Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31302
Hints and tips by Smylers
Hello. It was lovely to meet some of you in Birmingham on Saturday. Thank you to everybody who came, and especially those who bought me drinks that I didn’t manage to reciprocate. And commiserations to those who’d hoped to be there but couldn’t make it.
Here’s a character I found lazing around at New Street station, presumably tired out from celebrating their 75th birthday. Please see my album of photos from the day for who else was there.
Hints and explanations for clues in today’s Telegraph Crossword are below. Comments are welcome below, especially from those who have read Big Dave’s etiquette guide — do say how you found the crossword, ask about any clues that still aren’t clear, or complain about my music choices.
Across
1a Playing a lush wartime song (1,2,3,6)
I AM THE WALRUS: Play with the letters of ‘a lush wartime’ until they spell out the name of a pop song.
9a Walker regularly thrives by river, covering kilometres (5)
HIKER: Take some letters from ‘thrives’ at regular intervals and append the map abbreviation for ‘River’. Make that combination cover an unofficial abbreviation of ‘kilometres’ (often encountered in running races).
10a Canal he repaired after a very heavy fall (9)
AVALANCHE: After the ‘a’ from the clue and the abbreviation for ‘very’, repair ‘Canal he’ by placing their letters in a different order.
And here’s a lovely Thea Gilmore song that I’m linking to rather than embedding, because its title gives away the answer.
11a Negotiation to purchase cold tablets, perhaps (10)
MEDICATION: This is the reverse mechanism of a clue from April. In this case the letter used to indicate a cold tap is purchased by a word meaning ‘Negotiation’ to form the answers (rather than being removed from today’s answer to form the negotiation).
12a Characters in studio videoing poet (4)
OVID: The answer is lurking in consecutive characters in ’studio videoing’.
13a Delicious part of rugby game, gosh! (7)
SCRUMMY: Something that is part of the game of rugby is followed by an exclamation that somebody may say with the same meaning as ‘gosh’.
15a With power divided, occasionally feel Los Angeles communist must make a comeback (7)
FEDERAL: Start with letters taken occasionally from ‘feel’; there’s two options, so pick based on either what follows or wait till you have a crossing letter from a down clue. Then concatenate the abbreviation for ‘Los Angeles’ and an informal term for a communist, and have the result make a comeback by entering it backwards in the grid.
17a Closely examine e.g. beetle seen around piano (7)
INSPECT: What a beetle is an example of is placed around the abbreviation of ‘piano’ in musical notation.
19a Suspend setter, perhaps looking guilty (7)
HANGDOG: Follow a verb meaning ‘suspend’ (in space, rather than time) with something that could perhaps be a setter.
21a Loud declaration at a wedding – pet name? (4)
FIDO: Follow the letter instructing a musician to be loud with a well-known phrase that the couple each supposedly say during a wedding ceremony. It isn’t the phrase we said in our Church of England service, and I don’t think I’ve heard it at any of the weddings I’ve been to. Do comment if you said it at yours.
22a Tense row after select English strikers don’t want you to cross this (6,4)
PICKET LINE: Place both of the single-letter abbreviation for ‘tense’ and a word that can mean ‘row’ (with a different pronunciation to that in this clue’s surface reading) after a synonym for ‘pick’ and the single-letter abbreviation for ‘English’.
25a Element of games Anne adapted (9)
MANGANESE: Adapt the letters of ‘games Anne’ to spell out a chemical element. Take care to actually use the letters provided, rather than entering a better-known element which has many, but not all, of the same letters.
26a Caught boxer beginning to lurch, turning purplish (5)
LILAC: Concatenate the cricket abbreviation for ‘caught’, the surname of a famous boxer (an actual boxer in this case, not a dog), and the beginning letter of ‘lurch’, then turn the whole thing to face the other way.
27a Showy statue – it soon gets destroyed (12)
OSTENTATIOUS: Destroy ‘statue — it soon gets’, then reassemble the letters in a different order. (You can just leave the dash lying on the floor, like a left over component when building flat-pack furniture.)
Down
1d Annoyed, somewhat shirk education (5)
IRKED: Find the answer lurking in somewhat of the remaining words in the clue.
2d A greater number turned up, touring British seaside town (9)
MORECAMBE: Here we need synonyms for ‘a greater number’ and ‘turned up’, then to make the latter (or the entire phrase; your choice) tour around the outside of the single-letter abbreviation for ‘British’.
3d Well, that man on vacation hastily grabs key (7)
HEALTHY: Start with a pronoun meaning ‘that man’. End with ‘hastily’ on vacation — that is, after it has been vacated of all its inner letters. Between those place a usual key.
4d Stop working with listener from France (4,3)
WEAR OFF: The definition here is stopping working in the sense of some medication. Enter in order: the abbreviation for ‘with’; something that does listening; another preposition similar to ‘from’; and the letter that indicates France, for example when stuck on the back of a car.
5d King in play – that’s obvious, but not initially (4)
LEAR: This is a word meaning ‘obvious’ but without its initial letter.
6d Found out a Parisian company sits on extremely valuable wine (9)
UNCOVERED: Make both of ‘a’ translated into the language a Parisian would use and the abbreviation for ‘company’ sit on top of the extreme letters of ‘valuable’ and a general type of wine.
7d Primates in church, troublemakers (6)
CHIMPS: Follow one of the usual abbreviations for a church with some devilish troublemakers.
8d Founder of genetics and soldiers from the south were in front (6)
MENDEL: We start with a usual, but sexist, term for ‘soldiers’. After that a verb meaning ‘were in front’ is entered from the south, so it reads up the grid. Though if you’re solving this in New Zealand you might need to enter it from the north instead?
14d Feels bitter about ID for long-term inhabitants (9)
RESIDENTS: A verb meaning ‘feels bitter about’ (something or someone) is placed about the ‘ID’ from the clue.
16d Give two lines on old sculptor (9)
DONATELLO: Start with a word meaning ‘give’ (to charity, perhaps). Then we need two of the abbreviation for ‘line’. Place all that on the abbreviation for ‘old’.
17d At home, family shuns one student for notoriety (6)
INFAMY: Begin with the usual word meaning ‘at home’. After that place ‘family’ from the clue, but shunning both the Roman numeral for ‘one’ and the letter that indicates a student or learner, especially of driving.
18d Weapon I had in river (7)
TRIDENT: Contract ‘I had’ and insert it in the name of a river — a well-known river, but not one of the top few that make frequent appearances in crosswords.
19d America’s corniest presenter welcomes king and Idris Elba to start with (7)
HOKIEST: A word for a presenter welcomes inside it one of the abbreviations for ‘King’ and the starting letters of ‘Idris’ and ‘Elba’. The definition is the superlative of an informal American word which can mean ‘corny’.
20d Country musical on the radio (6)
GREECE: If the name of a particular musical were mentioned on the radio, it would sound like the answer.
23d Wastes time heading away from creeps (5)
IDLES: We need a word meaning ‘creeps’, in the sense of walking in a furtive or timid manner, then to remove its heading letter.
24d Rubbish English gallery (4)
TATE: A word meaning ‘rubbish’ is followed by the single-letter abbreviation for ‘English’.
Quickie Pun
In today’s quick crossword the first two answers are italicized, indicating that when spoken together they sound like another word, a phrase, or a name; check your answers here:
CHOUX + BACKER = CHEWBACCA
Recent Reading
Like Janice Hallett’s other books, this one eschews anything so conventional as a third-party narrator, chapters, and many of the common expectations of novels, instead presenting a series of documents. In A Box Full of Murders, Luke has discovered an old box in the attic, and discusses its contents with his sister, Ava. We see the electronic messages between the children (who each live with a different parent), and ‘photographs’ of the various diaries, letters, official forms, and newspaper clippings in the box.
The documents are from a Scout and Guide camp in the early 1980s, including camp diaries written by various attendees — each with their own priorities, interests, spelling, and indeed attitude to writing the diaries. One of the Scout tents wanted a rock-music name so have called themselves ‘Hunky Dory’ after the David Bowie album, the alternative suggestion ‘Anna Key’ having been dismissed as too girly. Unreliable narrators abound!
If you’ve read and enjoyed Janice Hallett’s other books, I’d recommend giving this one a go. It’s a children’s book, so there’s less gore, but the vocabulary isn’t particularly dumbed down (instead, sometimes the investigators have to look up words they don’t know), and the format, the mystery — with the general sense of things maybe not being what they seem — are all present and correct, so it’s something to keep us going while waiting for her next book for adults. (If you haven’t read any of her other books, maybe start with one of those instead, perhaps The Killer Question.)
What a delightful way to start a Monday. This was a typically light but fun puzzle that wasn’t too taxing but still raised a few smiles. I didn’t have a particular favourite but 2d made me smile.
My thanks to our setter and Smylers.
A fairly benign start to the week, albeit with a couple of trips to MrG post solve. I worked out the anagram at 1a, but can’t say I’ve ever heard the song, and then needed to confirm 19d. The tense row at 22a is my COTD.
Thanks to the setter and Smylers
1*/3*
The song is by a popular beat combo who had some success in the hit parade in the 1960s, and as well known as anything cultural that crops up in crosswords — mainly for its bonkers lyrics.
What a splendid example of litotes!
19d, really?
not sure what you mean.
seems pretty clear to me
A gentle start to the week on a friendly grid with no hiccups.
My LOI was 8d as I wasn’t aware of the Austrian biologist, meteorologist, mathematician, Augustinian friar and abbot (show-off).
Lennon said that LSD played a role when he wrote 1a which makes sense. Serious bonkersness.
Apropos of absolutely nothing, I recently found out the name for the short block of text between a headline and the main body of an article that hooks in the reader: a standfirst. I’m very happy with that.
My picks are 1a, 2d and 14d.
Many thanks to the setter and Smylers.
1*/3*
I heard that John Lennon was so fed up with people reading all sorts of things into this lyrics that he wrote IATW, and said ‘right, pick the bones out of that then!’
It’s a great call from him.
They probably couldn’t believe the success of it. But, when you’re the most successful songwriters of all time, you can sing the alphabet in reverse and it would be a hit.
A very pleasant start to the new week. Podium spots go to 1&22a with 2d on the top tier.
Thanks to the setter & to Smylers whose review I shall read later & see if I can guess where REM figure.
A great start to the new week with a couple to exercise the grey cell thrown in.
Completely forgotten about 1a and had to wait for the checkers. Never heard of the 12a poet but the clue was clear. Managed to mix a 16d sculptor with a dress designer which was not helpful.
I dread to think how 19d will be received…I lived in the US for a couple of years and never heard anyone use this word.
COTD is a tie between 6d and 15a
Many thanks to today’s setter and Smylers for the hints.
Man with appointment arrives to fit new gas and electric meters but discovers he does not have the correct parts. Plugs in new smart meter but cannot demonstrate because it’s a new model he’s not seen before. He looked embarrassed so we sent him on his way with a smile…he’ll be back next week.
Spouse’s grandparents had a smart-meter fitter turn up, judge that the existing meter was too close to a pipe to safely replace it, so reported that back to base, and left things as they are. That, however, didn’t get them off the official ‘How dare you not have a smart meter!’ list, meaning that a year later another fitter turned up to do the same thing. This one had a different attitude — the end result of which was Spouse’s grandparents still didn’t have a smart meter installed, but the company who sent the fitter did have to pay for a plumber to fix the leak, and then a plasterer and a painter to repair the damage to the wall.
A similar thing happened to us Smylers. Smart-meter fitter turned up to fit new meter and found he couldn’t open the meter door. We are having some re-roofing done and a scaffolding pole was directly in front of the door! He left and said he would come back again. So far, no show – just as well. The scaffolding is still up!
Cue for a song -The Gasman Cometh (Flanders and Swann). As our builder said to us “:that’ll all have to come down.”
19d fine by me – I do the Hokey Cokey all the time.
When we had new windows, the fitter drove all the way from Andover, Hampshire to Knockin (my local village) in Shropshire. He then found he had been given the wrong sized windows and had to drive all the way back again.
A gentle start to the week. I had to check that 19d was an actual word.
Top picks for me were 13a, 8d and 17d.
Thanks to Smylers and the setter.
Thanks for the book recommendation Smylers, I’ve read her others so will add this to my list.
The first word of the Quickie pun is a form of pastry not footwear.
Thanks, Madflower. Somehow I managed to forget the source of the pun in the time to took to switch from the window I’d solved it in to the one with the editor I was writing the review in. Now fixed.
I only remembered because my first thought was filo and it didn’t fit!
Hi S
I would call the first party of 8d ‘dated’ as opposed to ‘sexist’.
You’re free to call it whatever you wish! I picked the term I did because I thought it would be the most useful hint to somebody who hadn’t thought of the correct synonym.
Understood
A very 13a start to the week. 17d brought to mind the Carry on Cleo line “infamy, infamy they’ve all got it…..” so, much to smile over this morning. Cotd however goes to 21a. Thanks to compiler and Smylers.
As others have said, a terrific start to the week. However, my LOI was 15a because I just could not get it. Not surprising, really, given I had entered “out” as the second word to 4d. I have not heard of America’s corniest at 19d but the clue was clear enough. 17d reminded me of Kenneth Williams in Carry on Cleo and it was voted the funniest one-line joke in film history. My COTD is the suspended setter at 19a.
Thank you, setter for a great start to the cruciverbal week. Thank you, Smylers for the hints and will you be posting photos of last Saturday’s bash in Brum?
Cloudy and windy here in The Marches but no rain as yet despite it being forecast.
Sorry, I didn’t see Prawn’s post before I mentioned Kenneth Williams.
I will post photos just as soon as I’ve retrieved popped to church to retrieve the bag containing my camera, which I managed to leave at the sound desk yesterday.
I can’t imagine your forgetting of anything, Smylers.
As we’ve already established, I managed to forget one of the words in the Quickie pun in the few seconds it took me to switch to another window. Anyway, bag with camera in retrieved (the vicar had found it and placed it in the vestry; fortunately I encountered the person on locking-up duty with the big set of keys, so we were able to break in).
These are my photos from Saturday. Members of the Big Dave community have my permission to copy these photos and do what they wish with them. If anybody knows how to create a gallery and and upload them on this site, please do.
Oh dear, everything you click on these days requires you to sign up, pay a fee or allow adverts! 😊
Ok – now sorted without signing up! 👍
Thank you for posting them and even more thanks for naming the people. Is Snoopy now an honorary member of the Big Dave fan club?
So happy you got the pictures downloaded, complete with names. For someone who will regretfully not be able to make it across the pond for any of the get together, it is so nice to be able to now put faces to some of the familiar names. And you’re such a young lad Smylers 😊.
1*/3*. Light and enjoyable. My only hold up was 19d, but at least it had an American indicator!
Many thanks to the setter and to Smylers.
Another fine example of The Spirit of Rufus although, as I have never watched any Star Wars film, the Pun eluded me – 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 17a, 4d, 16d, and 18d – and the winner is 16d.
Thanks to the setter and Smylers.
A pleasant Monday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Smylers.
I liked 2d and 3d.
Smyler’s picture for the Quickie Pun makes me think that my answer of Sue Barker is probably wrong (unless she’s deteriorated rapidly).
That’s hilarious — possibly the first time those two have ever been confused with each other.
Very straight forward but hugely enjoyable.
1a absolute favourite – at the time most realised the lyrics meant nothing but was a wind up. Got it as soon as I went in place.
my thoughts for the quickie pun are with Gazza – I thought I had always pronounced choux wrong
My thanks to setter and Smylers – great selection of pictures
I’ll be very surprised if it’s Gazza’s as it means playing with both words though it is possible.
I hope it is as we love a Shorn Connery pronunshiation.
A great start to the week with a gentle and enjoyable puzzle finished with no holdups. I enjoyed the video of Proper Education which I’d not seen before and wondered what it all meant until the end when it was clear . Thanks to the setter and Smylers.
I have not come across that video before either, JM. I thought it was great.
Honestly, I was expecting comments from Pink Floyd fans complaining that I’d dared to include that remix rather than the original, so people enjoying it has taken me by surprise!
Though even Eric Prydz’s take is now almost 2 decades old. The twisty energy-saving lightbulbs really date it …
It wasn’t the music, Smylers it was the message that was subtle in its delivery and was stronger than the desecration of Pink Floyd.
As others have said a nice gentle start to the week. Had to ask Mr SC for the name in 8d otherwise all fell into place quickly (for me)
COTD is definitely 13a lovely word.
It’s windy and cold here in Yorkshire. And rained overnight I think we have had our summer.
Thanks all
A very nice puzzle slightly more testing for me than some Mondays. 6d my favourite. Re 19d an Amercanism flagged as an Americanism is still an Americanism…(and one I hadn’t come across) Thank you setter for an otherwise excellent puzzle and Smylers.
That reminds me of the philosophical question, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” 😳😊
Does it have to be a human that hears the tree crash down? In a forest, there’s bound to be some creature or other that hears it.
Good point, Jose but my take is that “no one” means all living creatures. If no one heard it did it happen? Rather like Berkley’s “esse est percipi ” – “to be is to be perceived”. Berkley believed that if an object could not be seen then it did not exist.
From a quantum mechanical perspective, if it wasn’t observed, did it happen at all, or was it even there??? Time to stop methinks ☺!
If a tree has fallen over, the evidence is incontrovertible – it’s there, horizontal. For it to have made no noise would be contravening the laws of physics – impossible (unless it occured in a total vacuum). Whether any creature heard it or not is irrelevant in my book.
Another quick finish( not as quick as yesterday’s surprisingly swift completion, though. A few checkers and a glance at the word length soon re vealed the solution to 1a. Itrwminded me ifcthe first performance by the group in question that I went to in 1963. There were security men every 6 feet along the aisles and when a screaming fan leapt to her feet, a large chap squeezed down our row and, having thrown her over his shoulder, carried her out, protesting, one of her kicks ctching me in the head. It was a stunning performance and this was agreat clue. Ialso liked the Lego sculptor at 16d , the geographical double definition at 20d and thevm Lego denetticist at 8d . Thanks to 4he compiler and to Smylers for the hints.
Love the Beatles story, it must be great to have seen them in the early days
Good start to the week. There seem to be more Americanisms creeping into the crossword but then the Telegraph is read internationally. 19 down was my downfall so a Thankyou to Smylers for putting me right.Favourite was the pet name closely followed by 22 across.
Looking forward to seeing pictures of the reunion . Thanks to all
Great start to the week with this **/*** puzzle. The only problems I had were 22a – was convinced it was a footballing term until the penny dropped. Excellent misdirection. Didn’t know 19d down, managed to solve it but had to look up the meaning of the word, and my LOI was 23d. Was convinced it had something to do with dilly dally. Thanks Smylers for putting me right, as soon as I saw it meant ‘wastes time’ it was obvious. Lots of clues to like, including 1a, 15a, 25a, 27a. 8d (that one had me searching into the recesses of my mind for the answer!) and 16d. Thank you to both the setter and to Smylers for the hints and music choices.
A nice puzzle o start off the non-work week. Nothing too troublesome to trip one up today.
1.5*/4*
Favourites include 1a, 21a, 2d, 7d, 20d & 24d – with winner 1a
Smiles for 21a, 7d & 20d
Thanks to setter & Smylers
Fairly benign start to the week, although I’ve never heard of 1a.
Almost made a mess of the paper with the similar but incorrect element.
2d favourite today
Thanks to Smylers and setter
This is the first cc I’ve managed to finish this one completely without any extra hints 🙂 As a dog person, I particularly enjoyed 19a and 21a!
Congratulations, PHKK!
Isn’t it just a great feeling?
Anthony Plumb’s wonderful Tuesday concoctions give you a chance to have a back-to-backer.
No pressure…
Congratulations Purplehkk, you try and try and feel l8ke you’re never going to get there don’t you Then suddenly, there it is. BOOM Aboom. Next stop, a winner at the Prize Cryptic and the Myrthical notebook and pen
Congratulations, Purplehkk! As TDS65 and CC have said what a great feeling. May it continue for you. 👍
Yay — congratulations, Purplehkk! What a lovely feeling.
Bravo Purplehkk, I remember that occasion fondly.
I also recall getting stuck with one clue left on a prior occasion, and on discovering this wonderful blog around the same time, all the way from Wellington, NZ. 💜
Great start to the week completed – guess where? Back in A & E. They told us last week to get the catheter removed at our surgery, they would send instructions. Well, they did – but our surgery no longer do that function so here we are again. I didn’t sign on for this advice told him so. I am on the verge of being revolting. 1a made me laugh at the outset and I liked the guilty dog. 19d was LOI and I needed the hints but I am really none the wiser. I am still smiling over yesterday’s very clever Toughie, my admiration for the setters grows daily. Many thanks to today’s Master and to Smylers for hinting us.
Oh dear, Daisy you and George are having a time of it at present. I’m thinking of you and hope things settle down soon. 🌹
I enjoyed this guzzle today. 10a nearly got the top spot but 17d was the favourite. Thanks to setter and hinter. What happened to the picture of the Brum Bunch? There and ‘not there’. They looked to be enjoying themselves!
The picture is in the Saturday prize puzzle – DT No 31301 – comments, B.
Thanks Steve I guess I need to go to
you know where!
Your eyes are (probably) fine, Bijou: comments across the site did lose the ability to have attached photos for a bit yesterday.
That’s reassuring Smylers. Thankyou.
* / ****
First chance to comment since Friday! Haven’t looked at Saturday yet but enjoyed Dada’s offering very late yesterday. Great to meet some people again in Birmingham on Saturday and others for the first time. So sorry you couldn’t make it Daisygirl, all the best to you and George especially given your post above.
Enjoyed today’s offering with America’s corniest needing some teasing, some parsing confirmation required for 4d Stop working but for 8d, his name was in the very rear recesses of what sill passes for my brain after Saturday!
13a’s Delicious rugby, 21a’s Pet name and 26a Purplish all made the podium and I can’t choose between them.
Many thanks to Smylers and the setter and hope you haven’t permanently lost your camera, Smylers!!!
A fun way to kick off the cruciverbal week although 1a, 8d and 16d did need prompts from MrG. Thank you setter and Smylers,
.
A great start to the week, with 19d a new word to me. It’s always good to kick off with 1a going in straight away.
Many thanks to the setter and to Smylers for the hints
When I met Alfiepops on Saturday, I noticed he had made his own identity badge so I thought I would have a go myself for the next gathering.
😊
😁
Very clever 😊
You may have started something here Steve – I’ve not been at it long enough to warrant a prize and so I’ll class myself as an ‘Aspiring Applicant’
In order to gain The Mythical, the knowledge of The Ancients of Cruciverbia need to be consulted. Ancient papyrus texts tell of a secret cave in Xanadu, way beyond the pleasure dome of Kubla Khan, where lie The Keepers of The Mythical in a castle so strong former seekers have perished trying to breach its battlements.
I will need assistance in my quest. Therefore, GP I dub thee an Acolyte of The Cause.
Together, we will ride forth! 😊
But I must be back by teatime.
Apart from 8d whom I didn’t know or the American corniest that was as friendly as a DT cryptic can be. 1a a delightful anagram! The sculptor is very well posed.
Highly enjoyable but over too quickly after a real struggle with Saturday’s.
Tom Petty today 🎸, how I miss him.
Thanks for escorting me back to the train station! I’m pleased to say my train was on time and I had a trouble-free ride back home. It was good to see new faces and a surprise to see Mark after so long. Especially thanks to John B for his excellent organisation of a summer bash. I hope to see you all at Big D’s birthday bash at the Bridge House at the end of January. We normally manage to gather from far and wide despite snow, strikes, and other obstacles.
1*/ 3.5* A great start to the week with plenty of wit and misdirection.
Favourites today the 1a song, delicious 13a and America’s corniest at 19d (surprised how many people didn’t know the word)
Thanks to compiler and Smylers
I used to do 1a in a solo acoustic set under the name of Shouting in Tune in which I celebrated the people who did exactly what the name suggests, I had lots of material to go at. 19d is not a word I’ll be using soon or at any time in the future as no-one I know will have a clue what I’m talking about. I don’t normally pick an anagram as favourite but I’ll go with 1a as it brought back fond memories. Thanks to the setter and Smylers.
If every crossword was like today, I would be very happy. Most of this made absolute sense to me, except 19d which I’ve rarely heard anyone over here say, despite it being an Americanism. But then I’ve never heard of 13a either. Big thank you to the setter for a very enjoyable solve and to Smylers. And thanks again for the pictures.
I completed this while waiting for a general anaesthetic so a wonderful distraction. I could not parse 4d so thank you Smylers, and yes, I now realise quite how straightforward 4d was! Great to meet you on Saturday too.
Thanks also to the setter.
Were you administering the general or receiving it, NB?
Receiving. Excision biopsy. Went well. Initial needle biopsy was clear but consultant and radiologist not 100% happy with images so this is very much a “just to be safe” procedure. Home now though with some very unflattering compression socks!
I’m so pleased it all went well. When do you get the results?
Hopefully 3 weeks
I think you were right first time: 4d is quite tricksy, and is one of the clues that led me to rate this crossword ★★ for difficulty: it has the definition which more obviously has meanings of stopping working in the sense of a device (breaking) or a person (skiving, hometime, or retirement) than the one required; it has one of those sneaky ‘with’s that so often catch me out, looking innocuously like they are just joining bits of the clue together; and it has “from”, which combines both of those in looking innocuous and also requiring a meaning that isn’t among the first many people will think of.
Lovely to meet you, too. Hope whatever the anaesthetic was for has gone well.
It was the from to ** that I missed. Yes, the op went very well. Thank you. Hope to see you all in January.
PS: I remembered your saying you don’t about cricket, at which point I realized there’ll be people puzzled by the 18d illustration. So, for the benefit of you and and other non-cricket fans, that’s a photo of Stuart Broad at Trent Bridge, the river in its name being relevant to the clue. I don’t think there’s enough in the background to identify it as that particular ground — some blurry stands; it’s that the expression on Stuart Broad’s face is one he famously made after taking a wicket there (of Steve Smith, in the 2015 Ashes — wait, is that snoring I hear?).
It’s a great picture. I know a little about cricket, but Google or my brb is at times needed for some cricket terms
A rare early morning solve for me, it was mainly Monday-ish save for the SE, which took a clue it two to get going.
Pody picks go to 19A’s quirky definition even if the clue is lengthy. 13A’s splendidly English word, and best of all 1A for being a great song, made me smiled when I unravelled it, and I thought of this track the other day when Edgar Allan Poe featured.
Thanks to setter and to Smylers – I saw your shirt from the gathering, most entertaining! ⭐️