And so it comes to pass … my last blog of a puzzle in the Independent.
My first was number 7645 by Quixote in April 2011, and fifteen years later I can say that I have enjoyed solving and blogging every one of them since then. The standard has always been high, the setters varied, the subject matter wide-ranging and the comments entertaining and informative. If I remember well, Nitsy was starting to set for the Indy back in around 2011, so it’s appropriate that we sign off today together. Thank you to the many setters who have challenged us, to the editor, and to all who have commented, corrected and clarified over the years. So long, and thank you for [putting up with] all the birds.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Narrow escape from aeroplane – arm is sprained
NEAR MISS
Hidden in aeroplaNE ARM IS Sprained.
5 Dad taken aback by friend’s dismay
APPAL
A charade of PA reversed and PAL.
9 Risk military conflict in Georgia? On the contrary
WAGER
An insertion of GE in WAR. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
10 Spicier naan, oddly, that’s disgusting and rank
NAUGHTIER
A charade of NA for the odd letters of ‘naan’, UGH and TIER.
11 Allow expression of doubt getting into bed
PERMIT
An insertion of ERM in PIT. The insertion indicator is ‘getting into’.
12 Most chaps losing pressure refitted spare tyres
STOMACHS
(MOST CHA[P]S)* with ‘refitted’ as the anagrind.
13 Cavorting with eccentric king?
PLAYING CARD
A charade of PLAYING and CARD.
16 For college dance, money’s withdrawn
PRO
PRO[M]
18 Grass reacts when regularly cut
RAT
The odd letters of ReAcTs.
19 Harry sent thrones, creating very unpleasant situation
HORNETS’ NEST
(SENT THRONES)* with ‘harry’ as the anagrind.
21 Mentioned about boat entering sea
REMARKED
A charade of RE and ARK inserted into MED. The insertion indicator is ‘entering’.
22 Discuss composer on the radio
HANDLE
A soundalike clue (‘on the radio’) for HANDEL.
25 Announce fantastic reduction
INTRODUCE
(REDUCTION)* with ‘fantastic’ as the anagrind.
26 Picture that is capturing adult in sports car
IMAGE
A double insertion: of A in MG and all that in IE for id est or ‘that is’. The insertion indicators are ‘capturing’ and ‘in’.
27 Duck making a comeback in meagre diet
EIDER
Hidden reversed in meagRE DIEt. An opportunity for the Obligatory Pierre Bird Link. One I have had lots of times over the fifteen years I have been blogging the Indy crosswords, but never tire of. A true seaduck, and known colloquially in the North-East of England as Cuddy’s duck, after its association with St Cuthbert.
28 Put up with poet dismissing book’s quality
STANDARD
A charade of STAND and [B]ARD.
Down
1 Spare pen drunk holds with rag
NEWSPAPER
An insertion of W in (SPARE PEN)* The insertion indicator is ‘holds’ and the anagrind is ‘drunk’.
2 Vexation from German golfer lacking length
ANGER
Bernhard [L]ANGER.
3 Sort of swallow one drink
MARTINI
A charade of MARTIN and I.
4 Forward‘s second goal
SEND
A charade of S and END.
5 Article not genuine? Editor’s embarrassed
ASHAMED
A charade of A, SHAM and ED.
6 Rule guiding one’s conduct in clipper at sea
PRINCIPLE
(IN CLIPPER)* with ‘at sea’ as the anagrind.
7 Monkey tricks birds
LARKS
A dd. And a chance for another OPBL. LARKS are a widespread group, but for my last link I’m going for the skylark, because for me it’s part of an English June evening sitting in the beer garden of a country pub and watching – or more often listening to – them high in the summer sky.
8 Clothes may be put in this apartment, including coats periodically
SUITCASE
An insertion of CAS for the odd letters of CoAtS in SUITE. The insertion indicator is ‘including’.
14 Tried charm, embraced by new date
ATTEMPTED
An insertion oF TEMPT in (DATE)* The insertion indicator is ’embraced by’ and the anagrind is ‘new’.
15 Attractive pig initially overwhelms us
GORGEOUS
A charade of GORGE, O for the initial letter of ‘overwhelms’ and US.
17 Rallying the troops during working day
ON THE MEND
An insertion of THE and MEN in ON and D. The insertion indicator is ‘during’.
19 Nurse‘s undergarment turned up after hospital tour, but no top
HARBOUR
A charade of H, BRA reversed and [T]OUR.
20 Something watched on television set
STATION
A dd.
21 Tailless bird sheltering in river
RHINE
An insertion of IN in RHE[A]. The insertion indicator is ‘sheltering’.
23 Drop American show
DRAMA
A charade of DRAM and A.
24 Trump‘s succeeded, in theory
BEST
An insertion of S in BET. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
Many thanks to Nitsy for this final puzzle.
So many good things coming to an end. Thanks Pierre for your sterling work and thoroughly enjoyable blogs over the years – and, yes, for the obligatory pictures. And, indeed, for your sympathetic blogs of the occasional Stamp. Thanks also to Nitsy for super puzzles, the last of which kept up the high standard.
A lovely Monday puzzle today with just enough edge to keep me on my toes. NAUGHTIER, STANDARD, MARTINI, PRINCIPLE and HARBOUR are my stand-outs today.
Thanks to Pierre and Nitsy who, I think, is (has been?) the punk rocker in eimi’s ensemble in that he does not overdo the lyric. Likes for PLAYING CARD and GORGEOUS and a puzzle that fits like a glove.
A gentle yet well-crafted finale, from setter and blogger.
I’m not sure how many solvers will know of Bernhard Langer, 2(d), he is, like me, now 69, and still playing in tournaments, where his stated goal is to record a round, less than his age. I suppose it gets easier, and harder, as your age goes up!
I wasn’t in the groove with a few of the definitions, viz, “set”/STATION; “nurse”/ HARBOUR; “discuss”/ HANDLE, though in retrospect I acknowledge one can both nurse a grudge, and harbour one.
1(ac), NEAR MISS, I associate more with a close failure to win, as opposed to “a close shave”, but I concede it works as clued.
It is the first Nitsy I have tackled, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, alongside Pierre’s customary expert analysis.
Fare thee well, both.
Grand start to an, otherwise, gloomy week… enough to chew over, parse, and solve in a reasonable span of time, slightly above glacial. Was exceedingly pleased to see EIDER make an appearance! My favourite duck since it was explained to me that my night-time warmth (in an unheated cottage) was due entirely to it’s down. I hope the introduction of synthetics has spared them from extinction. Enough puzzlers to keep me entertained, such as Monkey in 7d, was it relevant, or just to confuse, or indeed a third def.? Actually, confusion started with 1ac, where I tried valiantly to anagram aeroplane (-L, or R), NEAR MISS only revealing itself as an insertion at third attempt… ps I feel the def is spot on, viz a viz a road accident, or someone shooting at you, for instance… the LOI (there has to be one) was BEST, just couldn’t see THEORY=BET, but no doubt it’ll be there somewhere …
Thanks Nitsy and the usual excellent blog from Pierre… à la prochaine
Bonjour Undrell. In 7d, I think MONKEY TRICKS together is the definition of LARKS. ‘Bet’ and ‘theory’ is a bit of a stretch, I agree.
It’s my bet/theory the Republicans will suffer in the mid-terms?
Thanks for the replies Pierre@5, Postmark@6. Thats the nice thing about the blog, the discourse and the feeling of connection…
@Postmark it’s my profound hope also, but wouldn’t want to bet on it..
Where I work, we use the term “near miss” to refer to situations that could have resulted in a reportable incident, but ultimately didn’t, so the definition made sense to me.
Pierre, will you continue to blog the odd Quiptic etc. here and there, or are you retiring from this altogether? If the latter, you will be missed. You have a unique style, and never leave anything unexplained. I also appreciate all the birds.
Is sad reading each time this is someone’s swan song in the Independent.
Fairly straightforward solve with a few chewier bits. Liked STOMACHS and NAUGHTIER
Thanks Pierre and Nitsy
Planning to continue for the minute with every other Quiptic, mrpenny. Thank you for your kind words.