Solving time: 36 minutes
This is my 600th blog of a daily 15×15 puzzle, my first having been posted on Friday, 23rd November 2007. I didn’t record my solving time on that occasion although we were encouraged to log such details in those days, but only noted that it was ‘longer than it should have been’.
What with Quick Cryptics (276), a few specials and recently some Jumbos, my total number of blogs currently stands at 887.
Today’s puzzle was on the easy side but with a few hold-ups in the NE quarter taking me over my half-hour target.
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 1 | Opening of song memorable, capturing hint of recordings such as old 78s? (8) |
| SCRATCHY | |
| S{ong} [opening], CATCHY (memorable) containing [capturing] R{ecordings} [hint of…]. I think we have to take it that ‘such’ refers back to ‘recordings’ in order to avoid any suggestion of double-duty. | |
| 5 | Notice breakdown in communication, perhaps, at sea (6) |
| ADRIFT | |
| AD (notice), RIFT (breakdown in communication, perhaps) | |
| 9 | Unusual slice taken from cut of beef? (3) |
| RUM | |
| RUM{p} (cut of beef) [slice taken] | |
| 10 | I’m brought in to sound loud: hope things will improve? (4,3,4) |
| PLAY FOR TIME | |
| I’M contained by [brought in to] PLAY (sound) + FORTE (loud) | |
| 12 | Lady once thrilled to host working author (5,5) |
| CONAN DOYLE | |
| Anagram [thrilled] of LADY ONCE containing [to host] ON (working) | |
| 13 | Weary diatribe getting a Democrat removed (4) |
| TIRE | |
| TIR{ad}E (diatribe) [a Democrat removed] | |
| 15 | Soft chap, solemn at heart (6) |
| GENTLE | |
| GENT (chap), {so}LE{mn} [at heart] | |
| 16 | Way of speaking recalled in time in letter (7) |
| EPSILON | |
| LISP (way of speaking) reversed [recalled] contained by [in] EON (time) | |
| 18 | An outpouring enshrining one’s suffering (7) |
| ANGUISH | |
| AN, GUSH (outpouring) containing [enshrining] I (one) | |
| 20 | Movement of air beginning to bring chill? Not the first (6) |
| BREEZE | |
| B{ring} [beginning], {f}REEZE (chill) [not the first] | |
| 23 | Not all bits of blossom everywhere (4) |
| SOME | |
| Hidden in [bits of] {blos}SOM E{verywhere} | |
| 24 | Store opening recalled by the writer in city (10) |
| METROPOLIS | |
| ME (writer), then SILO (grain store) + PORT (opening – aperture) reversed [recalled] | |
| 26 | Cautious Mike, enthralled by top entertainment, favoured going round clubs (11) |
| CIRCUMSPECT | |
| M (mike – NATO alphabet) contained [enthralled] by CIRCUS (big top entertainment), then PET (favoured) containing [going round] C (clubs – cards) | |
| 27 | Gamble to avoid heading for rocks (3) |
| ICE | |
| {d}ICE (gamble) [avoid heading] | |
| 28 | Dimwit mostly with nothing to say about Oxbridge degree (6) |
| MUPPET | |
| MUT{e} (with nothing to say) [mostly] containing [about] PPE (Oxbridge degree – philosophy, politics, and economics) | |
| 29 | Individual crime not initiated with sound of bell around (8) |
| PERSONAL | |
| PEAL (sound of bell) containing [around]{a}RSON (crime) [not initiated] | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Smart player finally participating in European trophies after reflection (6) |
| SPRUCE | |
| {playe}R (finally) contained by [participating in] E (European) + CUPS (trophies) reversed [after reflection] | |
| 2 | Catholic married to Anglican? It’s a wonderful story (7) |
| ROMANCE | |
| ROMAN (Catholic), CE (Anglican – C of E) | |
| 3 | Prepare for cooking a plant — do it with mincing? (3,3,4) |
| TOP AND TAIL | |
| Anagram [mincing] of A PLANT DO IT. This often refers to cutting the tops and bottoms off vegetables. | |
| 4 | Completely taken by alphabetical statement of the obvious? (4,4,5) |
| HEAD OVER HEELS | |
| A person may be said to fall HEAD OVER HEELS in love if they are ‘completely taken by’ the other party. I drafted some ideas on the rest of the clue but the more I tried to explain the less sense it seemed to make, so on reflection I’ve decided to say I really don’t understand it and throw it open to the forum. | |
| 6 | Choice of Roman numerals to indicate sleeping quarters (4) |
| DORM | |
| D OR M (choice of Roman numerals) | |
| 7 | Opening popular with one chess champion going round India (7) |
| INITIAL | |
| IN (popular), I (one), then TAL (World chess champion – Mikhail) containing [going round] I (India – NATO alphabet) | |
| 8 | Historic city ultimately ignored by an old pictorial publication (3,5) |
| THE BEANO | |
| THEBE{s} (historic city) [ultimately ignored], AN, O (old). The Beano comic was not the first publication to come to mind, but was none the less very welcome when found to be what was required. | |
| 11 | Risqué theatre possibly giving ogler freebies (6,7) |
| FOLIES BERGÈRE | |
| Anagram [possibly giving] OGLER FREEBIES. Definitely my Clue of the Day, and it’s very rarely I feel the need to select one of those! |
|
| 14 | They treat bones and muscles — doctoring to the psoas? (10) |
| OSTEOPATHS | |
| Anagram [doctoring] TO THE PSOAS. Not that it’s necessary to know, but the psoas are muscles that aid in flexing and rotating the thigh. | |
| 17 | Top music broadcast — one of the Chili Peppers? (8) |
| CAPSICUM | |
| CAP (top), anagram [broadcast] of MUSIC | |
| 19 | Hesitation over doctor in Republican party providing candy? (7) |
| GUMDROP | |
| UM (hesitation) + DR (doctor) contained by [in] GOP (Republican party – Grand Old Party) | |
| 21 | Elizabeth, upcoming celebrity, an unknown quantity (7) |
| ZILLION | |
| LIZ (Elizabeth) reversed [upcoming], LION (celebrity) | |
| 22 | A distended shape to boot (2,4) |
| AS WELL | |
| A, SWELL (distended shape) | |
| 25 | Zero employment current in York (4) |
| OUSE | |
| O (zero), USE (employment). The City of York stands on the Rivers Ouse and Foss. | |
36 minutes. Not much, really, to say about the puzzle, but I do want to join in the chorus of thank yous to Jack for his long series of informative blogs. One of the things I find very comforting is that our times are often quite similar (today we are just 11 seconds apart). And the comments and historical remarks are always very helpful.
I enjoyed this one. It took me a while to get going, but then it all began to fall into place. I didn’t really understand the point of ‘alphabetical’ in the clue to 2dn – since head is obviously over heels anyway unless you are upside-down.
I don’t understand why ‘hint of’ equates to the first letter of a word in the clue, but since I came across this for the first time (in this blog) just a few days ago I at least managed to parse ‘scratchy’ after I had biffed it from the checkers. I guess this is just one of those “crossword things”, but I think it’s a bit lame and not something that would occur for a moment to a relative newbie like me.
Many thanks to all who have expressed their good wishes and appreciation of my blogs.
Now I’ve got some time I’m catching up on some puzzles that I didn’t have chance to do on the day of publication. I couldn’t let the anniversary pass without adding my congratulations and thanks.
As to the puzzle- all correct with TIRE LOI. Was lucky my letters fell correctly for the FOLIES ….and NHO Tal.
Whole-heartedly agree with the above congrats. Around the 40 minute mark for me, but had PRAY FOR ?I?E, not wanting to let go of hope=pray for. Especially liked MUPPET , CAPSICUM and SPRUCE.
Thank you for all your blogging efforts Jackkt.
Cod folies Bergere for me too, especially with the double candidates for anagram.
Copies of The Beano have appeared on Antiques Roadshow, the cover graphics strike me (Australian female) as unattractive. No offence intended.