A Puzzle by Gazza
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
According to site stats this is my 200th blog. What better way to mark than with an excellent Gazza puzzle. Many thanks to him.
Across
1a Please clarify repeat visit (4,5)
COME AGAIN: Double/cryptic definition
6a In France nothing limits priest's age (5)
RIPEN: The French word for nothing “limiting” the abbreviation for Priest.
9a Coy old Queen's rural relatives on the radio (7)
ARCHERS: Coy/teasing plus our former Queen’s cipher and the possessive S
10a Slow down, I hear Cockney bloke's legged it (4,3)
EASE OFF: How a Cockney might pronounce “That man is going/has gone”
11a Opposed to translation of Bible's language (6)
AVERSE: An abbreviated Authorised Version of the Bible plus an archaic term for a Celt language
12a Shortage of wheels in South London? (8)
SCARCITY: Something of which “wheels” is an informal name sits inside the abbreviation for South and something of which London is an example
14a Rachel's insides hurt ... (4)
ACHE: Hidden (‘s)
15a ... worn out, in bed, poorly and fed up (7,3)
BROWNED OFF: WORN* (out) inserted into bed from the clue plus poorly/unwell
18a Focus of nightlife is where it's at! (4,6)
CITY CENTRE: The solution describes the location of the word “it”. Very smart
20a Observe formal address to old governor (4)
OBEY: The abbreviation for Old plus a governor in the Ottoman Empire
23a Nut clusters? (3,5)
FAN CLUBS: Cryptic definition, the nuts being enthusiasts
24a Linger apparently naked in shallow lake (6)
LAGOON: Linger/dally, plus three letters split 1,2 that could mean naked
26a Posh groom's left (7)
UNEATEN: The abbreviation for posh plus groom as a verb
27a Increase in benefits lifts mood (5,2)
PERKS UP: Benefits (of a job maybe) plus increase/boost
28a A sanctimonious leading player (5)
PIPER: The usual two-letter sanctimonious leads/goes before A/for each.
29a Harry and Meghan's symbolic card that needs interpretation (6,3)
HANGED MAN: AND MEGHAN* (Harry). Great spot. The solution refers to a Tarot card
Down
1d Carriage horse trapped in restricted opening (9)
CHARABANC: A type of horse “trapped”/contained within opening/opportunity without its last letter
2d US subject receiving award for stage production (7)
MACBETH: The subject here is a school subject. Place its American version around (receiving) an award often doled out to the most inappropriate of people (actors, appropriately for one)
3d Language is moderated to restrict bigotry ... (6)
AGEISM: Hidden (to restrict)
4d ... and initially annoys players in the capital (4)
ALSO: The initial letter of Annoys and some abbreviated London-based musicians. Of course the ellipses are simply used to provide a means of clueing the solution
5d Ocean World complex is source of satirical works (4,6)
NOEL COWARD: OCEAN WORLD* (complex)
6d Private enlisted once more (8)
RESERVED: Split the solution 2/6 to see the wordplay. Private is an adjective
7d In favour of plastic American zip for a rider (7)
PROVISO: The usual 3-letter in favour of plus some “plastic” in a financial sense with the A becoming the abbreviated American zip
8d Old waitress Tuppence giving way to very loud humming? (5)
NIFFY: An old informal name for a waitress with the two abbreviated Penny/pence becoming the abbreviation for very loud
13d Magistrates supporting cover-up in senior politician's seat (5,5)
FRONT BENCH: A term for magistrates supporting (below in a down clue) cover-up/smoke screen
16d Location before fire in worsening situation (6-3)
FRYING-PAN: Cryptic definition “out of the …. and into the fire”. I just can't resist
17d Criminal courts admitting record of bust manufacturer? (8)
SCULPTOR: COURTS* (Criminal) around one of the usual abbreviated records
19d Contract to analyse Neptune's late starting (5,2)
TENSE UP: Contract here is a verb. (N)EPTUNE’S* (to analyse)/late starting
21d Having contained deficit company moves north to prosper (7)
BLOSSOM: Company/gang reversed around deficit/shortfall
22d King's work not fully endorsed (6)
CARRIE: Nothing to do with royalty. Endorsed/passed minus last letter
23d Fellow's behind old-fashioned dresser (5)
FRUMP: Abbreviation for Fellow plus behind/backside
25d Time on campus regularly brought up (4)
SPAN: oN cAmPuS rev.
Thanks Gazza – This will be completed while sipping a glass of Courvoisier having spent a hectic Christmas with 5 grandchildren, I love them dearly but the silence is bliss now that they’ve gone home.
I was delighted as soon as I saw the setter’s name and I wasn’t disappointed as I thought this was one of his best ever puzzles.
It’s very difficult to pick a single favourite or even a podium choice from such an excellent selection but I’ll just mention several which really appealed to me: 12a, 18a, 23a, 24a, 29a, 8d, 16d & 22d.
Many thanks to Gazza.
Excellent and most enjoyable puzzle. I loved the old waitresses changing their tuppences. I used to frequent those eateries while training at Guy’s and was sad to see them go. My favourite was 16d.
Thank you, Gazza.
A lot of pleasure and a fair bit of head-scratching sums up my experience with this compilation from the cartoon ace. Finished up with eight that particularly appealed, nicely spread with four in each direction – 10,15,24&27a plus 5,16,17&23d. I thought 5d was an excellent spot but my favourite has to be 16d.
Many thanks, Gazza, so nice to see another puzzle from you.
We got into trouble in the SE. Had a wrong letter in 25d and then missed 29a. Ah well…. Plenty of head-scratching and a plethora of chuckles. All huge fun.
Thanks Gazza.
A slightly tough puzzle for me, particularly in the SE and SW corners. While I couldn’t parse four of the clues, I failed to understand the need for ‘Harry’ in 29a and ‘initially annoys’ in 4d. Still the puzzle was enjoyable and I liked 6a, 9a, 15a, 18a, 26a, 27a, 28a, 1d, 5d, 7d, 16d and 17d. I will wait for the review to enlighten myself. Thanks a lot to Gazza. Would love to see and solve another of his puzzle.
A bit chewy in places but enjoyable with several penny-drop moments. Last in was 22dn where the crossing letters and definition gave the answer but I took a while to see ‘King’ as the author. I liked 12ac once I realised I wasn’t looking for an area of south London.
Thanks, Gazza, and congrats to StephenL on yout blogging milestone.
Wonderful! I loved it.
The top half went in more quickly than the bottom half but great clues and smiles throughout.
My ticks were for 10a, 12a, 23a, 24a, 28a, 29a, 1d, 2d, 7d, 13d, 16d, 17d and 22d. I told you I’d enjoyed it!!
I did not know the tarot card at 29a, but once I had identified harry as the anagram indicator it couldn’t be anything else. My CoD.
LOI was 9a.
Great fun. Thank you Gazza. More of the same, please.
Many thanks to StephenL and congratulations on your 200th blog.
Many thanks to all who commented and especially to SL for the review (and congratulations on the double century).
Top notch. Ticks aplenty so hard to pick out a winner but 18a just gets home by a nose ahead of 22d for me.
Many thanks to Gazza & to Stephen for a couple of the whys
Many thanks for the review, Stephen. It’s always a pleasure to revisit a puzzle from Gazza and I certainly enjoyed this one.
I have been looking forward to this crossword since downloading it, but had put it aside until the family invasion departed on Monday morning! It was worth the wait, though, as anticipated when noting our setter’s name. Ticks en route went to 9a, 12a, 2d, 5d, 8d, 13d & 17d. There was a touch of deja vu in the construction of 18a – however, I’m sure I would have ticked it when first encountered. I even spotted the wordplay use of ‘A’ in 28a which often has me head-scratching for a while! I reserved the head-scratching this time for the SE corner, until a cascade of PDMs duly arrived for 21d, 22d and 24a. 29a still had me beaten, though, as I had entered SPAT into 25d (Time on A-P-S brought up) but then my definition of ‘brought up’ for SPAT had to be on double duty. I should have known better…
Many thanks to Gazza for a Christmas Cracker of a puzzle, and to StephenL for helping me out with those loose ends in my pesky SE corner!