A Puzzle by Moobius
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
Welcome back to Moobius with their second and final crossword in the Rookie Corner. With a crossword that even your inquisitor could not find fault with, promotion to the pages of the NTSPP is in order. There is no score on the commentometer.
This is the last Rookie Corner for 2024. My thanks to all the setters who have submitted crosswords during the year. We have had 26 new setters show their talents with six of them graduating to the pages of the NTSPP in that time.
Here’s to more Rookies and crosswords in 2025.
Across
1a Old facial piercing’s beginning to erode, becoming soft and yellow (2,6,7)
NO SPRING CHICKEN: A facial piercing (4,4) with the E (beginning to erode) changed to P (soft) followed by a seven letter word meaning yellow or cowardly.
9a Fire bouncer squeezing backside of reveller (7)
TRIGGER: The bouncy animal in the Winnie the Pooh stories includes (squeezing) the last letter (backside) of reveller.
10a Suggested one politician was dishonest (7)
IMPLIED: The letter representing one followed by the abbreviation for a politician and a four-letter word meaning was dishonest.
11a Couple looking back, shedding a tear (3)
RIP: A four-letter word meaning a couple is reversed (looking back) and had the a removed (shedding).
12a Pole breaks appliance, one that controls speakers (11)
TOASTMASTER: A four-letter word for a pole on a boat inside (breaks) a seven-letter word for a kitchen appliance.
13a Second part of Benjamin Disraeli’s novel published in instalments (10)
SERIALISED: An anagram (novel) of E (second part of Benjamin) DISRAELIS.
15a Notice alpha male is the first to arrive (4)
ADAM: A two-letter word for a notice or promotion followed by the letter representing alpha and the abbreviation for male.
18a Tesla removed from store window (4)
SASH: A five-letter word for a store or hoard without (removed) the abbreviation for Tesla.
20a Altrincham’s most forward couple transfixing nudity enthusiast David Attenborough? (10)
NATURALIST: The first two letters (most forward couple) inside (transfixing) an eight-letter word for a nudity enthusiast.
23a Special wood contains properties unsuitable for vegans (11)
STEAKHOUSES: The abbreviation for special followed by a four-letter type of wood and a six-letter word meaning contains.
25a Endure clearing new gunk (3)
GOO: A phrase (2,2) meaning endure without (clearing) the abbreviation for new.
26a Go off with a French American lawyer to make room in the Capitol (7)
ROTUNDA: A three-letter word meaning go off or putrefy followed by the French masculine singular for A and the abbreviation for District Attorney (American lawyer).
27a Flower found by foreigners on common looking in prime locations (7)
ORINOCO: The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th and 17th letters (in prime locations) of the fourth to seventh words of the clue.
28a Talk to the media or make Perry? (5,10)
PRESS CONFERENCE: Double definition.
Down
1d One is working with star signs (9)
NOTARISES: An anagram (working) of ONE IS STAR.
2d Young person supporting Stokes as captain (7)
SKIPPER: A six-letter slang word for a small person under (supporting) the abbreviation for Stokes.
3d Strange saga grips Tourist Trophy after concerning race-meetings (8)
REGATTAS: An anagram (strange) of SAGA includes the abbreviation for Tourist Trophy all after a two-letter word meaning concerning or about.
4d Rule part of Milan or Madrid (5)
NORMA: The answer is hidden (part of) in the final three words of the clue.
5d Cosmopolitan constituent is sort of a neurotic (9)
COINTREAU: A anagram (sort) of A NEUROTIC.
6d Active thespians seen here (2,4)
IN PLAY: Double definition.
7d Bachelor’s one leaving golf hotel with tweed oddly stitched (7)
KNITTED: A historical six-letter word for a bachelor (as one who was to young to have their own banner so served under the banner of another) without (leaving) the abbreviations for golf and hotel all followed by the odd letters in tweed.
8d Relocated drain to lowest point (5)
NADIR: An anagram (relocated) of DRAIN.
14d Lover I call before 12 perhaps both scratching bottoms (9)
INAMORATO: The I from the clue followed by a four-letter word meaning call and a synonym for the solution to 12 across with both words having their final letters removed (scratching bottoms).
16d One clicks on remote frantically after first sign of McIntyre! (9)
METRONOME: An anagram (frantically) of ON REMOTE after the initial letter (first sign) of McIntyre.
17d Chocolate company that is right by centre of Egham (more like Slough) (8)
MARSHIER: A four-letter name of the manufacturer of the eponymous chocolate bar followed by the abbreviations for that is and right after (by) the middle letter of Egham. As a denizen of Egham I can confirm that it is nothing like Slough.
19d Spirit shown by engineers falling down in admiration (7)
SPECTRE: A seven-letter word meaning admiration with the two-letter abbreviation for engineers moved to the bottom (falling down).
21d Romeo enters, wearing robe, to give description of troublesome toenail (7)
INGROWN: The abbreviation for Romeo inside (enters) a phrase (2,4) meaning wearing a robe.
22d Lizards hide on empty kayaks (6)
SKINKS: A four-letter word for hide or fur on the outer letters (empty) of kayaks.
23d Paddy‘s keen (5)
STROP: Double definition.
24d I made a mistake coming up with female parody (5)
SPOOF: A reversal (coming up) of a four-letter word meaning I made a mistake followed by the abbreviation for feminine.
Thanks Moobius, that was very enjoyable and a very pleasant end to my weekend of cruciverbalism.
Smiles for 12a, 20a, 26a, 28a, 6d, and 17d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Thank you Senf. I’m very pleased it raised a few smiles!
Hi Moobius. Your name was new to me. However, when I checked the list of Rookie setters, I see you made your debut in Rookie Corner a couple of months ago when I was on holiday. This was clearly very well received by Prolixic and the commentariat, deservedly so if it was anything like the top quality of this highly accomplished puzzle.
One incredibly minor comment from me on today’s offering is that I am not sure about the tense used in 15a as “was” would perhaps be more appropriate. However, for the surface, that would need “notice” to become “noticed”, which would wreck the wordplay.
A question for Prolixic. Is the cryptic grammar wordplay as definition for 2d acceptable?
I had lots of ticks with 13a, 20a, 27a, 7d, 17d & 23d my top picks.
Many thanks and very well done, Moobius. More like this soon please.
Thank you for your kind comments Dave and hello! I sneaked in while you weren’t looking. Tense in cryptic grammar is always a challenge for me. 2d reads reasonably well for me but I’ll be very interested to read Prolixic’s input.
Thank you Moobius for another enjoyable crossword
Thanks in advance to Prolixic
Good stuff – thanks Moobius.
The clues I liked best were 1a, 13a, 23a, 27a and 14d.
Welcome back, Moobius. This was a top-notch puzzle.
December 2024 has proved to be a vintage month, as I can’t recall a single month previously that has served up a collection of RC puzzles reaching such a high standard. I hope that Prolixic will be especially delighted in seeing his place of residence getting a mention, as well as having another very straightforward review to conduct.
I have numerous ticks and double ticks on my printed page and, once again, no question marks or niggles. What is happening?! It is difficult to choose an overall favourite clue, but for the ingenuity of the construction and creating an excellent surface in the process, I must award my douze points to 27 Across.
Many congratulations and thanks, Moobius. You can feel justifiably proud of this puzzle as it would not be out of place in a national daily.
Wow thank you, your kind words have really made my day. I’m very pleased you enjoyed it!
Now I’m trying to decide if Prolixic lives in Madrid, Milan or Altrincham…
Thank you all for your lovely comments, and to Prolixic for his review and promotion. Reading the comments and suggestions from all of you (not just on my puzzles) has been an invaluable resource for learning to set.
Happy new year!
Congratulations to Moobuis.
And, Prolixic, I liked your confirming Egham not being like Slough! Thank you to this fantastic service you provide for Rookies.
Excellent stuff. There is going to be more competition for the NTSPP slot next year at this rate!
Ticks for 9a, 11a, 18a, 28a, 1d, 2d, 16d, 17d and 19d.
I had not come across the abbreviation for stokes before – I knew I should have paid more attention in physics lessons in school!
I needed Prolixic’s help to parse 27a, which is very clever and wins my CoD.
Great stuff, Moobius and many thanks to Prolixic for another year of sterling work in Rookie Corner.
Congratulations Moobius for producing such an excellent enjoyable puzzle and for the well merited promotion. Just for the record, there’s nothing wrong with the home of the chocolate company!
Thanks to Prolixic and the whole team for keeping this great service for Rookies going. Happy New Year to all.