Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30827 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A cold and foggy morning brings another Saturday Prize Puzzle from NY Doorknob
I enjoyed the solve but I expect the usual suspects will be muttering. Please don’t complain about the linked clues, the solutions follow each other and I’ve done the hard work for you. Our setter did say that we would have a break from linked solutions ‘soon’ but there are obviously a few more crosswords containing this type of clue already scheduled to appear. Brian should also note that I have hinted the ‘churchy’ clues especially for him.
Please ask for help if you are stuck on clues I haven’t hinted, but before doing so, please read the comments that appear before yours, so that you are not duplicating questions, and make sure you obey both THE INSTRUCTIONS IN RED at the end of the Hints and the blog’s Comment Etiquette – Big Dave’s Crossword Blog)
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Across
1a Look surprised – space programme’s ending (4)
A space and the ending of programmE
10a Schmaltzy book returned by student on Scots island (9)
A reversal (returned) of a large book followed by the usual abbreviated student which goes on or after a Scottish island
14a, 16a and 19a As a rule eat beef – ox perfect cooked with rice! (1,6,1,6,5,1)
The rule is obvious once you have a few checking letters, especially as the linked clues follow each other rather than being spread around the grid; all you need is your trusty blogger to confirm that it is indeed an anagram (cooked) of EAT BEEF OX PERFECT and RICE
20a Worry or laugh about publicity account (8)
An interjection representing a gleeful laugh goes about an abbreviated form of publicity and an abbreviated account
22a Revolutionary movement in West he introduced to alliance (9)
The abbreviation for West and HE (from the clue) ‘introduced’ to an alliance of independent firms formed to control a market
26a Times given stick? I should say so! (2,3)
The word used in multiplication sums to mean times and a verb meaning to stick
29a Regularly sat by set, getting eye problem (4)
The regular letters of words two, three and four in the clue
Down
1d Reckon pub out of Irish beer? (5)
Remove the pub from some Irish beer
2d Well-known dog nursing rook in hospital department (9)
An informal name for a breed of dog ‘nursing’ the chess abbreviation for Rook and followed by IN (from the clue) and an abbreviated hospital department
4d Ideas revised about horned beast in Christian emblem? (5,3)
An anagram (revised) of IDEAS goes about a large African antelope (horned beast)
6d … getting an excess of it? (9)
A cryptic definition which requires you to remember what ‘it’ often means in crosswords 😉
15d She who may exhibit power in wielding blade? (9)
A very nice cryptic definition of someone who exhibits power when wielding a blade
17d Use it anyhow keeping fish for religious service (9)
An anagram (anyhow) of USE IT ‘keeping’ a fish of the salmon family
25d Time to welcome new poet (5)
A statement of time ‘welcomes’ the abbreviation for New
As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES in your comment. If in doubt, leave it out!
Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.
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The Quick Crossword pun: ALBA + CUR + KEY = ALBUQUERQUE
A real brain teaser and, given the number of religious references, my first thought is “I wonder what Brian will say?” I shot myself in the foot by making an assumption about the linked clue. This upset 14d for far too long. No real favourite today but 6d raised a smile.
Thank you, NYDK, for I am sure it is thee, but to whomsoever if not. Thank you for the hints, CS.
Great, I haven’t even started the cryptic crossword yet, but I had a look at the first few quickie answers just to get the pun. We’re about to head out, and now I’m going to have a certain Prefab Sprout song stuck in my head for the day …
Me too with the earworm
And me!
Another Saturday cracker. Not a questionable clue amongst them.
Favourites – the 20a worry, the 1d pub out of Irish beer and the amusing 6d getting excess of it.
Another mild and sunny morning in NE Scotland with only a few reminders of the previous week’s snow lying in shady corners.
Thanks to NY Doorknob and crypticsue.
Fairly gentle for a prize puzzle I thought, with some great clueing throughout.
I got the long one almost at the end when there were so many letters already in it, it couldn’t be much else.
My last one was 27a, which I hope is hinted at today, as I’ve no idea how the second bit works.
My two of the day are 1d and the brilliant 18d, great fun.
Ah, no 27a hint, can anyone help without giving too much away and getting into trouble?
He was a poet laureate
A synonym for for or in favour of and the surname of a poet
Thanks for that Sue, I thought that’s what it might be, but my little Minster crossword guide didn’t list him, mind you, it was published in 1978, so there might lie my problem….
He was poet laureate for 1999 which is why your little book is missing him.
I couldn’t get a much earlier poet out of my head. He lived near here, by the way!
Thanks. I too was wondering. Never heard of him
(redacted)
Welcome to the blog
If you read the red instructions at the end of the post, we do ask that, as this is a prize puzzle, you don’t include full or part solutions in comments
What did you think of the crossword?
2*/3*. This seems to be the new normal for an NYDK SPP – quirky but fun.
It took me a little while to decide how “time” led to the synonym required for 25d. I don’t think “getting” is right for the definition for 6d. “Wanting” would be more accurate.
I also wasted time trying to think of a 3-letter synonym for “met” to reverse in 21d. D’oh!
Many thanks to NYDK and to CS.
I actually wrote ‘in your dreams’ alongside 6d!
I thought this was an absolutely excellent puzzle with lots of humour and great surfaces. I laughed out loud at the linked clue, given recent blog postings. Having said that I thought 14D was awkwardly worded. COTD 6D for its simplicity and humour. I would be grateful for a bonus hint for 11A as although I’m sure I’ve got the right answer I don’t know why.
Green and almost all of a particular definition of sauce
Thanks for that. My apologies for the lack of recognition for your and the setters efforts in my original post.
Thanks Sue. Couldn’t parse this one at all.
I suspect I’m a ‘usual suspect’ but I had no trouble with the linked clues. In fact thoroughly enjoyed this guzzle. Not sure my 9d is correct though. My stick-on bird feeder is a constant delight now they have found it. Thanks to the setter and CS.
A challenging puzzle and not just because of the multiple word clue, which,as usual, I left until I had completed three quarters of the clues. I too wondered what Brian would think of all the clues with religious links. I liked the 14d anagram and tge lego clues at 4d and 8d. Thanks to CS for the hints and to the compiler
I thought this was really good. The linked clues in particular made me chuckle!
Many thank to NYDK and to CS.
Another corker of a NYDK Saturday puzzle full of wit and charm. Getting 14d released the linked clues, especially given the recent blog debate. I needed a bit of reverse engineering to sort out the parsing of 3a as I was being a bit dim. Cotd must be the witty 6d. Thanks to NYDK and CS.
Good SPP fun from our presently resident Saturday setter. It certainly helped that the linked clues were sequential and not scattered around the grid.
Candidates for favourite – 20a, 22a, 28a, 1d, and 23d – and the winner is 23d.
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
A really tricky one that was utterly ruined by all the obscure religious references (what is 4d, never come across this before) and far too many poets.
At least 11a was a sensible clue.
*****/0
Thx for the hints
There’s many a Saturday when I generally wonder why I bother, and today, having read your comment (which I have redacted in places), I wonder why I bothered to mention you in my introduction, making sure I hinted the religious references, and even providing an illustration of 4d (which we have had before). I’d also like to know what is an acceptable number of poets per crossword, as two doesn’t seem that many to me.
I certainly wouldn’t bother replying to him Sue.
Maybe he lives on a desert island cut off from humanity where he has learnt everything he knows from non-humans.
I’m sure most of us just ignore any comments from him as they are sooooo tedious
I haven’t read his posts in months.
I saw his rating for today’s when scrolling past it. So, I’m guessing he had the usual hissy fit about religious clues, throwing his toys out of the pram.
I don’t get it, I really don’t. Other than appreciating their nature, and often beauty, I have no interest in the names of The Filthy Four Fs: Flora, Fauna, Feathers and Fish. So, when these bad boys appear in a crossy, it makes it a little bit harder for me which is a challenge I embrace. I make a mental note of them but have no desire to learn them like films or world capitals etc.
He needs to get past this issue and try to turn it into a positive.
It’s so predictable and is one of the reasons why I skim past his posts.
I’m.nonfan of religion so clues in that area are a mystery to me, but like you say, embrace the challenge and learn something new + no point ranting and thinking the world of crosswords should fit it with your preferred topics.
Over the years my knowledge of all things churchy has increased enormously – as have a few other subject areas I was completely ignorant about.
Like you say – turn it into a positive 👍
Leave Brian alone.
His posts make me laugh .
Have to agree he was rude to ignore your introduction, cryptiicsue, but live and let live.
I and others will leave him alone when he leaves the setters alone as we know he upsets them on a regular basis.
I assume those particular posts don’t make you laugh?
He’s clearly a lovely fella. So, I would happily read his posts again if he binned his relentless personal digs at the setters.
Brian’s comments make me laugh too, I usually scroll down to read his comments before I look at anything else
Hi P & OM
Do his pops at the setters that upset them make you laugh?
👍 His pops at the setters bug me. I’d like to see him set one in Rookie Corner so we can all have a pop at him.
I’m not surprised that neither of Ora and Pickster have replied as the answer is obviously ‘No’. *
What they meant was….Brian’s comments make me laugh other than his personal pops…..which is perfectly okay.
I just can’t give anyone the time of day who upsets these setters as we ‘’ain’t got Jack’’ without them.
His posts will of course be a topic of discussion next Saturday.
I wonder if Sue will be standing behind me, with the massive net she borrowed from the child catcher In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, ready to put me on the naughty chair.
* I appreciate they may have left the blog for the day.
Please chill out – I really can’t believe Brain’s comments upset anyone even when they are a bit OTT. I for one always read them with interest…
Some setters have been really upset by his comments. However, you are right. Best to leave it all alone.
Hi Omar
Silvanus said last year that his comments often upset him.
I agree Ora. If people are upset by his comments, they could choose to skip over them, as I do with those that go on and on…
Hi BL
He regularly upsets the setters and is a stress for Sue who has to very often redact him which is not fair on her (redacting people can’t be enjoyable). She is a true legend and the blog is lost without her. It’s not right that he constantly puts her in that awkward situation where she has to decide if he gets redacted or not.
You can clearly see in today’s blog that she is frustrated with him.
She may even throw in the towel one day and I wouldn’t blame her.
How do you know he upsets the setters? Surely they are like actors, and expect good and bad reviews.
Just the sort of silly comment I would have expected from Brian. See my expanded version in 22.
Thank you for the hints – much appreciated, as always. Brian obviously enjoys winding people up, so don’t let his comments get you down. He makes me laugh! An enjoyable crossword – I like the linked clues.
Thought our setter found a nice balance today with the linked clues not taking over the entire puzzle as they have sometimes done. Have to agree with RD about ‘getting’ in 6d, too much heavy lifting being required of the question mark, but everything else flowed quite smoothly. Rosettes handed out to 20&22a plus 1&18d.
Thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints, hopefully Brian will appreciate your efforts on his behalf!
This was good, gentle fun and, therefore, perfick for a Saturday.
I wonder if NYPD Blue is taking on board the suggestion of only doing one trademark sprawler per crossy? You never know, if he keeps it up, MustafaG may start to do them again.
Funnily enough, ‘The Sprawler’ was my FOI as there are only so many one letter words. I didn’t even have to write the letters in a circle to work out the anagram. I fancy myself at anagrams as does Day Zee Gee. Maybe we should have an ‘Anagram off’ next Saturday in The Wild West (of London).
She can be Marshal Kane and I can be Frank Miller….
To quote our Cilla, this puzzle had a lorra laughs, especially the ‘Oo matron!’ in 6d. He is definitely one of the wittiest setters.
My podium is 1d, 18d and 5d as it reminds me of the antics I got up to when working in The City. What goes on tour and all that caper….
Many thanks to NYDK and she of the crypt.
2*/4*
I can’t play the video because it thinks I’m a robot but High Noon was the only film, I believe, to be filmed in “real time”. Whenever the clock appears it is at the correct time until noon.
Great knowledge!
Think there have been others Steve. Hitchcock’s Rope, Lumet’s 12 Angry Men & Linklater’s Before Sunset spring to mind & probably more.
I bow to your greater knowledge, Hintsman. The technique is an interesting one and, despite having watched High Noon a number of times, I didn’t spot it until it was pointed out to me.
If I am going to be up against a youngster like you I shall expect my vast age to be taken into consideration!
That reminds me of the witty Ronald Reagan when asked about his age in the presidential campaign in 1984….
You just couldn’t imagine the Donald coming out with anything remotely as witty – absolutely brilliant
It’s very frustrating that YooToob thinks I’m a robot and won’t let me play it.
Google ‘Reagan Mondale 1984 age comment’, SC.
Ta!
I rather enjoyed that. As a believer with a fondness for poetry, there was plenty to make me smile.
Not that straightforward in parts, but great when they landed.
Another very good one from Mr Brook.
I really liked how 3A splits, and the long anagram just a couple of clues later flows very neatly (apologies for that pun), with a definition that doesn’t immediately jump out. The pairing at 5 & 6D is clever and funny, but I’m awarding the medal to 1D: what a great clue that is.
Thanks NYDK and Sue.
Just want to give a shout out for The Bailey Head in Oswestry after being named CAMRA’s best British pub. Full details on page three of today’s DT.
I rather enjoyed solving this fellow. Some thoroughly splendid glues, with the long one my favourite of the day.
I am secretly in love with Daisy, and I’m a little worried as she hasn’t appeared for a few days (now someone will say “but she was here yesterday, you buffoon!”, but if so, I missed her).
Off we go out now for a lovely walk, and perhaps some luncheon. It looks chilly out there but I shall be brave.
Thanks to NYDK and the ever reliable and excellent SuperSue. A shout out to Brian for bringing a smile when he posts.
He really is a “Lamb” but not a religious one
I miss Daisy too and hope she is OK.
In love with her it taking it a bit far for me…..fond….
Glad I am not alone re Brian
Ora – I don’t wish to start a fight but you should understand that some romantic souls can and do form meaningful relationships in many different ways. I think that what Terence and I share is a very precious and fragile thing, hard perhaps for others to understand given the difference in our ages and the miles which separate us. 😌
Sorry Daisy, I have not made myself clear….I meant that I was fond of you.
I appreciate your concern and, of course, I do harbour a secret affection for you despite the discrepancy in our OJ preferences. I’ve been out to lunch every blessed day this week and as I normally do the guzzle over lunch I have instead done it later and everything has got out of sync. I am still here at the moment 🥰
Pleased to hear it.
Thoroughly enjoyed todays puzzle. For the first time I struggled with the connected clue until all the checkers were in – the penny then finally dropped. Thought it was a cracker. Knew that certain people would object to the couple of “churchy” clues, but I don’t understand how or why as we cruciverbalists have to acquire all sorts of general knowledge outside our usual interests – for me it’s cricket!
Needed three separate sittings at this cracker of a puzzle. Persevered and got there in the end. Just the right level of difficulty for me although it seems others found it much easier going.
Cots 10a and the linked clues – which was my last to show itself
Many thanks to the setter and to CS
Thanks to the setter for a belter
Cracking SPP that I really enjoyed, loved the pub without beer and the slightly smutty 6d, even the rule (that is honoured more in the breach than the observance) leapt off my stylus without recourse to pen and paper.
Thanks to NYDK and CS
Have to say I found this one very hard…but satisfying to complete.
Thanks to the setter and to crytpicsue
Well, for me, another fun NYDK Saturday puzzle. Glad to see at least one multi-word clues. A good one at that it is too!
I was sure Brian would have something to say about 4d, 17d and possibly 21d as well, but again, they were all good clues cryptically speaking.
He really needs to understand what a cryptic crossword is all about
1.5*/5* for me
Favourites 14/16/19a, 22a, 1d, 6d & 18d with winner 14/16/19a
Laughed at 24a,1d & 6d !!
Thanks to NYDK & CS
(I do hope people realise that I am not always serious!). Having said that, I enjoyed this challenge – I did my circle of anagram fodder at 14a as is my wont ( I love that phrase) and realised there was only one A so had to revise my plan and voila! How clever these setters are. Homage, as someone on TV says. 24d is my only doubt but I shall still submit on the off chance of yet another pen. Many thanks to the Setter and Madam Seesue.
Such pleasant humour and excellent surfaces.
Many thanks to the setter for the enjoyment, and CS for the hints.
PS I like the religious clues! And I like the linked ones, when sensibly placed on the grid. I disliked a few in the past spread all over the place but appreciate that in general, as today, they do enable interesting answers of over 15 letters long. We’d be poorer without them.
I was totally flummoxed with 27a until I saw the first complaint above and then I got it. SE corner was my most difficult area. As usual didn’t like the multi clues and the single letter words in 14a etc had me puzzled for a long time. Favourite was 1d. Enjoyable puzzle.
A very pleasant prize puzzle for another gloomy day. As Senf says, the joined clues being adjacent made it easier to work out (eventually) and brought a smile. Thank you to the setter and the patient, and vigilant Sue.
Wow – I found this tough with GK required for several clues. Is 1d beer?
Also struggle with religious clues – all of my religious knowledge comes from crosswords – 4d I dredged up from the memory banks of this blog. Very pleased to have finished unaided.
4*/4*
Thanks to Sue and NYDK
I always reckoned 1d was really porter, but whether that’s a beer, who knows?
A speedy solve although I did need to check one of the poets; I am still scratching my head over the …s in 5 and 6 down.
Thanks to CS and today’s setter.
I thought this was superb, especially the 14a sprawler.
Thanks NYDK for the puzzle and CS for confirming a few.
I do smile at Brian’s comments and would say that a professional compiler should not get upset by them.
Not for me today, but as expected. Had to use hint for 4d as I could have looked at that all day and come up empty handed. Enjoyed in parts, but mostly not. Thanks to setter and CS.
Well, this compiler does take offence, not because I am hurt personally or professionally (I am not), but because no user of this Blog should flagrantly ignore the “rules” that BD wisely introduced. I’d encourage everyone to read them, digest them and, most importantly, observe them.
Quite why some seem to think rude, intemperate and ill-judged comments to be acceptable (just because it may make them smile) I find very odd indeed
This was meant as a reply to Cavedeli.
Well said, silvanus. 👍
Setters such as yourself spend a lot of time providing entertainment for us. You should all be thanked and lauded for it and I, along with many others, do so.
What happened to respect?
Just remember silvanus, 99.9% of us are in awe of the setters and thank you all for providing us with our daily fix.
People who cannot debate in a civilised manner are the bum-fluff of life. Flush and forget.
Thankyou so much for a brilliant crossword which I really liked – and even finished without CrypticSue’s delightful hints. And I love the linked clues…
Lovely puzzle. Despite immediately pegging the fodder I still left the linked one fella until last as it took an embarrassingly long time to sort out. It was probably my pick & appreciated that it was sequential in the grid. I especially liked 1,6&18d too.
Thanks to Donny & Sue.
All’s fair in love and Saturday prize cryptics, thoroughly enjoyed this testing challenge, even the multi word clues.
Favourites 15d, 18d and 22a and the quickie pun
Thanks to setter and Sue
Another lovely crossword thanks Setter and Sue. 1d and 11a made me smile.
An excellent puzzle. I always groan when I see the linked clues and I stared one at this for a good while , until all became clear. 27a was my last in and I didn’t get the parsing , until reading the comments. Thanks so much to the setter and CS for the hints and all other setters and hinters. I and so do most appreciate what you do for for us and I am sorry that sometimes comments are upsetting.
I found this very hard and only solved around half unaided. Thanks for the hints for the churchy clues. 4d is pretty obscure I would venture even for churchy people. I had seen the word in 17d before but no idea what it meant. For both of these they are lots of horned beasts and fish!
I needed more hints to get enough checkers to solve 14a et al. Really great clue!
With time I hope I get on the wavelength of this setter. Enjoyed what I could solve and can see how good the clues are, I just need to keep exercises the grey cells.
Thanks to all, particularly CS!
That was fun. Slightly more chewy than the average NYDK, but still fairly straightforward. I should have got the multi-word one a lot sooner, as it was, I was nearly 2/3rds complete before I got it.
Thanks CS and NYDK.
Finally completed, but not without help from the wonderful hints, as I found this one unusually tricky. Despite struggling I still enjoyed it very much and the multiword clues were my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
The problem with Brian is that he is an exemplar of so much that is wrong with society. We have lost the ability to debate/argue respectfully with each other. This is reinforced for me by what appears to be his disinterest in how people respond to his posts. I do not believe that there is a cure for him, but would respectfully request to whatever powers there may be above, that he be removed from discourse with the rest of the human race until he appreciates his role within it.
Regarding the puzzle, a real challenge and I really wanted to kick myself once I finally worked out the linked clues. That said, I thought it was very well constructed although more of a challenge for me than recent Saturdays.
Many thanks to CS and NYKD
Val was delighted to see the linked clue and it was the first one in without any checkers. We do this crossword because we enjoy a challenge and a brain workout. No subjects should be taboo, we live in the real world (at least some of us).
Thank you to the setter for an excellent puzzle and Sue for the well reasoned hints.
Our top clues are 14a,16a and 19a. Both liked 10a. The poet in Val is knowledgeable enough to remember the poet laureates.
Hello. Thanks Sue, and thanks all for comments.
Brian doesn’t annoy me. (Someone last week did annoy me, but I thought it best not to say anything, as most people had a more balanced view of the puzzle in question. And he said he was going elsewhere, even though we hadn’t seen him before, so good luck on your travels mate, or something like that.) If it helps him at all, I’m not a religious person, preferring as it happens some of the older belief systems to any of what we currently subscribe to, but including things such as, well the ones he probably doesn’t like, seems as natural to me as including anything really, especially when I’m looking for something that fits! And I like walking in the woods. Would people perhaps complain about Cernunnos being a bit obscure?
Cheers
NYDK
Thank you for your crossword, and the reply. I hadn’t heard of Cernunnos till your comment, but I certainly wouldn’t complain about his appearance — mainly because the subset of knowledge shared by every single solver would be so limiting that it would make crosswords much less fun. Sometimes a clue I’ve picked out as a favourites has also had comments from others saying they didn’t know the word; I wouldn’t want to lose those just to ensure there was never anything obscure to me.
And also because the whole point of cryptic crosswords is that we get two ways to discover the answer! So not having heard of an answer isn’t a complete barrier to solving it. Sometimes my favourite clue is even something I didn’t know.
Today I didn’t know the fish in 17d, but that is not a complaint! It took literally seconds to verify that the letters in question were indeed the name of a fish — and there’s the possibility that I might actually have learnt this and remember it for the future. There are loads of things I’ve learnt from first encountering them in crosswords — from existence of wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and asti to Puck’s other name. And it would be impossible to learn things if the answers were all things we knew in the first place!
This was my favourite Saturday puzzle in ages, with so many potential favourites, including the wonderful 5d with those City types hiding. Thank you to CrypticSue for explaining 11a, which is very clever.
I struggle to remember which way the vowels go in 12a (ironically), so I was glad the wordplay made that very clear. Cheers, all.
Hmm, I wonder if the ‘gentle run through’ correspondents are being totally honest. It took me 3 shots but I got there even though I considered giving up the names of the the tunnellers to the guards in exchange for a biscuit.
I’m commenting well after the event so it’s possible no one will read this. One of the reasons I often come to the blog late is because I’m a stubborn fool – qualities which mean it often takes me quite a while to complete a puzzle and I don’t allow myself to check the blog until I’ve either completed it or admitted defeat.
Anyway, I found this puzzle to be a challenge, but an enjoyable one. However, having returned to it many times over the weekend I have finally cracked it unaided and sent it off for my chance of the prize (you’ve got to be in it to win it). The two that held out right until the end were 11A and 8D.
I originally entered the word xxx as the second word of 26A (I hope I can say that as it’s not the correct word). The BRB tells me it is a stick and the overall phrase appears in some dictionaries, although not in the BRB I now realise. So I thought there might be an alternative valid solution there before I’d got the checkers. The actual solution was, of course, superior.
Thanks to NYDK for the approximately 36-hour mental workout and to CS for the hints.
Please do not include wrong answers – see the red instructions
Apologies
Don’t worry. We’ve all done it at one time or another. 😉
I know no one will read this but have to say how much I enjoyed doing this on a Monday morning with smashing linked clues , thank you NYSK as always and please keep them coming!
The blogger of the crossword will always read your comment as we get an email every time a comment is added to one of our posts, however long ago it might have been published
Oh that’s good to know as I often don’t finish the weekend crosswords until well into the week! However I do love the blog
Thank you I did not realise this CS!
I haven’t had chance to do the crossword for ages, but thought that a new year was a time to get back to it ! I love reading the comments…all the banter that goes on, it’s such fun ! It cheers me up. I’ve only commented once or twice, so this is an epistle ! I like thinking about all the thousands of us sitting there at the weekend, beavering away …talking of which…I have just one clue left ! 9d is bugging me….
9d is a double definition clue
Thank you !
4*/4* ….
liked 18D “Chap will sink putt in ghastly situation? (8)”