Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31112
Hints and Tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***/****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday was shorts and tee shirts weather with a high temperature of plus 6 degrees, 33 degrees warmer than it was over the weekend!
Mainly for DG, I have read The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley and here is my considered opinion. In her Acknowledgements, the author wrote that it was hard to write because of its complicated structure; for me, the structure also made it hard to read. It was not written in chapters but as progressive ‘intertwined’ narratives from several of the characters. I thought about giving up several times but then I was past the middle of the book; in a way, past the point of no return. Early on, I considered that a Cast of Characters would have been useful but that would have spoilt a significant ‘reveal’ concerning five of them just over halfway through. Not that enjoyable but not the worst either. What was the considered opinion from your book club?
For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), a quite enjoyable puzzle with solving and blogging assisted by a 15 year old from the highest distillery in Scotland at Dalwhinnie. I have lost track of who set when on a Wednesday but I have an inkling that this might be the work of Twmbarlwm So, two of my Half Crowns are being retrieved from the back of my sock drawer. Thanks to him, or whomsoever if my Half Crowns go down the drain.
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 13a, 4d, 8d, and 19d.
In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the Click here! buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Which might offer exotic pose? Phew! (8)
PEEP SHOW: An anagram (exotic) of POSE? PHEW!
9a Lincoln Road regularly demeans city (8)
ABERDEEN: The abbreviated first name of the 16th President of the USA, the abbreviated form of road, and alternate letters (regularly) from demeans – I’ll let you decide if it’s odds or evens.
10a Concerning secret exposed (4)
OVER: A synonym of secret (as in concealed?) with the outer letters removed (exposed).
11a Fancy car magazine featuring Golf – a timeless classic (7,5)
AMAZING GRACE: An anagram (fancy) of CAR MAGAZINE containing the letter represented by Golf in the phonetic alphabet.
13a Terrible racket on board airline, time for a bit of playful chat (8)
BADINAGE: A term for terrible racket inserted into (on board) the abbreviation of the name of what was supposedly the world’s favourite airline and a synonym of time.
15a Bishop introduced to sharp German consort (6)
ALBERT: The chess notation for Bishop inserted into (introduced to) a synonym of sharp (as in wakeful).
16a Bottled spirit not carrying international basic code (4)
GENE: A fictitious(?) bottled spirit with supernatural powers with the single letter for International deleted (not carrying).
17a Debate Republican beset by fever (5)
ARGUE: The single letter for Republican contained (beset) by a type of fever.
18a Provided initial snapshots of fiscal year, somewhat dodgy (4)
IFFY: Our favourite two letter synonym of provided and the first letters (initial snapshots) of Fiscal and Year.
20a Back in Florida, Orlando’s blossoming (6)
ABLOOM: The last letter of (back in) FloridA and the surname of an English actor with the first name of Orlando.
21a How one might be heading into Lea St, Wardlow (8)
EASTWARD: A lurker (into) found in three words in the clue.
23a One looking for just the right amount of exposure at work (12)
PHOTOGRAPHER: A professional whose work might take place at weddings, major sports events, etc.
26a River Dee flowing over aquatic plant (4)
REED: The single letter for River and the reversal (flowing over) of Dee.
27a Oddly, she says headland is in painting (8)
SEASCAPE: The odd letters (oddly) of ShE sAYs and a synonym of headland (not the one commonly used North of the border).
28a Identify problem in dosage being dispensed (8)
DIAGNOSE: An anagram (being dispensed) of IN DOSAGE.
Down
2d Picture Céline finally playing in Vegas (8)
ENVISAGE: The last letter (finally) of CélinE and an anagram (playing) of IN VEGAS.
3d Work developing Plato’s ideas about introduction of Republic (8,4)
PARADISE LOST: An anagram (developing) of PLATO’S IDEAS containing (about) the first letter (introduction) of Republic gives an epic poem in blank verse written in the 17th Century.
4d Timeless Hampshire town a hotbed of revolution (6)
HAVANA: A Hampshire town in the SE corner of the county with the single letter for Time removed (timeless) followed by A from the clue.
5d Lots of dosh riding on the second at Aintree, where it’s very dry (4)
WADI: A slang term for lots of dosh (or cash) placed before (riding on) the second letter of Aintree.
6d Rum, lager, bed – capital! … (8)
BELGRADE: An anagram (rum) of LAGER, BED.
7d … after that, regularly sliced cheese (4)
FETA: Alternate letters (regularly sliced) of after that, once again, I’ll let you decide if it’s odds or evens.
8d Line dances failing at the first attempt (8)
ANCESTRY: Dances with the first letter removed (failing at the first) and a synonym of attempt.
12d Talk over conflict engineers new underground network (6,6)
RABBIT WARREN: A fairly recent repeat but with different cluing? An informal synonym of talk placed before (over) a synonym of conflict, the two letter abbreviation for (military) engineers, and the single letter for New.
14d Darwin’s ship robbed of British gold coin (5)
EAGLE: The name of Darwin’s ship with the single letter for British removed (robbed of) – and, yes, the gold coin is not British (or Canadian)!
16d Upright piano in coastal Indian state missing (8)
GOALPOST: The single letter for Piano inserted into (in) a three letter coastal Indian state and a synonym of missing.
17d Clear Magna Carta embodies strong spirit (8)
ARMAGNAC: A lurker (embodies) found in three words in the clue.
19d Father taking over castle towers permanently (3,5)
FOR KEEPS: The two letter abbreviation for a religious father containing (taking) the single letter for a crickety over and a single word for castle towers.
22d A hot area in Syria periodically evacuated – it’s a desert (6)
SAHARA: A from the clue and the single letters for Hot and Area inserted into (in) Syria with alternate letters removed (periodically evacuated) – once again, I’ll let you decide if it’s odds or evens.
24d Mike failing in ethical test (4)
ORAL: The letter represented by Mike in the phonetic alphabet removed from (failing in) a synonym of ethical.
25d Sailor exhausted, drained, having a lie-in (4)
ABED: The two letter abbreviation of a term for a sailor ExhausteD with the interior letters deleted (drained).
Quick Crossword Pun:
BUST + TURK + EATEN= BUSTER KEATON
It took quite some time to get into this puzzle and there were times when I thought this might be end up as a DNF. There were some very clever clues but I struggled to enjoy them. 3,5 and 8 down are my podium with ticks for 2d, 12d and 19d. LOI was 20a. Many thanks to the setter for the puzzle and Senf for the hints, which were not needed
Three in the SW took as long as the rest and I felt a right alias when they did dawn on me. Otherwise a light and breezy challenge for a Wednesday. My podium comprises 3d, 8d and 16d. Thanks to compiler and Senf.
We seem to have had a spate of double unches recently. Either that or I need to go to Specsavers. This took a bit of getting into and I tend to agree with Senf that this is Tumbledown Mountain’s work. Once it got going it was very enjoyable but I did have to look up 17d. I had the answer but not how to spell it. Not being a fan of the sport, I had to work out the upright from the checkers. Lots to like but I will opt for the underground network at 12d as my COTD.
Thank you, Twmbarlwm if it be you or to whomsoever if not. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
Beat by 15a, silly really as its very straightforward after seeing the hint, got transfixed on trying to think of a sharp German….
yes this one got me, too. couldn’t get away from sharp = acidic.
A gentle stroll, giving me time to enjoy some quite clever constructions along the way. 16a, 5 and 6d were my favourites with a mention for 3d.
Thanks to our midweek setter and Senf.
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), this was a grand guzzle to solve.
Here’s a strange thing… We still have the builders here, and my study is out of reach as they are using it as a store room. As a result, I am using a computer that I usually use for audio work, in a room that is soundproofed. My printer is also out of reach so for the last few weeks I have been completing the guzzles online, and (I cannot explain this) have found that I complete more guzzles successfully, and in much less time. I have even completed some Toughies, when I have the time. There doesn’t seem to be a clear reason for this other than my theory that whilst I was sleeping, an operation took place and my brain was replaced by that of a brighter person.
Thanks to the setter, and my sunbathing pal, The Man From Manitoba
This was a fun solve with a smorgasbord of geographical references that I always enjoy. ‘Lea St, Wardlow’ (not the much more populated Wardle) is so bonkers that this is probably the work of Mr Tumble (great fun).
10a is a tough clue as it’s playing with a tricky synonym and there was a fair amount of lurking and l_r_k_i_n_g.
My podium is 1a (I usually hyphenate it but it’s obviously okay), 6d and 8d
MT to Mr T (?) and Senf.
2*/4*
I’ll leave you with this…….Celine Dion had a farm, e i e i o (the vowels in her name).
Re geographical references, there’s a tiny village (I’d call it a hamlet by size) called Wardlow a few miles from me just off the A623 to Chesterfield. I wonder if the setter knows that? No Lea St there, mind.
I did wonder as it’s not the obvious choice.
Either way, it’s great fodder for a lurker.
Ahoy there Jose,
Yes, I spent a lot of time with my father in the Peak District when I were a lad and as I recall he had a certain fondness for a pub in Wardlow Mires (we’re talking about the thick end of 60 years ago mind..)
Best wishes to all, Rob/Hudson
Hi H. Yes, the Three Stags Head at Wardlow Mires is still going. But the pub in nearby Wardlow (on the B6465), where I visited often when a-courtin’ in the mid 70s, has been shut for many a year. I’ve forgotten what it was called.
I, too, found this guzzle hard to get into, and there are still a couple of clues in which 5 cant fully parse tbe answer. The geographical anagram at 6d and the geographical lego clue at 9a got me started and the geographical elements in 21a, 22d and 27a helped too. In fact, the work I studied for A level English at 3d was a grweat help too. It’s great when the GK fodder in the xlues plays to your strengths ans I don’t think I would have finished so quickly without this blessing. Thanks to rhe compiler for this made-for-me guzzle and thanks to Senf for the hints.
This was not an easy one to get going on but if you persisted it became immense fun. There were some very entertaining clues including several of the downs, eg12 and 16 and some clever anagrams eg 1a which was my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints.
Quite a tricky but enjoyable challenge. The SE heading north fell quite quickly then took a long time to open up the West. Lurkers aren’t generally my favourite type of clue but I am always in admiration when they are so well hidden that I biff the answer and initially think it must be an anagram. On that basis 17d is my COD. Thank you very much to setter and Senf.
An entertaining midweek puzzle – thanks to our setter and Senf.
Ticks from me for 13a, 16a, 8d and 16d.
A great midweek backpager. As I was solving it, I thought it was probably the work of Hudson
Really enjoyed this one. For a change, of late, a brisk grid fill with a pleasing absence of crumpet scratching. Plenty of ticks – 11,15&27a + 3,4&5d particular likes. I could listen to Aretha Franklin singing numbers from the phone book & her rendition of 11a in The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in LA is quite something.
Thanks to the setter (T my hunch too) & to Senf, whose review I’ll now read.
A bit of a mixed bag for me today, but overall it was reasonably enjoyable with 16s my favourite.
I’ve never heard of the gold coin in 14d but, knowing Darwin’s ship’s name, gave the game away.
Thanks to the setter and to Senf.
I am in the camp that found that trickier than usual, but there was certainly much to like once I got going. 13a has long been one of my favourite words (so much better than the now more common/overused “banter”) and 4d, 12d and 16d are also standouts in a strong field. Thanks very much to the setter and to Senf.
Thanks to the Setter and Senf.
We started off quickly before it became a steady solve. Some clever long lurkers, COTD 17d being one of them. LOI 10a. Tackled before lunchtime for a change!
I found this relatively gentle but got held up by a couple at the end. There were some excellent clues – 15a was my favourite. My last in was 16d – I’d not heard of the term it being football …arrgghh , and I got rather confused with the parsing , thinking the answer was an upright piano, starting GOA … now really Jenny ??? In the end a ‘reveal’ of one the letters got me over the line – feels like cheating , and of course I hit myself over the head when I realised. Ah well. Thanks to the setter and Senf.
Good fun.
Ticks for 8d and 16d.
Thank you mystery setter and Senf.
Given what I thought was the relative straightforwardness of this Wednesday puzzle, I believe the setter may be one of the regulars that shows up every 2-3 weeks.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 21a, 23a, 27a, 28a, 6d & 19d — with winner 19d
Smiles for 1a, 23a & 19d
Thanks to setter & Gazza
Thanks are due to Senf, not me. I’ll be back on Christmas Eve.
oops! … Senf I mean
Perfectly pitched for me: lots of answers on the first pass, then a few more, and the final few taking some working out, with lots of fun along the way. Plaudits to the setter, especially for the surface reading of Céline in Vegas in 2d; for getting ‘Magna Carter’ into 17d and Orlando, Florida into 20a; and for the bottled spirit in 16a.
Thank you to Senf for blogging, and to everybody else for commenting.
Found that a bit on the tricky side with my last two in being 20a, I have to confess ignorance of said actor so was a pure guess and 8d for which I needed the hints. So not quite a reference-free completion. COTD for me was 13a and 8d a close second.
Strange how one’s performance fluctuates, a couple of weeks ago I was going great guns but last week and this I have found more of a struggle. Although improvement only comes with practice.
Thank you to the setter and to Senf for the hints.
1.5* / 4* Similar level to the last two days and just as enjoyable. Favourites today are the lurker at 17d, excellent anagram at 11a and the Scottish city at 9a
Thanks to the setter and Senf
** / ****
Very enjoyable, possibly 1* rather than 2* for difficulty but I’ve been so interrupted today, it’s hard to judge. Most of the long anagrams needed checkers to avoid letter circles but revealed themselves nicely once those checkers were in. Ticks went to the 15a German bishop, the 8d line dances (lovely construction that) and the 16d Upright piano (ditto).
Thanks to the setter and Senf.
Computer has been throwing hissy fits all day so haven’t been able to access the blog. Now that I have, I was surprised to discover a contribution that would lead me to believe that this is a compilation from Hudson, not the name that came to mind.
Found it to be something of a curate’s egg but did manage to populate the podium with 18&28a plus 5d.
Thanks to Hudson, if it is indeed one of his, and to Senf for the review.
PS for Daisy – I got through ‘The Paris Apartment’ without getting lost but didn’t find a single likeable character amongst the assembly – the concierge was perhaps the one who came closest. Like Senf, I’d be interested to learn what your book club members thought of it.
Tricky today and was pleased to have finished unaided.
5d was a new word and I tried to parse Gobi as the answer until I solved the 1a anagram. 14d also tied me up in knots for a while.
3*/3*
Thanks to setter and Senf.
15 and 16a favourites today.
Best crossword of the week so far and pitched just right. Numerous contenders for favourite but I’ll go with 8d because it thew me for a bit but should have been obvious and wasn’t. Thanks to Hudson and Senf.
Late finishing after a slow start, but the first puzzle I have enjoyed this week – surprising as I don’t usually do with the Welsh Mountain man’s puzzles. Had to leave half way through as younger daughter had the day off work so we share some Christmas shopping time together, a real treat. Rest of puzzle made more sense when I got back. Found 1a odd as I believe that is 4,4 as answered in the hint and not 8 as shown in the clue? COTD to 15a, narrowly beating 19d. Thanks to the setter for not making me feel quite so thick, and to Senf for the helpful hints,
Thought I’d already posted but turns out I hadn’t, so this is coming 10 hours later.
I found this fairly straightforward with some lovely clueing. My favourite were 23a and 11a, the timeless classic, which gets my COTD
Thank you Hudson and Senf
1*/4*
3*/3* …
liked 16A “Bottled spirit not carrying international basic code (4)”