Sunday Times 4479 (1 Apr 2012) – These foolish things

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 27:18

As Anax hinted he might in my blog for 4476, he has provided an April Fool themed puzzle for us this week. Indeed, the phrase ‘April Fool’ crops up no less than 8 times in the clues for a variety of different reasons. Overall, quite a straightforward solve, but lots of fun.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this

Across
1 INSPIRATIONAL = I + (IS NOT AN APRIL)*
9 P + RANK
10 wELLINGTON – Not the first time I’ve seen the Duke Ellington / Duke of Wellington similarity used in these puzzles, so I could write it straight in.
11 ALEHOUSES = A + (HOLE’S)* about USE
13 CAR + OM – another name for a cannon in billiards. It’s also a quite extraordinary billiards variant played with 3 balls on a table with no pockets. The only way to score points is by playing cannons, but the cue ball must travel of three cushions before striking the second ball. I would consider myself quite a decent pool player, but I’ve tried carom and it’s insanely hard. Here’s Dick Jaspers making it look anything but with a break of 22.
14 T(H)RILL
15 LANDFILL – The division in ‘April fool’ comes between the L and the F, so it’s L AND F + I’LL
18 JEWELLER = WE’LL sandwiched by JEER
19 S + MOOCH
22 PIP + IT
24 AGIN + COURT (26d: woo)
25 RUN TO SEED = RUED about (NOTES)* – I liked the neat ‘mental notes’ construction.
26 WRAiTH
27 COMPANY DOCTOR – cd – ‘Bones’ is a slang term for any doctor (not just Dr McCoy from Star Trek) which derives from ‘sawbones’
Down
1 I’M + PLAN + T
2 SCAR + EC + ROW – a scar can be a rocky cliff-face. EC is the UK postal district that covers the City of London and it crops up quite often in these puzzles.
3 mILK
4 April + TEASE
5 IGLESIAS = (LEGS)* in (II + AS) – this could refer to either Julio or his son, Enrique.
6 NON-ACADEMIC = (COCAINE DAMN)* – ‘Supply’ is the anagrind, as ‘in a supple way’.
7 LATER = ET AL rev + R
8 ANIMAL = LAMINA rev
12 OIL PLATFORM = (APRIL FOOL + MighT)*
16 INOCULANT = (CONTINUAL)*
17 D + E(VALE)RA – I didn’t know VALE could mean ‘farewell’, but ‘Irish statesman’ (2,6) cannot really be anyone else.
18 JA(PER)Y
20 HIT(C)HER – although I mis-typed it as HITHCER, also ruining 26a, and therefore also my score.
21 MIDDAY – dd – ‘Essentially a’ as A is the middle of DAY, and noon is the traditional time by which all April fools must be played or else they will backfire.
23 P(AN)IC
26 WO + O

7 comments on “Sunday Times 4479 (1 Apr 2012) – These foolish things”

  1. 35 minutes, probably my best time for a puzzle by this setter. It’s also the first time that I’ve found an ST puzzle easier than the Everyman which I also do each Sunday. It’s a shame I didn’t tackle this one first as its overt April Fool’s Day theme might have prepared me for the concealed one in the Everyman and I’d have made faster progress there.

    15 was my last in and my last explained.

  2. I had everything but 21d in a half an hour, and should have just gone for MIDDAY immediately instead of agonizing over it for ages. It didn’t help that I didn’t know of the before-noon provision. COD to 25ac.
  3. Normally when I solve Anax puzzles my piece of paper is covered in workings as I try to untangle the wordplays but there was none of that with this one. A very straightforward solve of a fun puzzle. Congratulations Dean on getting so many references to the theme into the clues and grid.

    The Mephisto published on the same day was also an interesting solve so the ST Crossword Dept (aka Peter B) had a good day last Sunday

    1. Most of the credit should go to the setters – apart from the usual editorial work, my contribution was just to point out the date in good time for suitable puzzles to be written.
  4. More accessible than most Anaxes, but just as neatly and economically clued. Sadly I also got one wrong, for some unknown reason I thought animal for 8dn but wrote enamel..

    The ST continues to go from strength to strength

  5. My recent eccentric run continued here with ‘company voyeur’ at 27ac. Like the audience at a Frankie Howerd show, I’m making up my own smut under the influence of our Sunday setters!

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