Hopefully this is just a placeholder. I can’t seem to be able to log in to do the crossword. It is 9pm my local time (Eastern time in the US), 2am GMT. I’ll leave this for now and check back in an hour or two to see if it is working. If you’ve been able to do it, feel free to natter away in comments.
Update – got in at nearly midnight and finished in 10:31, but I don’t think I can write it all up right this moment. Look for a blog later in the morning. If you have a question about an answer, ask the hive mind.
Third time is a charm, right?
Away we go…
Across | |
---|---|
1 | ST ANDREW’S CROSS: National symbol of Scotland – the Royal and Ancient Golf course of ST ANDREW’S with CROSS(bridge) beside it |
9 |
LAYPEOPLE: anagram of ALLY, |
10 |
BIJOU: BOU |
11 | MOONS: the battlefield at MONS containing O |
12 | NUMERO UNO: anagram of ON,OUR,MENU |
13 | NAYSAYER: I think this is NAY’S(moreover’s), AYE(always), R |
15 |
SIGNET: SIGN(as in the fish |
17 | SPIRIT: double definition – to move quickly away, and what you would put in the festive drink |
19 | BOOGALOO: B and then four O’s with GAL inside |
22 | A FAST BUCK: double definition, one slightly cryptic referring to money you might get in Lent |
23 | CYCLE: hidden in democraCY CLEarly |
24 |
DOUBT: first letters in D |
25 | LONG-EARED: GEARED(equipped), with L(large), ON(leg side in cricketball) |
26 | A FLEA IN ONE’S EAR: crpytic definition with the drun being the ear type |
Down | |
1 | SOLOMON ISLANDS: anagram of LOOMS, then ON, I’S, LANDS |
2 | ANYBODY: or A NY BODY |
3 | DRESS: ADDRESS missing AD |
4 | EXPUNGED: D, EG all reversed after an EX PUN |
5 | STEAMY: double definition |
6 | REBURYING: RE(soldiers) then an anagram of IN,RUGBY |
7 | SOJOURN: SOUR(turned) containing JO then N(noon) |
8 | PUT OUT TO TENDER: PUT OUT(vexed), TOT(young child), ENDER(one who cancels) |
14 | ARISTOTLE: ARISTO(noble) then TITLE missing IT |
16 | LOOK INTO: LOO(room where one can go), KIN(family), TO |
18 |
IN A HUFF: I, NAHU |
20 |
LUCERNE: LUC |
21 | NUCLEI: anagram of IN,CLUE |
23 | CREW,E |
Bit easier than yesterday.
BTW I think the fish are PISCES not GEMINI!
But I enjoyed the puzzle: esp. the misleading “noble title” in 14dn signalling one of several philosophers the scientists should read.
Could there be hints of Anax at 11ac (exhibits behind) and 16dn (room where one can go)?
Thanks Paul … these Geminis were both about to point out our non-piscatorial nature (15ac).
About 30 mins, ending with SPIRIT (was thinking along the lines of ‘stir–‘ for a while). Had to parse SOJOURN carefully to get the first ‘o’ (not ‘e’). 5dn almost went in as ‘sweaty’ until the M put paid to that.
Edited at 2016-12-15 07:01 am (UTC)
Edited at 2016-12-15 11:18 am (UTC)
Nice vocab selection in this, and it really looks as though there ought to be a message hidden somewhere around the crossing of the UN clue with MOONS and NUMERO UNO.
Thanks George and the setter.
Here is my recipe for eggnog:
Do what you like with the eggs (an omelette would be nice), keep the cream for your pudding. Drink your preferred tipple on its own or (if of a lower quality) with a proper mixer. Yum.
Do the ladies still drink ‘Snowballs’ back in Blighty?
Would guess around 45 mins so only just easier than yesterday for me. FOI 10ac BIJOU LOI 2dn ANYBODY.
1ac was never going to be ST GEORGE’S CROSS – with Sandwich a tad obscure.
COD 11ac MOONS (I thought it would be WIPERS!) WOD BOOGALOO
Can’t smell Christmas Turkey?
Edited at 2016-12-15 12:08 pm (UTC)
I know St George’s well, as it was Ian Fleming’s favourite. I think Goldfinger was shot there or was it Hunterscombe?
There’s a technical note in there which may be worth reading before going to the puzzle site.
Regards
Edited at 2016-12-15 09:30 am (UTC)
Enjoyed the challenge. Thanks setter and George.
Edited at 2016-12-15 09:56 am (UTC)
As an avid golfer, fraid to say I just biffed 1A and didn’t parse it. At least I made it in about 45 mins. Nay for moreover a bit dodgy…
Edited at 2016-12-15 01:00 pm (UTC)
I spent a long time with “St George’s Cross” at 1ac. On reflection, I have no idea if there is a St. George’s Cross nor (if there is one) whether it is any kind of national symbol. Nor (again) do I know whether there is any kind of a course known as St. George’s. Only after the north-left corner ground to a halt did I reconsider.
I seem to be in good company in having SIGNET as my LOI. Is “fish” really a good indicator for “sign”? The astrologial sign is pisces, and “fish” (as a translation of, or graphical sign for, pisces) seems one step too far removed, at least to me.