Times Quick Cryptic 1066 by Flamande

Author   ChrisPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
We are used to references from setters based on times of year/seasons. It would be interesting to know if setters are aware of which number their puzzle will be allocated. I suspect not as I couldn’t find any reference to Hastings or Harold (12dn references King Alfred but I don’t think this counts) in QC 1066. Apart from this slight disappointment, thanks go to Flamande for this puzzle which was in good QC style – completed in 8 minutes (quite quick for me) but enough of interest to work out when piecing the word plays together for the blog.

COD 11ac, LOIs 16dn then 23ac.

ACROSS

1. Talking – giving speech. Never ending story (TAL)e, monarch (KING).
5. Race – something in which one may come first. One (ACE) with runs (R) at the front (coming first).
7. Music – notes. Mike (MIC – microphone) contains (pockets) American (US).
8. Leftist – supporter of socialism. Bowed out (LEFT), (I)n (S)erious (T)rouble.
10. Set – double definition.
11. Briefcase – document holder. The question mark gives licence to consider a reluctant barrister. They would not want a long drawn-out trial so would prefer a BRIEF CASE.
13. Quoits – game – played on the decks of cruise ships. Leaves (QUITS) holding ball (O – it’s a round shape like a ball).
14. Gratis – free. Deserter (RAT) held (captured) by American soldiers (GIS).
17. Aspersion – malicious remark. A (A), small (S), fellow perhaps (PERSON) containing (accepting) one (I).
19. War – series of battles. With (W), a (A), Republican (R).
20. Example – model. Former partner (EX), very generous (AMPLE).
22. Guise – appearance. Anagram (can be changed) of I GUES (mostly=not including the final letter).
23. Sell – dispose of. Homophone (we are told) of cramped accommodation – cell.
24. Artisan – craftsman. Anagram (working) of A STRAIN.

DOWN

1. Times Square – part of New York. This is a Times crossword and 1dn contains squares which have to filled in to answer the clue. Neat.
2. Lesotho – part of Africa. Anagram (shabby) of HOSTEL with nothing (O) inside.
3. Incubator – where birds are hatched. In (IN), Caribbean island (CUBA) rocky peak (TOR).
4. Gallic – French. Girl (GAL), left (L), Channel Islands (CI) upwards (heading north) – IC.
5. Ref – match official. Note (RE), force (F – if in doubt try the initial letter).
6. China – country. Part of (stretch of) bea(CH IN A)sian.
9. Tree Surgeon – wood cutter. What do you call a team of three lumberjacks from Ireland? Tree fellas. Anagram (upsetting) of ROGUE ENTERS.
12. Fortnight – a couple of weeks. Keep (FORT), homophone (you say) of King Arthur’s Round Table member (knight).
15. Townies – urban dwellers. Anagram (developed) of SITE NOW.
16. Cinema – the pictures (go the pictures – go to the cinema). In the clue (stored by) mede(CINE MA)n.
18. Plate – item of crockery. Meat spread (PATE) around (covering) large (L).
21. Pal – friend. Apparently unwell almost (PAL)e.

13 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic 1066 by Flamande”

  1. Chris – 4dn and 19ac make GALLIC WAR perhaps?

    FOI 5ac RACE
    LOI 23ac SELL
    COD 12dn FORTNIGHT
    WOD 13ac QUOITS

    Time 7.06 so a good puzzle for those looking for a PB

  2. I hadn’t noticed the number; the grid would have allowed WILLIAM & CONQUEROR, too. 5:49.
  4. 23 minutes. On target.

    Last 4 were example, gallic, pal and LOI sell.

    Only hesitation on parsing was mike = mic.
    Also have misspelt Lesotho a few times previously.

    COD Times Square or Gallic.

  5. Agree, could have been a PB, came in at 13:05, with at least 2 mins wasted on LOI 16d.

    Excellent COD at 1d.

    Thanks blogger for parsing MUSIC, I had M=Mike, and then couldn’t see where IC came from.

  6. Enjoyable puzzle, which took me 7:15 starting with TALKING and finishing with BRIEFCASE. I also liked 1d. Thanks Flamande and Chris.
  7. No time today as I was disturbed by a commotion on the rattler, but still completed by Surbiton despite distractions, so probably around my target.

    I agree CoD to 1d – very neat.

  8. Took a long time to get into this, but once I did it all fell into place quite nicely. Like others enjoyed 1dn, and had a quiet chuckle at 11ac. A slight quibble with 12dn. A KEEP is more likely to be a strengthened stronghold within a FORT, but not a fort itself. But close enough I guess.
    PlayUpPompey
  9. I was half expecting a Norman theme as well, but there you go, can’t have everything. 25mins, which counts as easy, with loi 23ac responsible for a couple of those – needed an alphabet trawl in the end. I thought Cinema was well hidden. In fact, I biffed and was trying to parse before I spotted what was going on. 1d was a nice clue, but 17ac gets my CoD vote. Invariant
  10. In 3D, the answer was obvious from checkers, but Cuba isn’t actually an island
    1. It’s completely surrounded by the sea and is described in many reference sources as the largest island in the Caribbean!
  11. A very gentle puzzle today which didn’t need a lot of thought, although there were plenty of nice surfaces to enjoy. Completed in 8.44 with LOI 21d
  12. Excellent puzzle I thought. COD to 1d -I see it’s getting some good reviews.
    Solve interrupted but it did not take me too long. David

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