I completed all but 15ac within 7 minutes but then needed another 2 minutes, eventually resorting to an alphabet trawl, to come up with the answer.
FOOTNOTE: I recommend that anyone who has their sights on graduating to the 15×15 or just stretching their solving skills should tackle today’s example.
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 | His Excellency joining newly-weds in Scottish isles (8) |
| HEBRIDES : HE (His Excellency), BRIDES (newly-weds). Very helpful wordplay as we were not made to work for the HE. In the main puzzle, and often in the QC we’d be presented with ‘Ambassador’ or ‘Commissioner’. | |
| 6 | Two parties that never got off the ground? (4) |
| DODO : DO DO (two parties). I’m not sure I knew the dodo was flightless, but now I do. | |
| 8 | Quash spirit of the Highlands? (6) |
| SCOTCH : Two meanings. The first in the sense of scotching or quashing a rumour. | |
| 9 | In Zermatt I repack clothes (6) |
| ATTIRE : Hidden [in] {Zerm}ATT I RE{pack} | |
| 10 | Thought to be perfect but coming up short? (4) |
| IDEA : IDEA{l} (perfect) [coming up short] | |
| 11 | Help net a surprisingly large creature (8) |
| ELEPHANT : Anagram [surprisingly] of HELP NET A | |
| 12 | Beach where one meets 007? (5) |
| BONDI : BOND (007), I (one) | |
| 13 | LSE admitting reactionary old man’s mistake (5) |
| LAPSE : LSE containing [admitting] PA (old man) reversed [reactionary]. It’s the London School of Economics. To appreciate the surface reading one needs to know that it’s considered by some to be a hotbed of socialism. | |
| 15 | Understanding how Scrooge might be described? (8) |
| GRASPING :A straight definition and a cryptic hint. As evidenced in my intro I didn’t immediatley associate the word with Scrooge. This quotation from Dryden confirms the association: Like a miser ‘midst his store, Who grasps and grasps ’till he can hold no more. | |
| 17 | Couple I encountered on way back (4) |
| ITEM : I, then MET (encountered) reversed [on way back]. Two people who are ‘an item’ are in some sort of intimate relationship. | |
| 19 | Posh princess in cheap car (2-2-2) |
| LA-DI-DA : DI (princess) contained by [in] LADA (cheap car). Jake Thackray wrote a song about it but using an alternative spelling. | |
| 20 | Giant welcoming island painter (6) |
| TITIAN : TITAN (giant) containing [welcoming] I (island) | |
| 21 | Two chaps who’ll make you giggle? (2-2) |
| HE-HE : HE HE (two chaps) | |
| 22 | Curse West Country river case (8) |
| EXECRATE : EXE (West Country river), CRATE (case) | |
| Down | |
| 2 | Spanish hero extremely equivocal with detectives (2,3) |
| EL CID : E{quivoca}L [extremely], CID (detectives – Criminal Investigation Department) | |
| 3 | Learn something new about coach (7) |
| RETRAIN : RE (about), TRAIN (coach) | |
| 4 | Cheat on husband? What an idiot I am! (3) |
| DOH : DO (cheat), H (husband). Much used at TfTT when we’ve missed something obvious. | |
| 5 | Hurry up and fix gas leak, eh? (5,1,3) |
| SHAKE A LEG : Anagram [fix] of GAS LEAK EH | |
| 6 | Language spoken by a Cockney’s wife? (5) |
| DUTCH : Two meanings. Here’s a link to the Music Hall song performed by the late Roy Hudd. | |
| 7 | Send insane, angered terribly (7) |
| DERANGE : Anagram [terribly] of ANGERED | |
| 11 | I line team up for murder (9) |
| ELIMINATE : Anagram [up] of I LINE TEAM | |
| 12 | Storm created by anger in pub? (7) |
| BARRAGE : BAR (pub), RAGE (anger). Let’s hope for no rage and no storms as English pubs re-open today – outside service only. I’m planning a visit myself later to the local Mr Martin’s. | |
| 14 | Might this indicate a dog? (7) |
| POINTER : Two meanings | |
| 16 | Rotter having success in Home Counties (5) |
| SWINE : WIN (success) contained by [in] SE (Home Counties). Our setter’s trademark porcine reference. SE stands for South East. For the benefit of our overseas friends Wiki advises: The counties generally included are Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, and Sussex. Other counties more distant from London—such as Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire—are also sometimes regarded as home counties due to their proximity to London and their connection to the London regional economy. | |
| 18 | Former wife going to Ascot occasionally? That’s correct (5) |
| EXACT : EX (former wife), A{s}C{o}T [occasionally] | |
| 20 | Get even with chap from Bangkok, did you say? (3) |
| TIE : Sounds like [did you say] “Thai” (chap from Bangkok) | |
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