Sunday Times 4454 (9 Oct 2011)

Author   daveperryPosted on Categories Weekend Cryptic
Solving time: 9:32 – My first ever foray into sub-10 minute territory, certainly at least since the introduction of the online timer, but probably ever.

As my time suggests, I found this a breeze, with at least half the answers being written straight in with little or no thought. Quite fun as an exercise in speed solving, but lacking any depth. Very little here to amuse the more proficient solvers.

Of course this was bound to happen after my comments last week about how the standard has got tougher since the change of leadership! Thanks for your response to that, Peter, by the way. I hadn’t realized that Barbara used to write so many herself. I wonder how long it will be before we start seeing ‘by Peter Biddlecombe’ appearing.

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

Across
1 PARANG = P + RANG about A – I didn’t know that word, but the wordplay was so clear that it was my first in nonetheless
5 AN + TIMON + Y – Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens is the reference
9 SPIDER CRAB = (BREAD + CRISPs)*
10 SUM + Of
11 UN + CO
12 BIFURCATED = (IF BEARD CUT)*
14 PHENOL = PH + ONE rev + Lab
16 ABROGATE = (TEA BAG OR)*
18 O + MISSION
20 CE + MEN + Temple
22 COD + Season + WALLOP
24 R + OBE
26 S(A)KI
27 PROFICIENT = (NICE PROFIT)*
29 T(HR)ILLER – Michael Jackson’s classic album
30 NELSON – dd
Down
2 ASPEN – hidden
3 AND SO ON = (DAN)* + SO + ON
4 Gesture + A + RIBALD + I
5 cAvIaRe
6 TI(Bank)ER
7 MU(STAN)G
8 gordoN + UMBER + TENure
13 FLANNEL – dd
15 HOMEOPATH = HOME (in) + PATH (course) about Organon
17 RECEPTION – dd
19 SASH + I + MI
21 MARTIAL = “MARSHAL”
23 APPeAL
25 BON(G)O
28 bOAR

5 comments on “Sunday Times 4454 (9 Oct 2011)”

  1. Congratulations on the sub-10 Dave.
    My time was quite quick too, but I misread “made call” for “make call” in 1ac and put in PARING. A paring knife is a type of knife so I didn’t even pause to notice that this gave me IND SO ON for 3dn, so I submitted with two wrong. I try to comfort myself with the thought that I wouldn’t have done this solving on paper. Honest.
  2. 16 minutes. Looking back I find it hard to believe that 5ac was my last in. I had the A from 5d early on and knew I was looking for an element for which I always resort to the Tom Lehrer lyric in which ANTIMONY is the first mentioned.
  3. … will not appear unless two things happen:

    1. My terms of employment change: at present I’m employed purely as an editor.

    2. I think I’m the most suitable candidate available when the next setting vacancy comes up. This is even less likely than 1.

  4. Toronto weeks later………

    Can’t find a connection anywhere between obe and gong?????????

  5. Toronto weeks later………+ 1 hour.

    Disregard the last post. I realised I’d forgotten to check the Concise OED. Gong is slang for a medal, honour etc. etc.

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