Solving time: 76:42 – with two mistakes
Not a very good effort by me this week. The mistakes were both genuine and couldn’t be blamed on typos. I found it tough going, but probably fair overall. Some good stuff in here – I particularly liked the anagram at 1d, although it took me ages to spot it – I’d made the mistake of taking STATION out as the second word. It was only when I got 8d that I realised that this was unlikely.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | SEALSKIN = SEAL (close) + KIN (relative) about S (small) |
5 | T + ERROR |
10 | AGGRAVATE = A + GATE about GRAV |
11 | C + A + PR + I |
12 | SP(L)AT – This was one of my mistakes – I put SPLIT, never having come across a SPLAT as part of a chair. |
13 | CORK + S + CREW |
14 | EA + STRIDING |
17 | WI |
19 | AWOL = LOW (mean) + A (adult) all rev |
20 | SETS ALIGHT = (GHASTLIEST)* |
22 | RATION ALES |
24 | A SCOT |
26 | OPALS = SLAP rev after O (disc) |
27 | DERRING-DO = ERRING in (D + DO) |
28 | THE MED |
29 | DESSERTS = STRESSED rev – I’ve come across this neat reversal before. I believe it’s the longest English word that can be reversed to make another, although no doubt someone will now offer a longer one. |
Down | |
1 | STANSTED AIRPORT = (SAD TRAIN-SPOTTER)* – I liked this one a lot. I guess you’d call this a semi-&lit. Very entertaining. |
2 | ANGEL = A + N + LEG rev |
3 | START + URN |
4 | ISA + AC |
6 | EXCUSE = EX + S |
7 | REPORTING = PORT in (NIGER)* |
8 | RAILWAY STATIONS = (IT’S A SLOW TRAIN AY)* |
9 | BEARINGS = |
15 | SHORT WAVE – dd |
16 | DIEHARDS = (HAD RIDES)* |
18 | F(LEAP)ITS |
21 | MOUSSE = US in (SOME)* |
23 | EY(R |
25 | CIGAR = (I + C) rev + GAR (fish) |
There has been some dissent in the Forum about the use of ‘southern’ in 28ac. I don’t feel strongly about it one way or the other but unless there’s an aspect that I haven’t considered, perhaps it might have been better avoided.
Edited at 2012-11-11 05:11 am (UTC)