HOLMES: An anagram (problematic) of SHELLSHOCK MORE
6a See 1a (6)
9a One small fireplace (6)
SINGLE: The abbreviation for Small and a fireplace
10a Steal Tesla 12, perhaps (8)
ANAGRAMS: Steal, Tesla and the solution to 12a are the solution of each other
11a Equal measure of kinky eroticism (9)
ISOMETRIC: An anagram (kinky) of EROTICISM
12a Criticise roofing material (5)
SLATE: A verb meaning to criticise or some roofing material
14a Located queen mother (7)
FOUNDER: A synonym for located and the regnal cipher of our late Queen
15a Most uptight English head of BBC has endless siesta (7)
EDGIEST: The abbreviation for English and another for the head of the BBC followed by sIESTa without the letters at each end (endless)
17a Online proposal brings joy? (7)
EMOTION: The letter used to indicate something is on line and a proposal
19a Hunt as per usual when sea goes out (7)
PURSUAL: An anagram (out) of of As PeR USUAL without the letters SEA (sea goes)
22a Handy ticker (5)
CLOCK: A cryptic definition of something that ticks
24a Have waste recycled during hot spells (9)
HEATWAVES: An anagram (recycled) of HAVE WASTE
26a Cocktail of gin and it best knocked back as a starter (8)
IGNITION: An anagram (cocktail) of GIN and IT followed by a reversal (knocked back) of the best person or thing
27a Sweet French goods (6)
BONBON: Two lots of the French word for good
28a Test broadcast (6)
SCREEN: Double definition
29a Exaggerate bowling speed (8)
OVERRATE: Split 4,4 this synonym for exaggerate could meaning the speed of bowling in a cricket match
Down
2d Addresses turnover at Royal Mail in bad weather? (9)
HAILSTORM: Addresses or greets, the abbreviations for turnover and Royal Mail
3d Troop's endless diet (7)
REGIMEN: A troop of soldiers without the final letter (endless)
4d Flamboyant circus flag flies here? (4-3-3)
OVER-THE-TOP: Where a flag at the circus might fly
5d Military colours - a requirement for 26 reportedly (6)
KHAKIS: A homophone (reportedly) of what you need to start a vehicle
6d Top man these days (4)
HEAD: A man and the abbreviation for these days
7d Folklore leitmotif captivates rock singer (7)
LORELEI: Hidden in the first two words of the clue
8d Topless French woman has time for tourist in Cornwall (5)
EMMET: The French word for woman without its first letter (topless) followed by the abbreviation for Time
13d & 20d. Tool for Tower Bridge? (10)
ADJUSTABLE SPANNER: The name of this tool could also be a description of Tower Bridge
16d Victim of second head-butter (9)
SCAPEGOAT: The abbreviation for Second, a headland and an animal that butts
18d Touchy-feely diplomacy on French island (7)
TACTILE: Diplomacy on the French word for Island
20d See 13d (7)
21d Slowly getting hold of area for shed (4-2)
LEAN-TO: A musical instruction to play slowly into which is inserted (getting hold of) the abbreviation forArea
23d Record chapter one first - it makes sense (5)
LOGIC: A record of something and the Roman numeral for one going first or before the abbreviation for Chapter
25d Intend to be heard making an appearance (4)
MIEN: A homophone (to be heard) of a synonym for intend
A really enjoyable puzzle with chuckles galore – thanks to Shabbo.
It’s interesting that all the anagrams are in the across clues with none in the downs.
I have masses of ticks on my printout including 22a, 27a, 7d, 8d, 13/20d and 16d.
That was fun! Thanks Shabbo. No caffeine required!
Smiles for 9a, 13d/20d, and 18d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to CS, or will it be SL?
Nationally-published setter so ….
This was very light but a huge amount of fun, with 27a, 13d/20d and 16d making up my podium.
Armed with one checking letter, I wrote in “watch” for 22a until I realised that made 23d unsolvable.
Many thanks to Shabbo and in advance to CS.
Very nice – straightforward but entertaining. Thanks Shabbo.
10a and 27a the favourites.
That was an excellent accompaniment to today’s SPP. Very enjoyable with a few laughs thrown in.
That you, Shabbo for the entertainment.
Very enjoyable, thank you Shabbo. The SW corner was the last to solve as, like Rabbit Dave, we had incorrectly inserted ‘watch’. Once we’d had a rethink we clocked it! More like this please, Thanks in advance to CS.
Add me to those on watch but soon corrected. Delightfully Quiptic & a pleasure to solve from first to last.
Thanks Shabbo
19a was the one that held us up the longest as we were slow to spot the ‘indicator’. Plenty of smiles and chuckles during the solve.
Thanks Shabbo
Very entertaining, Shabbo, perfect pairing with NYDK’s back-pager.
We’re very fortunate to have such a wide range of setting skills showcased on the BD site, many thanks for the part you play in that.
Perfect for my late-night solve – all done and dusted with no annoying bits left for the morning. Thanks, Shabbo and CS
Many thanks to you all for your very kind comments and to CS for an excellent blog.
One of those rather pleasing puzzles where, after a flying start with 1/6a (a very nicely observed and constructed anagram), I attempt to solve all the across clues first – but then I ran into the (unchecked) ambiguity in 22a… Down clues quickly sorted that out, and the downs yielded most of my favourites: 4d, 5d, 8d & 13/20d; with 27a and 29a for good measure.
Lots of fun from Shabbo, as usual. My thanks to him and to CS.
I’m looking forward to this Shabbo. I have just printed it off and studiously averted my eyes from the review and comments…
Many thanks for the review, CS, very nicely illustrated as always.
What a lovely puzzle! As Gazza said, ‘chuckles galore’.
Plenty to like here, especially the 10a/12a combo, 7d, 8d, 16d, and the 13d/20d combo. I could list others as well, but where would it end…?
Many appreciative thanks, Shabbo. And much appreciation too, to crypticsue for the excellent and beautifully illustrated review.
Thank you, Catnap.