Solving time: 49:09 according to the timer, but considerably less in practice. I opened the puzzle, wrote in AARGH and promptly fell asleep. Once I’d woken up, I seemed to rattle through it quite quickly.
When I checked the leaderboard just before 1am, there were already some fast times starting to appear, so I don’t think it’s a puzzle that will delay the experienced solvers unduly. A pleasant enough solve, but no talking points particularly jump to mind.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | OFF ONE’S TROLLEY – dd |
9 | TRADESMAN = NAMED ART all rev about S |
10 | AARGH = A + H |
11 | FOOTY = FT (paper, Financial Times) about 0-0 (goalless result) + |
12 | SHOW TRIAL = W (with) + TRI |
13 | HOT STUFF – dd |
15 | SING(L)E |
17 | S(NAP)PY |
19 | SOME + R + SET |
22 | OV( |
23 | B(WAN)A |
24 | LYDIA = L |
25 | ADORNMENT = A + (OR + N |
26 | BREAD AND BUTTER – dd |
Down | |
1 | OUT OF THIS WORLD – dd |
2 | FLAT OUT – dd |
3 | NEEDY = DEE (flower, i.e. river) rev in NY (New York) |
4 | SEMI-SOFT = (FIST SOME)* |
5 | RUN + YON |
6 | LEAST WISE |
7 | E(A)RRING |
8 | CHELSEA TRACTOR = (THE CAR)* about LSE (London School of Economics) + ACTOR – &lit |
14 | TOP BANANA – dd/cd |
16 | DOWNLOAD = (WOODLAND)* |
18 | A + SUNDER |
20 | S(TALES)T |
21 |
|
23 | BANTU – hidden |
So here’s my first and last ever moan about the anti-Australian nature of Times puzzles: 17ac was not S(KIP)PY but it should have been. And I only found that out when I•U•D•R turned out to be impossible at 18dn.
And everyone knows they’re TOORAK (not CHELSEA) TRACTORS. 21dn: amazing that someone should name their capital after one of the best Holdens ever … almost.
To compensate, we have FLAT OUT at 2dn which begged for “… like a lizard drinking”. And the wonderfully accidental fact that LEASTWISE (6dn) contains all of “else it’s”.
Dare one say that Skippy was a famous Australian helicopter pilot, amongst other things (like being a kangaroo); but in Australia skippy does not mean quick.
But quick I was… second fastest ever recorded time, 15:47. I think easy, rather than wavelength.
Rob
Jim
Off to tackle the turkey now and hope my goose isn’t cooked.
Ugly
Oh well, I did rather well yesterday, so shouldn’t complain.
I enjoyed this puzzle more than most, it seems. I like it when you can get unknowns from clear wordplay, so I particularly enjoyed RUNYON… and BWAMA. I wonder if I can claim this: it fits the wordplay and appears to be a place near Kigali, albeit one that exists only in weather forecasts. Hmm.
Edited at 2013-12-20 11:24 am (UTC)
Enjoyed the puzzle and as always, much enjoyed reading the blog and all your contributions. Visiting this site is one of the highlights of my day. Thank you to all of you for making it such a fun site. Merry Christmas to all and a happy new year.
Nairobi wallah.
What was that radio programme way back (Radio 2?) that linked up people around the world, especially in the forces? Especially at Christmas? Or am I imagining it?
Two way Family Favourites, in my day presented every Sunday by Jean Metcalfe, Cliff Michelmore’s other half. And no problem with swapping my bit of turkey!
Nairobi wallah, you demonstrate your point perfectly by introducing a bit of Hindi into your name which everyone here will understand.
Re the radio programme, my only knowledge of it is from a really funny Dad’s Army episode when Capt. Mainwaring and team have to appear in the programme. Loved that show.
Nairobi wallah
There is an enormous list of Hindi/Urdu-derived English words on Wikipedia. If I give you the link, I think I get deleted as spam but I am sure that you can find it. I always wondered about the derivation of ‘pundit’.
Will chase up that wiki list on Hindi/Urdu words, thanks for that.
Nairobi wallah
We were not clobbered today, as some of us were expecting after a tough week. That was good, but it wasn’t the most thrilling puzzle ever, for me I should add. As to the Englishisms, why not? Crosswords, or certainly cryptic ones, are most assuredly English, and are quite rightly laden with Anglocentric references.
Aren’t they?
Much love to all at crimbo. It’s a delight coming here, and I thank you all, setters, bloggers, commenters alike.
I enjoyed this puzzle anyway, with quirky terms like aargh and off ones trolley and the fine &Lit at 8 all adding to the fun.
A couple of notes re the Christmas Turkey:
– apologies for a couple of late changes to clues which I didn’t have time to run by the setters concerned. These were the result of ‘trial feedback’. If I’ve messed up your clue, I humbly apologise.
– some people were having trouble downloading the PDF. I’ve changed the download link to simplify things.
It’s actually three years in a row (but who’s counting?) and, as in the previous two, I’m thinking ‘Never again’. But … if I should happen to do it next year, I’ll start earlier, that’s for darned sure.
I owe a vote of thanks to George who helped me out at the eleventh hour last night (literally) when I was all of a panic trying to get the thing finalised.
I’m not sure about WISE in 6dn as the opposite of ignorant. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
By your own standards I can see why you might balk at using the phrase but as it’s you and as it’s Christmas you can be sprightly on this occasion.
1ac and dn were write-ins, and opened up a lot. Continuing this week’s literary theme more than somewhat is the evergreen Damon RUNYON, and I note that we are still dropping in on Balkan capitals!
Question for the experts: why does 17ac get a question mark and not 19ac?
I don’t know why Mata Hari got both a “say” AND a question mark, as the surface wouldn’t have changed appreciably with just one or the other.