Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31298
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to be between yesterday’s and Monday’s in terms of difficulty, with a couple of words that were new to me, and one or two clues that took a while to parse. My favourites today were 13a, 17a, 7d and the brilliant reverse lurker in 16d. I also enjoyed the Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
Across Clues
1a Connery’s solitary roof tile (7)
SHINGLE: How Sir Sean Connery, with his distinctive burr, might have pronounced a word that can mean ‘solitary’ or ‘individual’.
5a Southerners spoiling his glen? (7)
ENGLISH: This word for the inhabitants of the nation ‘south of the border’ is an anagram (spoiling) of HIS GLEN.
9a Example of a large country: Germany, inter alia (7)
ALGERIA: The three-letter abbreviation for Germany is amongst (inter) ALIA from the clue.
10a Royal privileges knocking back first-class beer (7)
REGALIA: Take a term for first-rate or excellent, add a word for a type of light beer, and reverse the whole thing (knocking back).
11a Estate manager also in Los Angeles with refined chap (4,5)
LAND AGENT: A conjunction meaning ‘also’ or ‘with’ is placed inside the abbreviation for Los Angeles, and the result is followed by a shortened word for a man of high social standing.
12a Miserly drunk (5)
TIGHT: A double definition.
13a Discharge heads of Royal Household, except upstairs maid (5)
RHEUM: The initial letters (heads of) the last five words in the clue.
15a Keep keeper keeping Belgian lager in tin (9)
CASTELLAN: A brand of Belgian lager is placed inside another word for a tin. This word for the governor or keeper of a castle was a new one for me.
17a Island group people, Yankees, visas regularly cancelled (9)
POLYNESIA: The alternate letters (regularly cancelled) of the middle three words in the clue.
19a Fur bargain initially found during shop clearance (5)
SABLE: The first letter (initially) of ‘bargain’ inside a word for a store’s discount promotion period.
22a Body cavities captured by consultant radiologist (5)
ANTRA: Hidden in (captured by) the last two words in the clue. Another new word for me.
23a Dainty biscuit poet ordered with fruit (5,4)
PETIT FOUR: An anagram (ordered) of POET FRUIT. From the French for ‘small oven’.
25a Emblem displayed by Scot. Hist. lecturer (7)
THISTLE: Hidden in the last three words of the clue.
26a Baltic language titles flipping hard (7)
LETTISH: An anagram (flipping) of TITLES, and the abbreviation (on pencils for example) of ‘hard’.
27a Kind of language of the love affair? (7)
ROMANCE: A double definition.
28a Showed up and uncovered wrong ex-PM (7)
CAMERON: A word meaning ‘showed up’ or ‘arrived’, and the word [w]RON[g] without its outer letters (uncovered).
Down clues
1d Main supplier’s last item of office equipment (7)
STAPLER: A word meaning the main part (of a diet for example), and the final letter of ‘supplier’ (supplier’s last).
2d Inexperienced female, natural in moving to the top (7)
INGENUE: Take a word meaning ‘natural’ or ‘real’ and bring the letters IN to the front (moving to the top, in a down clue).
3d Irish rozzers in Italian lake (5)
GARDA: A double definition.
4d Chaotic scenes after Frau Braun disappears (9)
EVANESCES: An anagram (chaotic) of SCENES follows the first name of the companion and, briefly, wife of Hitler.
5d Rue setting free river bird (5)
EGRET: A synonym of ‘rue’ with the first occurrence of the abbreviation for ‘river’ removed (setting free river).
6d Ambitious people modelling togs with 5 Down (2-7)
GO-GETTERS: An anagram (modelling) of TOGS and the answer to 5d.
7d Sick young lady ingests drug that’s prohibited (7)
ILLEGAL: Insert the abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy into a synonym of ‘sick’ and an informal term for a girl.
8d Stimulate a section of the art environment (7)
HEARTEN: Hidden in the last three words of the clue.
14d Island cocktail (9)
MANHATTAN: A double definition.
16d Know-it-all loads parcel at Ramsgate the wrong way round (5,4)
SMART ALEC: Reversed and hidden in ‘parcel at Ramsgate’.
17d Gypsum column Italy exported (7)
PLASTER: An architectural term for a column, without the IVR letter for Italy (Italy exported).
18d Drunk, that chap, entertaining university element (7)
LITHIUM: An informal three-letter synonym of ‘drunk’, and a pronoun meaning ‘that chap’ into which the abbreviation for ‘university’ has been inserted (entertaining university).
20d More windy, miserable after getting stuck into German ale (7)
BLOWIER: A synonym of ‘miserable’ is placed inside (getting stuck into) the German word for beer.
21d Listener, 10 across “Hearts made of clay” (7)
EARTHEN: This has nothing to do with 10a! The body part for which ‘listener’ is a cryptic synonym is followed by the word that the number 10 represents, placed around (across) the abbreviation for Hearts in cards.
23d Part that is cold during exercise? (5)
PIECE: The abbreviations for ‘id est’ (that is) and ‘cold’, inside the abbreviation for ‘physical education’ (during exercise).
24d Carry minute symbol of devotion (5)
TOTEM: A synonym of ‘carry’ and the abbreviation for ‘minute’.
Which clues did you like best? Let us know in the comments below.
The Quick Crossword pun: POLE + TURK + ICED = POLTERGEIST
Took me a while to get into today’s puzzle but, as is often the case, the downs came to the rescue. They provided a fair smattering of checkers to allow an opening into the rest of the grid. I started with the wrong letter for the island group at 17a so ended up with an unpronounceable word. I then saw the correct starting point. Lots to like but my COTD is the keep keeper at 15a.
The Quickie pun gradually dawned on me and, when it did, I thought it great.
Thank you, setter for an enjoyable puzzle. Thank you, Les Heading for the hints.
Finally, thank you to everyone for your good wishes yesterday. A specialist colorectal nurse, called Bunty, rang me yesterday and told me she will be with me for the next five years, which is encouraging. 😀
Only just caught up with your news Steve. A ton of love to you. I hope you keep us updated, but totally understand if you wish to keep it a private matter.
Thank you, Terence. I don’t believe in keeping these things secret preferring, instead, to be open about it all. I’m really touched by the love I have received not only from this wonderful blog but from my friends, neighbours and work colleagues.
Hi Steve,
I missed all the chatter yesterday following your visit to Telford on Monday, so belated best wishes and tons of luck to you going forward.
Thank you, YS. Are you going on Saturday?
Thank you, YS. Are you going to the do on Saturday?
Yes I am. We are in Worcester this weekend so catching a train up to New Street is so much easier. Should be there around 12.15 I hope. Looking forward to putting faces to names.
I can’t make it on Saturday but if there’s ever a pint in a pub in Shropshire count me in.
That can be arranged, GP. There are a number of blog members in Shropshire.
Gosh, just catching up – and having now seen yesterday’s news, how good to read of such a positive attitude from your nurse! It’s absolutely amazing what can be done these days, as my mother (chemo) and mother-in-law (-ectomy & -ostomy) would both attest, having each now received the all-clear. Will be thinking of you.
Thank you, MG. 👍
Hi Steve. We have only just started doing the crossword after a break. Have just seen your health news. Best wishes from us too. Gary and Val
Thank you, both. 😊
Me too, just catching up with your diagnosis, Steve. Although I shall not be there on Saturday, I, too, stand in line to give you a big hug. Just love your posts and positive attitude. A true star.
Thank you, Jan. I’m saving up all these hugs. I am a lucky guy! 😊
I’m a bit late on parade too, Steve, but I sincerely wish you well.
Your positive attitude will stand you in good stead, I’m sure.
All the best, mate, keep your chin where it already is: pointing upwards!
Thank you, Frankie. The chin is well and truly up. 👍
I am so sorry Steve as I have only just read your news. I had a breast cancer diagnosis 12 years ago and it was advanced because it had been missed on the mammogram the year before. Addenbrookes in Cambridge took over and specialist care nurses were wonderful so it is good that you have already made that contact with your specialist carer. Your attitude is fantastic and like you I did not make any secret of it. Being with people who were amusing , distracting and just being normal was what I craved. Sending a hug and every good wish.Rosie.
Thank you, Dyslexics and you are so right. Sharing it helps and one of the real upsides is I’ve had hugs from about four lovely ladies since they found out and it does give a boost. 😊
I’m pleased to hear that you came through it and not making a secret of it could be our background at Guy’s?
I have only just seen the many messages you had yesterday and which continue today. I would like to send you my very best wishes for as speedy a recovery as is possible. So sorry you are having to go through all this. I’m thinking of you. Enjoy Saturday with the many friends you have on this blog. Keep talking to Hudson. I’m sure he understands. Debby
Thank you, Debonair and, yes, Hudson is by my side all the time and keeps putting his paw on my lap and staring at me with his big brown eyes. He knows. 😊
Can I also add my best wishes and may you keep your positive attitude as your treatment starts.
I will, Sheila, thank you so much.
Sorry to hear of your problems Steve and best wishes for what may be a long process in treating. I was checked for bowel cancer last year but fortunately clear of that. But my prostate cancer, treated with radiotherapy ten years ago, has resurfaced and spread. I am now on long term hormone therapy which hopefully will keep it under control but the drugs have the side effect of making me feel tired and the long long walks I used to do are no more. The hospital team have been very supportive and like you I do not believe in keeping these things to myself, I see no harm in letting people know. Again best wishes, you have my support.
Thank you, PD and I’m sorry to hear your prostrate has resurfaced and I wish you all my very best wishes for its future control. You are, obviously, of the same frame of mind as myself in that neither of us wish to hide it. I am so pleased I have let my family, friends and work colleagues know because I am surrounded now with their love and support. (To be honest it’s the hugs I get from the ladies that really cheers. 😊)
An enjoyable puzzle with two new words for me at 22a and 26a. I managed to dredge 15a up from my memory somehow.
I liked the Quickie pun.
Top picks for me were 15a, 5d, 18d and my favourite 21d.
Thanks to Deansleigh and the setter.
This proved to be a little more difficult than a typical Wednesday back pager for me, but solvable with a bit of help. Once cracked a re-read revealed some clever wordplays. I particularly liked Connery’s roof tile, the keep keeper and the dainty biscuit. It took a while to parse 21d as I spent ages wondering what ‘royal’ had to do with it until the penny dropped. I’ve also just realised that 1a and 5a are anagrams.
Many thanks to the setter and Deansleigh. 2.5*/5*
So are 9 and 10, 25 and 26, 27 and 28 across plus 1 and 17, 6 and 21 down
Welcome to the blog
We have a JennyM already and Jennynolongeratthegym, so you might want to add something to your name so that we don’t get too confused
What did you think of the crossword?
A very enjoyable Wednesday romp in crosswordland with one or two candidates perhaps for consideration by The List committee in 22a and 26a. How the compiler avoided a further Sean Connery type clue in Sean’s salad leaf, perhaps, for 26a I tip my hat to him or her. All jolly good fun with 17a cotd. Thanks to compiler and Deansleigh.
I had the same thoughts about 26a. Connery’s Iceberg !
There were a few head scratchers amongst today’s offering which added to the challenge.
Three clues made me stop for a ponder, two of which made me smile because they contained anagrams and so I knew I had all of the letters, all I had to do was get them in the right order. Even with the checkers in place that’s not always straight forward.
22a is not a word I’m familiar with but being captured helped, 4d was another example of ‘I know what it is, but can I spell it’ and then we came to 26a which is not a language I’ve come across in my Baltic travels. Well constructed clues and the checkers at least gave me something to look up.
Congratulations to our setter for having the imagination to create 17a
COTD – 21d – a quite brilliant piece of misdirection.
Many thanks to today’s setter and Deansleigh for the hints
A quirky little number. Took me a while to get into it until I spotted the lurker theme. 7 I think! Thank you Deansleigh for explaining 27a which whilst obvious I couldn’t parse. 26a was a new one for me. 1a my COTD. Thank you our setter.
A lovely friendly Wednesday cryptic – especially when you consider that I was solving it in a waiting room, while waiting for eye drops to take effect!
My favourite was 21a as I liked the sneaky use of 10 across
Thanks very much to setter and Deansleigh
As Prawn wrote, above, a very enjoyable romp: what a cracker of a mid-week puzzle! The multi-word letter deletion in 17a was impressive, but the honours went to 9a, 17d & COTD 21d – a superb red herring using 10 across in that manner, as well as the punctuation.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh
I flew through this one til I got to 21d, which completely stumped me. Even though the obvious answer from the checkers was a perfect fit for half the clue I simply failed to parse it. Indeed it was not until I read Deansleigh’s hints above that I finally realised how totally I had been misdirected.
Now I see why it was COTD for so many!
My thanks to the setter and for the necessary help from Deansleigh…
It was the same for me – it had to be what it was but I had no idea why. Ingenious when you know!
Enjoyed the rest of the crossword and amused myself with finding two consecutive clues whose answers were anagrams of each other.
Thanks to setter and Deansleigh
Don’t feel so clever now – many more anagrams to spot within the answers. Excellent!
Ah, thanks Lorraine! I had spotted a few as I was solving but have looked back and I can’t believe how many anagram pairs have been crammed into the one grid… top stuff.
Thoroughly enjoyable and very nicely clued throughout. This was at the gentler end of the spectrum but still a very pleasant solve with some great surfaces. 21d is already showing signs of being a firm favourite for many solvers, as it was for me.
My thanks to both our midweek setter and Deansleigh.
This is a full marks jobbie as there was lots of fun to be had but I can’t find any ‘tells’ to decide which one of Mr Thud it is.
1a immediately put a schmile on my face and I love Prawn’s comment about 26a (a mished opportunity, perhaps).
It’s not often that I highlight an acrostic but 12a was excellent. ‘Keep keeper keeping’ was brilliant though I didn’t know the term. I’ve also never heard of the body cavities nor the column.
I was extremely happy to see rozzers in a clue (possibly its maiden voyage?) as it’s such a great word that, surprisingly, is almost 150 years old.
There are three theories:
1) the Cockney rhyming slang ”Robert’s lobsters” (Peel and red uniform)
2) a variation of the aforementioned Robert
3) ruzalo, the Romany for strong
I hope it’s the first one as we love a bit of slang.
I never knew that the second word of 23a, meaning oven, was French. I assumed it was English.
The use of 10 across in 21d is superb as are the l_u_r_k_e_r and rekrul in 17a and 16d.
My picks are 10a, 2d (clever in more ways than one) and 16d.
Many thanks to one of Mr Thud and Adele Singh.
2*/5*
Oh gosh. I didn’t notice the brilliant anagram connection for 12 clues (thank you CD and RD). How cool. I’d be impressed if a solver has done more than 12 in a pattern.
This crossword somehow got better!
My money is now on Mr T as he loves this sort of thing.
Yes, thanks guys, I hadn’t spotted that, superb.
Another torn betting slip lying amid the debris on Ladbroke’s floor alas
Aha!
What a brilliant crossword. I assume you enjoyed putting the 12 anagram clues together or was it hard work?
I haven’t seen it before so more power to you.
10 across is very clever.
Keep ‘em coming, Mr T!
Grrrrr….
Why didn’t ‘Rozzers and Robbers’ catch on, by the way? It’s superb!
Back after Italy holiday with dear Kiwi and Aussie friends, and a bumper 50th birthday party three-dayer in Worthing – last day of leave today. Wonderful times indeed.
I’ve caught up on Mon and Tues puzzles this morning and today’s puzzle was on a par except for a foursome that took me an age! 2D, 9A, 15A and 3D.
Pody picks – 15A’s keep keeper as a fun definition and being a new word to me, and the nice pairing of 8D and 21D, including the latter’s 10 across trickery.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh ⭐️
What a superb few weeks you’ve had, Wriggles!
You can regale me with some stories if you and SC are still up for a couple on the south coast in September.
Yes Tom and thank you, it’s truly been magnificent. I can’t find your number, pretty sure we exchanged during the Jan meetup?! Please message me sometime 👍🏻
Wilco
If anyone else wants to join us then let me know. I think we’re going to meet in Brighton.
I’ve got a solution go-live in the North in September but depending on exact date and location, I’d love to join if possible.
I don’t recall swapping contact details back in January – I’d be happy for the village elders to share my email address with you.
Nice one, A-Pop.
The reason for the meet-up darn sarf is Wriggles and I live on the coast and Steve Cowling mentioned that he was going to be there in September.
I’m going to a book launch and meeting friends for lunch but I’m sure I can find time for you guys. When I suggested the meet up, I hadn’t been invited to lunch at the time.
Welcome back, Simon and I’m pleased to hear you had a great time.
PS I love the extended edit time. 😊
Thanks SC
Sue, Gazza or one of the other legends, do you mind giving Steve my email?
Sent
Did I ask for it? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi Gazza
Would you be so kind as to send my email to TDS65 please?
I sent it earlier when you first asked.
Thank you G
Thank you Steve 🙂
What’s the extended edit time? If I did anything special I didn’t mean to!
No, it’s not your good self, Simon. We now have about ten minutes to edit our posts and it is a lot easier because it updates there and then. No reloading of the page needed. I think it’s a great update.
3*/3*. Although I enjoyed this, I thought the device of of having pairs of anagrams in the same rows and columns was a little strange when there were four rows treated in that way and only two columns, which led me to spend too long trying to solve 18d & 20d by creating anagrams from 2d & 7d.
Thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh.
I think I noticed subliminally.
I’ll claim that also 😊
For this week’s offerings, today is closer to Monday than yesterday although there were a few groans accompanying the PDMs – 1.5*/4.5*
Like Croye Dave I did notice the anagrammatic connection between 1a and 5a although I missed the others only noticing them after reading RD’s comment.
It was interesting to get a reminder that 14d is an island. First thoughts conjured up by the clue were Caribbean or South Pacific.
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 11a, 15a, 17a, 2d, and the aforesaid 14d – and the winner is 15a.
Thanks to whomsoever and Deansleigh.
This is definitely a step up in difficulty as we reach the middle of week. Thanks to our setter and Deansleigh.
I totally missed all the paired anagrams until I read RD’s comment – that’s very clever,
I liked 15a, 2d and 5d with my favourite being the outstanding 21d.
Lovely crossword. THanks to all concerned .
** / ****
Extremely good fare today! Took a little longer than yesterday and got an extra * for the parsings in the NW. Ticks and double ticks aplenty so the final podium was the 2d inexperienced female, the 9am ‘large’ country and Mr. Connery’s ‘shtint’ at 1a.
Thanks to the setter and She Aligned
Really enjoyable puzzle today , maybe a slight step up from the last two.4d was a new word for me , although I was a fan of the group Evanescence back in the day , guess I didn’t really know what it meant and never bothered to find out. 22a was also a new word and also 15a. My last one in was 1a , I was a bit slow with the Connery reference , but with all the checkers it was obvious and I did laugh out loud. Oh and I didn’t get the parsing of 21d , which having checked is brilliant ! Thanks to the setter and Deansleigh.
Majority was plain sailing with a few hold outs. Thanks to setter.
America, what a lovely US band they were today 🎸
Not my favourite puzzle of the week, that is for certain. Some weird clueing for my liking within the grid. A few stand-outs were also found as I made my way through this.
3*/3*
Favourites 1a, 23a, 28a, 7d, 16d & 18d — with winner 1a
Thanks to setter and Deansleigh
Some new words for me and the 10 across clue threw me for a wile, thank you compiler and Deansleigh ( your difficulty ratings seem to be a bit lower than mine)
2.5* / 4* Lots of clever clueing and excellent misdirection eg 21d, a definite step up from Mon + Tues.
Top clues for me include the 17a island group, the lurking know it all at 16d and the devious 21d
Thanks to compiler and to Deansleigh for explaining a few parsings I just couldn’t see
I’ve just started to do the DT Cryptic each day (through the app) as I enjoyed the new ‘mini-cryptic.’
I have been using this site to learn how to approach the clues as the hints and breakdowns you give are really helpful (and I still get a sense of accomplishment if I can get it without revealing the answer!)
Today I managed to get nearly all of the answers (except 13a, 22a and 28a) without looking at this page. So I just wanted to say thanks for putting this out every day. I’m sure today was just luck (as they say “It’s easy if you know it”) and I’ll be back needing all of the hints tomorrow!
Welcome to the blog
Welcome & well done. I started reading this blog about 18 months ago and found the hints, and the posts, really helpful. It’s amazing how quickly you can pick up the DT Crossword language…if you ever get stuck just ask because there will be someone on hand to help.
Welcome from me, as well, Purpehkk and congratulations on completing the majority of today’s puzzle. Please keep commenting and, as Graham says, any questions just ask because there will always be a helpful answer. If not – ask again! 😊
Welcome Purplehkk, keep contributing.
Couple of words in the puzzle today that are new to us 15a, 22a and 26a. Otherwise a swift solve. Our COTD 1a and LOI 26a.
What a brilliant puzzle. I didn’t see the paired anagrams until mentioned how clever.
Some new words 22a, 26a, and 15a but easily gettable from the clues.
My clue of the day is inter alia 9a
Thanks all
I found this an absolute breeze today. Less than 17 minutes on the app timer and I think I only had three sips of tea! And yet yesterday had me for over an hour.
I did like 14D and was so tempted to put a different word for the second in 16D! 😄
Good afternoon
This is especially for Steve Cowling!
Incidentally, I don’t know what I’ll do when it eventually runs dry – I don’t think Parker make refills in green ink any more. 😢
Parker may not, ShangaJi, but others certainly do! These should be compatible with your pen… (I’ve added spaces to each link because otherwise they would not show, for some reason)
ht tps://www.amazon.co.uk/Monteverde-Medium-Ballpoint-Refill-Parker/dp/B002IKK5DC
ht tps://www.amazon.co.uk/Compatible-Medium-Ballpoint-Refill-Parker/dp/B00FA43EPY
Thank you Mustafa 😊
The Lucky Green Pen! It exists unlike The Mythical.
I am bringing ONE of my mythical with me on Saturday and may even let you hold it !
Oh you know how to tease a guy, DG! 😊
Good afternoon
I haven’t been anywhere near a crozzie since Friday, what with one thing and another, so it was good to get stuck into today’s on the way in to work.
Nothing to tricky this afty, although I did have to look up 26a; I figured it out but I wasn’t familiar with the term.
16d and 21d take joint honours for COTD.
Many thanks to our setter and to Deansleigh.
Have just got back from Ardingly Antiques Fair but got the puzzle done before leaving. I thought it a real challenge with 2 completely new words, the castle keeper and the language. It is always good when the first answer in brings a smile so I nominate 1 across. I did finish unaided apart from checking the 2 new words but it was a challenge to what I thought would be at the level of 3 *. Many thanks all round
Any bargains at Ardingly? It’s the one fair I didn’t manage to get to when I was a dealer.
Enjoyable but quite tricky in places ***/*** but it is midweek 🤔 Not Thursday today as the Wood Pigeons keep telling us 😬 Thanks to Deansleigh for his much needed help and of course to the very clever compiler
What a delicious guzzle. I confidently put Latvian at. 26a which held me back a bit on 21d although I knew it had to be earthy. The mirrored anagrams were very clever, these guzzles just get better and better. It was Church Ladies Lunch today and sitting next to a friend who always does the DTXword but is in no way technical so cannot use this site was asking me about the King’s Cross clue on Sunday. She just could not grasp it yet George had seen it straight away. She thinks our guzzles are changing in character. I wonder, I think we are all growing with it. What time do I need to be at the venue on Saturday? And I DO hope there are going to be some other ladies present? Many thanks to our extraordinarily wily Setter and to DL for his detective work. I redeemed myself in Wordle this morning with a 3 but still smarting at losing my streak yesterday over Shill!
I got “Shill” by pure fluke on the last go but I fell today because I didn’t think the word was used in the USA so I didn’t enter it. I thought they always used “Truck” or “Rig”.
I think this was pitched about right for a Wednesday. Didn’t know the body cavities or the disappeared but both fairly clued. I enjoyed this and thought 17a was brilliant so cotd for me. Thanks to the setter and DL.
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, Steve, but I admire your stoicism. I will light a candle for you at Mass this weekend and add you to my prayer list.
Today’s crossword was fun having solved most of it before my exercise class. I finished the top left corner on my return.
I enjoy the blog spot and am beginning to get to know some of you. I don’t contribute very often since I am still the new girl on the blog…..pardon the pun.
A further comment to yesterday’s 22a Bassett minus the b, the renowned allsorts were known as English confection, in Sweden,. I’ve no idea why as, there were other British ‘godis’ available. Goodnight and Sweet dreams!
That is so thoughtful of you, Linda and I am grateful for your prayers. Thank you so much.
I loved your pun! Please keep commenting. 👍😊
A great puzzle which I thoroughly enjoyed completing with 21d being my favourites like many others.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh
Early solve/very late post. A tad trickier than the previous couple of days but still on the gentle side. 17a my pick of the clues.
Thanks to the setter & to Deansleigh
Note that the solutions to 1a and 5a are anagrams of each other. So are those to 9a and 10a, and to 25a and 26a, and to 27a and 28a. There’s probably a name for this! Only noticed the pattern when typing it into the website later, but would have helped with the unusual 26a.
Changing from Michael to Mike sent you into moderation
If you read the other comments, the anagram connections have been pointed out by several other commenters
What did you think of the crossword as a whole?
I moved house this week so only just got round to this.
A dnf due to 21d, 23a and 26a.
Never heard of the biscuit version of 23a. Nor the alternative name for Latvian (which annoyingly for me also fits). 21d is the sort of clue that I would not solve given 1000 years. Baffled this was deemed a * for difficulty.
There were other new words to me that I was able to get with the checkers in place.
Thanks to all.