DT Vintage 26

Daily Telegraph Vintage No 26
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **/***  Enjoyment ****

This may well be my last blog in the vintage crossword series, as we edge closer to the puzzles for which a BD blog already exists.  Thanks to Gazza once again for giving me the opportunity. I’ve certainly enjoyed the experience, and it has made me appreciate the expertise and dedication of our regular bloggers.  Today we have a festive puzzle from the prolific setter Roger Squires.

Across

1a Christmas package is in the right place for sorting (6)

PARCEL: An anagram (for sorting) of ‘place’ and ‘R’.

4a Present comes from French leader in foreign parts (8)

OFFERING: An anagram (parts) of ‘foreign’ and ‘F’ (French leader).

9a Producing endless fruit for Christmas cakes (6)

RAISIN: A word that can mean ‘producing’, with its last letter missing (endless), becomes a dried fruit.

10a Fifty in carol involving Christmas bells, perhaps (8)

CARILLON: An anagram (involving) of ‘in carol’ and the Roman numeral for ‘fifty’.

12a It weakens the spirit when party’s held back (4)

SODA: Insert the usual two-letter word for a party into a synonym for ‘when’, then reverse the result to produce a drinks mixer.

13a Prepares gifts and cards (5)

PACKS: A double definition. The cards here are playing cards.

14a Bet it’s neat rum! (4)

ANTE: An anagram (rum) of ‘neat’.

17a Opening words of a favourite carol from her list of ten (3,5,4)

THE FIRST NOEL: An anagram of ‘her list of ten’.

20a Members of the services at Christmas (12)

CONGREGATION: A cryptic definition, of those attending a carol service for example.

23a The bird is full of thiamine (4)

IBIS: Take ‘is’ from the clue, and insert two letters to represent thiamine, the first vitamin in the B group.

24a Number of fingers (5)

FROST: A cryptic definition: something that numbs your fingers on a cold day.

25a What about the end of a white Christmas? (4)

THAW: An anagram (about) of ‘what’.

28a Like a gaudily wrapped present? Small child hides disappointment (8)

TINSELLY: The adjective describing a diminutive character in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is wrapped around (hides) a word that can informally mean a deception or disappointment.

29a It may be worn for the party (6)

FAVOUR: A cryptic definition of the rosette worn by a politician on polling day.

30a Swapping presents – the impudence! (8)

PERTNESS: An anagram (swapping) of ‘presents’.

31a Vera is seen out at university party (4,2)

RAVE UP: An anagram (out) of ‘Vera’, and the usual two-letter word for ‘at university’.

Down

1d Mistletoe, for example, needs trim as it comes in (8)

PARASITE: Insert ‘as it’ (as it comes in) into a word meaning to cut or prune to arrive at a word that can mean a plant that attaches itself to its host tree.

2d Christmas present drawer (8)

REINDEER: A cryptic definition of a Yuletide sleigh-puller.

3d Frosty return for the Arab prince (4)

EMIR: A type of frost written backwards (return).

5d Urge to open an original Christmas gift (12)

FRANKINCENSE: A seven-letter word meaning to urge or incite is appended to a synonym for open or honest.  It took some head-scratching to parse this one.

6d Mince pie, cold, is impressive (4)

EPIC: An anagram (mince) of ‘pie’ followed by C.

7d A geographical description of Christmas (6)

ISLAND: A geographical feature such as the one in the Indian Ocean that was discovered on Christmas Day 1643.

8d Look for a goose (6)

GANDER: A double definition.

11d Party refreshments provided by wise man going round America with a car (7,5)

SAUSAGE ROLLS: A synonym of ‘wise man’ is wrapped round the three-letter abbreviation for the United States and followed by a brand of luxury car.

15d He plays a simple part in pantomime (5)

SIMON: A cryptic definition of a pie-loving simpleton.

16d Kind of ribbon used for decorations (5)

MEDAL: Another cryptic definition.  ‘Decorations’ here are awards or honours, for example those given to military personnel.

18d Part of the turkey pulled apart, with luck (8)

WISHBONE: Yet another cryptic definition.

19d A blooming avalanche in winter (8)

SNOWDROP: The name of a winter flower could also be read as a definition of ‘avalanche’.

21d Suggest a present for a child? Excellent! (3-3)

TIP-TOP: A synonym for ‘hint’ is followed by a child’s toy.

22d Christmas meal inside the German hostelry (6)

DINNER: Insert a three-letter word for a tavern into the German masculine definite article.

26d He turns up for Christmas (4)

LEON: This boy’s name, when reversed (turns up), is another word for Christmas.

27d Nuts – crack almonds to start with (4)

GAGA: A word meaning ‘joke’ is followed by the first letter (to start with) of ‘almonds’.

It felt strange to be solving a Christmas crossword on a summer’s day.  There were lots of cryptic definitions, and one or two stretched synonyms, but on the whole I found it an enjoyable solve, with some very smooth surface readings.  My favourites were the misdirections in 2a, 20a and 16d.  Which clues did you like best?