The Age Cryptic by DH #20,579

Wow, this one must have been done by most in time for the coffee to be just the right drinking temperature. It took me an hour and I didn't have any internet to help me because regional broadband is AWFUL! Screw you Malcolm Turnbull! Screw you and your lame copper wire shit! Fibre all the way!

Ok rant over - well that rant. Anyone else find 1A a bit off? Not the nicest way to start a puzzle. Yes I'm sure it's supposed to be funny and maybe I'm lacking that particular funny bone but I found it crass. I sat there hoping the answer wasn't what I thought it was - but it was. Also we had the same answer for 10A with DA on Friday  - why does that happen so often? I'm convinced the compilers have a group meeting and set challenges for words and phrases. Here's my pic:

The only two  I'm a bit unsure of is 3D and 9A. I got the answer for 3D, ANTICLINE by googling. I guess it's "caper" = ANTIC and "mark" = LINE where "antic" goes "previously" to make it the front word. For 9A I had to use one across and it suggested AGIST which was a field rented for feeding livestock, is this right? I knew the "soldier" = GI but why is AST a bar? AS T? I know a T-bar from skiing.


We had a nice day in Melbourne today, and my youngest came home, played in the garden for 10 minutes, complained of a headache, whined for half an hour, vomited everything and is now asleep. Is it wrong of me to be thankful she didn't hork in the car? Fingers crossed it's just a bug she picked up and it's gone now. Day two of hols and I've got a puker - I should have set up a betting pool.

Have a great night!

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,578

Unusual in that we often have to solve clues to guess the theme but here the clues were themed and the answers not so much, except for 18A which took me a long time to get - go figure. As I've come to expect with an LR puzzle there is wit and smiles to be found in the clues as well. Several clues have cosmetic surgery elements in them.

No brags on finishing quickly today. I didn't get my last clue in until after lunchtime. Here's the pic:

On this rare occasion I have all of them parsed, too. Just clarify a couple for me:

8D where it's "5 ways to get around" that's SENSE and it starts with the last S then goes "around" to the top and then down capturing UR in its way. Because it can't be an anagram as there's not fodder, right? It's the only way I see to spell "sense" correctly.

For 22D "Cat's mother" = SHE because of the saying "Who's she? The cat's mother?" which I'd never heard until I moved to the UK, as a way of correction someone (usually kids) for using "she" while the person is present. Is there a different way to interpret this clue?

Monday has been a joy, glorious weather and my daughter only cried once because I said she couldn't go swimming (she still has a cast on) and the magpies on my deck did not peck my toes which I appreciate very much.

I may not get to the puzzle tomorrow as I have to go to Melbourne for orthodontist appt and meet up with friends for sanity break. We shall see!

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,576

I had good fun with this one. It did take me a while to grasp the theme and I had to peek into D.A. Trippers to see what others were doing before the penny dropped. Once I had the theme I was off. It was steady going until the SE corner where 17D caused a jam. I enjoyed most of the clues this week.

Some of the best clues were the theme ones. It's sad to think so many solvers would have  known the theme and just put the answer from definition and denied themselves the fun of working out the whole clue. Here's my pic:

1, 5A - Solver cut out a domestic security appeal on air (8,6)

"Solver" is who we are looking for (It's not us) and "cut" = SHEAR "out A" means drop the A leaving SHER. "security appeal on air" is asking for a homophone of "lock homes!" to make SHERLOCK HOLMES.

10, 29A - 1-across's ally teased lad's entire acceptance of so-called ghost (9,8)

"1-across's ally" is who we're looking for. Not being a massive Sherlock fan apart from the recent movies and BBC shows and having never read the books (I tried when I was a teen and was horrified by the drug use and stopped reading.) I googled "Sherlock Holmes ghost" and got a wiki including a cast list. So much cheat, but hey. "teased LADS ENTIRE" is anagrind and partial fodder that will "accept" or take in a homophone "so-called ghost" = spectre / "SPECTOR" to make IN(SPECTOR) LESTRADE

11A - Even I quit game after lame final (5)

"Even" is our definition and here I'm not very sure what's going on. I'd figured "after lamE final" meant the first letter was E and then cross letters came in and I guessed the answer was EQUAL but how "I quit game" makes QUAL I'm not sure. OH! Is it a game bird QUAIL dropping its I?? That makes sense. I did waste time trying to even/odd an answer from this.

12A - Soldier during passover identifies 1-across's power (5)

"Sherlock Holmes's power" is what we're needing to find. Again I had all the cross letters and I knew "soldier" = GI but where "passover identifies" gets LOC (or is it COL? is "passover" a reversal signpost?) I don't know. Answer is LOGIC.

14A - Erratic compass I's repair (9)

"Erratic" is our definition and this was my clue in the grid. Thank you DA for throwing a few bones to get us newbies started. "COMPASS I'D repaired" is fodder and anagrind to make SPASMODIC.

15A- Beatitude is made of this! (5)

An &lit clue! The whole clue is the definition and it's a hidden word clue - wait is it a hidden word or an &lit or can it be both? - as "beatitude" is a "supreme blessedness" and other religiously inspired awe. "beatituDE IS Made" hides DEISM... a belief in god as as a creator who then goes away and doesn't interfere. I guess looking at the clue it was created  - intelligent design - never mind. I'm getting itchy just thinking about it all.

18A - Issue tracker extremes in light radar component (9)

"Radar component" is our definition and "issue" = MAG and "TrackeR extremes" = TR which goes "in light" = NEON to make MAG(NE(TR)ON) I had to look up the definition because all I could do was say "Magnetron!" in loud robot voices. Sounds like a Transformer name.

19A - Hard eastern ruler, 22-down? A horrible one (5)

This was one of my last clues in but when I got it - Hot Dog! "Hard" = H (which means if I see "soft" in a clue it could be and S?) "eastern ruler" = AGA and 22-down was "right" = R to make HAGAR - "a horrible one" is the famous cartoon viking Hagar The Horrible! That's who I'd mistakenly put in for 19D last week instead of Hogan. I must be psychic! Or DA reads my blog. (I know compilers make these puzzles months in advance, but it could happen!)

21A - Eccentric meals an integral part of boxing (9)

I'm not very sure what's going on here. Is this a very oblique double definition? I had the last five letters in place when "boxing" twigged for me - not pugilism but actual packing of stuff into boxes. "The integral part of boxing" = CARDBOARD. How "eccentric meals" works I'm not sure unless it's a euphemism for crap freezer food.

24A - Comic noble turned on laptop (5)

"Comic" is our definition and "noble turned" = LORD reversed to DROL and "Lap-top" = L for DROLL.

25A - Should ducks have wings clipped? (5)

"Should" is our definition and "ducks" = OO which are NOUGHTS and we must "clip wings" or remove the first and last letters leaving OUGHT.

26A - Your old doctor welcoming in old carnivore (9)

"Old carnivore" is what we're looking for and "your old" (No you're old!) as in your in ye olde language is THY then "doctor" must be LACE but I do not know why - someone will have to explain that, but the LACE will be "welcoming" the word IN to make THY(LAC(IN)E). Could the doctor = lace be like "doctoring" a drink or slipping a mickey?

28A - 20 went out, dressing to impress Cross? (6)

"Cross" is our definition and "20 -WENT out" = 20 as TwentY  with its "went" dropped. The TY will be "dressing" or wrapping around "impress" = ETCH to make TETCHY. A popular word in Scotland but when I looked it up it said its origin was unknown but possibly German.

1D - Soviet leader took out expert (7)

"Expert" is our definition and "Soviet leader" = S and "took out" means KILLED to become SKILLED.

2D - Liberal contrarily taxing arrival (9)

"Liberal" is our definition and "contrarily taxing arrival" means we want the opposite of those last two words to become EASY GOING.

3D - Swimmer showed up 5-across' player (3)

"Holmes' player" means we want an actor with three letters who has played Sherlock Holmes and whose name is, when reversed (showed up), is a "swimmer" is Christopher LEE.

4D - Ripped one's flesh (5)

"Flesh" is our definition and "ripped" = CUT as in the muscular bodybuilding and low body fat kind and "one's" = IS as one is usually an I and the S just tags along to make CUTIS. New word for me!

6D - Amazed possibly, stuffing up one method (4-7)

"Amazed" is our definition and someone please clarify - is "possibly stuffing" or just "stuffing" our anagrind with "UP ONE METHOD" the fodder to make OPEN-MOUTHED. I don't see the need for "possibly" unless to help make "stuffing" a stronger anagrind or just for surface. Possibly has its own uses as a signpost so I wasn't sure.

7D - A heap found to undergo sexual reassignment (5)

"A heap" is our definition and the word "Found" is to "undergo a sexual reassignment" meaning it drops the F to get an M instead and become MOUND.

8D - 12-across is not grand, needing new radical element (7)

"Element" is what we're needing and "LOGIC IS not Grand" means to drop the letter G leaving LOIC IS but it's "needing New" = N and I think "radical" in an anagrind to make SILICON. I've not seen "radical" as an anagrind so I'd appreciate clarification if anyone has this or something different.

9D - Shoot, arrow tip piercing boyfriend of 5-across? (2,6)

This clue has brought some discussion to the DATrippers. I got it from the definition "Boyfriend of Holmes" and knew it was DR WATSON but I'd never made any connections to the gents being gay. I have "girlfriends" but they're just friends so "boyfriend" didn't register with me in any other way than male friend. I still couldn't parse the clue fully, only that "Arrow tip, piercing" = A getting in the middle but I had that from 14A. I think Celia Fate at DAT has the best solution "Read it as two words “boy friend”: boy->letters 6-8, shoot->letters 1,2,4,5 & arrow tip->3. Definition is “friend …”" which plays with DA's love of combining words that work best apart in the solving.

13D - Quaint hamper pack for 5-across player (11)

"Holmes player" is who we're after again and "hamper" = CUMBER and "pack" = BATCH as in a bundle to make Benedict CUMBERBATCH. "Quaint" has no other use so far as I can see or at least I didn't need it to have one.

16D - Miro abstract, thus described by 5-across nemesis (8)

"Holmes nemesis" is who we need and "MIRO abstract" is partial fodder and anagrind but I don't understand how "thus described" = ARTY. I don't know if MORIARTY was an artist but I thought he was a gangland leader of sorts. Is it "arty" in the "artful" manner of sly and crafty?

17D - Overseas, miss neglectin' pickup, as parked outside (9)

This clue was holding me up in the SE corner and I asked Celia Fate for a hint. I love having puzzle friends! Her advice was "ignorin' the commas helps. Defn 1st two words." What DA and CF don't realise is it's very common to slang write with an apostrophe at the end because in Boston we drop letters everywhere and write like we tawk. I ignored it as normal. Silly me! "Overseas miss" is our definition and "neglectin'" = IGNORIN' as Celia hinted in her reply. "pickup AS parked outside" means the letters AS will be on the outside and reversed to make S(IGNORIN)A.

18D - 1-across's brother so estranged from PC firm's audit (7)

See, once we know the theme these become easy. It's an exercise in reverse solving, but what a clever clue this is! It seems rude to not bother solving through it even if the answer is obvious. "Holmes's brother" is who we want and work this backwards "PC firm" means we want MICROSOFT the main PC software people (those "other people" as I say since we're Mac slaves here) "SO estranged" means to drop the letters -SO leaving MICROFT and "audit" is a homophone signpost getting us to our answer MYCROFT. It's a sweet clue.

20D - Sub console (7)

Double definition: RELIEVE. A substitute teacher is called "relief" staff and to console someone is to "relieve their pain. I guess I'm a bit unsure about how "relief" gets to "relieve" but I'm not overly bothered. Should I be?

22D - Just liturgy quoted (5)

"Just" is our definition and this is a homophone clue where a "liturgy" is a public form of ritual worship or a RITE which sounds like "quoted" RIGHT.

23D - Party near Christmas - turn-out for 5-across inventor (5)

"Holmes inventor" is who we want and a "party" = DO and "near Christmas" = YULE but with the "turn out" and I know from previous puzzles the "turn" = U for a U-turn which leaves YLE  for DOYLE.

27D - Bill exhibits a bed, empty (3)

"Bill exhibits" is our definition and "A bed empty" = A COT but the "CoT" is empty leaving an ACT which we'd see listed in a playbill.

There we are! A good Friday was had but getting the theme helps a whole bunch in this one. Next two weeks are a muddle with the kids on holiday - it feels like they only just went back! -  and I'll be chaperoning a gang of teens to Supanova - help me? No? Coward. and seeing friends in Melbourne. I'll be posting less I wager over this time. We'll see.

As always leave tips and alternate solutions in the comments below. Enjoy any time off you happen to get and have a great weekend.

The Age Cryptic by DH #20,573

This one was tough, too. Last week the puzzles were a breeze this week it's punishment for having said the puzzles were easy. Ebb and flow. Another one with some medical answers that without dicking about (cheating) with anagram solvers, would have been impossible - or I'd have to wait until my friend Doug the ENT was online so I could ask him about 7D. I often torment Doug with clues that have ENT in the surface because he doesn't solve cryptics and it seems to kind of bug him which means I'll do it more often. (birth order: last born, can you tell?)

I had to use One Across for 3D and 15D because although I had all the elements for 15D I'd never heard of it and was doubtful. Same goes for 16D, that's a new one on me, too.

Yesterday I was in a Twitter chat with LR and a few others about his puzzle yesterday and a tweet he shared where he said "Just realised HATERS GONNA HATE fits perfectly in a crossword grid. But of course NYT already did it last year. Innovators gonna innovate." and I'd asked if there was a copyright reason and he'd said no it was because it was a phrase his editor had rejected. I asked about what the rules were compilers had to follow and he said "SMH doesn't like Americanisms and phrases which aren't broadly familiar. Then of course there's the "breakfast test"..." All very interesting. Imagine my surprise then at seeing 25A "Finished weary, completely fagged out? (9)" Well! Americanisms are a no-no but this is ok? I've lived in the UK I know what it means and all, but still. Seems a kind of favouritism to allow "fagged out" but not "Haters Gonna Hate" because it has "gonna" in it. Didn't DA use "sorta kinda" in a clue several months back? LR needs to fight his corner harder - SMH/Age should embrace opportunities to draw in and encourage younger solvers, using their phrases and trends.

It's part of the whole stigma of cryptic crosswords; that they're for old people, they're too hard or are full of archaic words (kinda true). Worse is the idea that only nerdy types do them - Vive les Nerds I say! It's been a Nerd revolution for over a decade and we're winning! I think the papers have to join this century and call out to the younger generations Throw them a bone once in a while with clues and puzzle themes specifically targeting them otherwise the risk is a smaller future for cryptics.

Here's my pic:

13A - Some pressure very big? Tomic upset concerning diffusion through membrane? (7)

Definition is "diffusion through membrane" and I know the last five letters are "TOMIC upset" but I'm not understanding where the OS is coming from to give us OSMOTIC.

3D - Little jerk after record. Irish menagerie in disease affecting lots of animals (9)

I got "little jerk" = TIC and it was going "after" other things but whether "report" is a homophone signpost or we're wanting a synonym I'm not sure and I've no clue what "Irish menagerie" is about either but "menagerie" looked like a good anagrind but no fodder here. What do those words do to make EPIZOOTIC?

4D - Love hanging that woman around? Left Achurch's footwear accessories? (9)

"Footwear accessories" is what we're looking for and "love" = O and "that woman" = SHE where the O is "hanging around" to make SH(O)E. Then "left" = L and here I'm stumped because "Achurch's" = ACES...Oh is is just A church's but DH made it look like a name so it's A CE'S. Ha-tcha-tcha I got ya!

20D - Hard with repressive order initially causing devastation (5)

I keep thinking this is a first/last clue but it's not, even though it says "initially"  but I think it only applies to "Causing". Is this "Hard" = H "repressive order" = AVO which I think is like a restraining order but DH uses "repressive" instead and then the C to make HAVOC?



That was my puzzle day. Hope yours was kinder. I was delighted - happy dance - that I got the reverse anagram in 26A. They're a rare clue and I'm not good at spotting them but I nailed it this time.

As always if you have solutions or got your answers in another way, please let me know in the comments. Tomorrow I'll look at the DP but will probably go for the Guardian puzzle. I'll see how I feel about them both. (That's me being a coward about solving Guardian puzzles. Don't let me get away with that!)

Have a good night!

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,572

I guess that whole "Monday puzzles are supposed to be easy" rule has gone out the window.  This one started off simple enough and then something happened around the middle that made it painful. I think it started with 7D and 14A. My first reaction to 14A was TYRANT but would that work? No. I had IRIDI_ _ _ _ for 7D and couldn't get those last four letters. Not because the clue wasn't helping but because my mind was determined to walk the wrong paths.

First clue in was 16A and last one in was 18A. I don't know why some people find these facts interesting but I'll share for the curious.

I thought there was going to be a medical theme with 1, 5, 9-across and 1, 2-down but if there was that seemed to be all of it. I really liked 8D and I was disappointed 26A wasn't a TOSSER. I know, six letters. Shame really. Here's my pic:

12A - Review marriage vow rhyme with street comedian (8)

I have nothing. I can't see where it comes from to make the answer PARODIST. I got the answer from cross letters and choosing "comedian" as the definition - in fact I thought it was "street comedian" and was trying other words for busker but I see "street" = ST at the end. Is it a homophone of "Parody" maybe? I don't see why.

14A - This clue is just mean! I fell for the misdirect. I'm guessing "key support" refers to keys on keyboard and the "dictator" is one who'd dictate to a secretary. I get it, I just wanted to shake my fist at this clue a few more times.

7D - One princess's into one band doing a metal cover? (9)

This was nearly my last clue in and the answer is IRIDISING. I think "one" = I, then "princess" = DI going into "one" = I again and "band" = SING? It's the band part that I'm not sure of. Or is "one band" = RISING? I'm not seeing the end bit. OH wait, that R - "band" = RING ah now I see. Sorry. I(R(I)(DI)SING) That's not confusing at all (yes it is)

13D - Check again regarding frugal year on south-east (9)

I solved this as "regarding" = RE, "frugal" = ANAL, "year" = Y and "south-east" = SE to make REANALYSE. What stumps me is "frugal" = ANAL. Is that right? I know frugal to mean very economical, to waste nothing. This sheds a very different light on the popular American TV cooking show The Frugal Gourmet.

That was my Monday. I did not finish by lunchtime today so no boasting from me. Good to see LR back. I had expected EM (I think it was EM, they've not been around for a while) or someone else - how many compilers rotate on the Monday?

Hope your Monday was kind to you.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20570

DA is always a challenge but this one was a bit kinder and had some funny clues. I like DA puzzles because you can see the wit behind the clues. I had fun and it took me the better part of the day to finish. I liked 20A and 25A and I was psyched I got the homophone clues so quickly. 15A was my first entry.

I found with a lot of these clues I was saying "It can't be..." and it was. Then I said "Why is it that?!" and there I struggle. It's happened, after a year of solving cryptic crosswords everyday I'm now solving clues by looking at them and just knowing. Sadly, that's not good enough, I still have to know why.

I have many unsolved elements that hopefully I'll get as I type through them. Here's the pic:

1A - D-d-drunk skipping round, drunk in East London (9)

"D-d-drunk" is our demonstrative definition. I'm not sure how "skipping round" = ST but I get "drunk in East London" is a cockney hint to (-h)AMMERED to create STAMMERED.

6A - Pyjamaed banana's TV show (5)

"TV show" is our definition and "Pyjamaed banana's" leads us to the Bananas in Pyjamas show where the bananas are named B1 and B2. If we spell out B ONE then add the S in the clue we can get BONES. I did not get this, I had the cross letters in place and drew a blank. Sandy cleared it up with "6a just sound out a pajamaed banana (just one if them) and write that done without using numerals and see if that helps."

9A - Devour lamb stew for seconds (3)

"Devour" is our definition and this is odd because we need the definition to solve the clue because "for seconds" is our signpost to use every second letter for each word to get our answer; "dEvour lAmb sTew" = EAT. It's not often we use the definition as part of the solution.

10A - Emperor dipped both hands, thence foot, in wine, trimming gut (11)

"Emperor" is who we are looking for and with cross letters I could see the answer was CHARLEMAGNE. I think the "both hands" = RL for right and left and I think the wine is
CHAM(-p)AGNE where "gut removed" means to drop the letter P. so that's CHA(RL)(E)MAGNE. Ah, so "thencE foot" means use the last letter from "thence" which means this one is solved!

11A - Fat cat ends on tasty cheese (6)

"Fat cat" is our definition and "ends TastY" = TY and "cheese" well more precisely "tasty cheese" = COON which is a brand of cheddar which gets us TYCOON.

12A - Chili Pepper music wasted beat initially (8)

Such a tricky misdirect for us Gen X crowd. I got this from cross letters and definition "Chili" is our definition and "pepper" = CAP, I suppose, but I got "MUSIC wasted" as fodder and anagrind which got me the answer. I'm not sure what "beat initially" is about or if "CAP" really is a nick name for a pepper unless it's a Scotch Bonnet but that's a stretch.

15A - Declared honest love for old ruler (7)

"Old ruler" is our definition and "declared" is a homophone signpost where "honest love" becomes FAIR O which sounds like PHARAOH.

16A - Meeting first couple on quitting addiction (7)

"Meeting" is our definition and I got this from the thesaurus and cross letters but how we get there I'm not sure. I had thought it was something to do with "quitting addiction" and cessation but I don't know how.

18A - Question underling (7)

Double definition: SUBJECT.

19A - Sensitive guy lost heart catching crooner heading off (7)

"Sensitive" is our definition and "GuY lost heart" = GY which will be "catching" a "Crooner" = SINGER and "heading off" means to drop the first letter leaving INGER to make G(INGER)Y. I've never used gingery in that way, have you? "After 100 squats my ass is pretty gingery" or is it to describe someone who's emotional, like they've poked ginger in their eye? I spent a lot of time listing crooners and trying to remove compass points from their name to get this, I was frustrated when I realised I was down that rabbit hole.

20A - Creeps or runs? It's undecided inhouse (8)

"Creeps" is our definition and this was explained in the D.A. Trippers by Ray "“runs” = letter 3. “It’s undecided” gives a TLA for letters 4,5,6. “inhouse” – read as “in house”. “in” position indicator. “house” 4 letter synonym for letters 1,2,7,8." So this means  "runs" = R, "it's undecided" = TBA for "to be announced" and "in house" = DIGS with in as a container signpost to make DI(R)(TBA)GS.

22A - Wash out bowl rims separately (6)

"Wash out" is our definition and "BowL rims" = BL as rims is used like edges and "separately" = EACH to make BLEACH.

25A - Norm can flag (3-8)

"Norm" is our definition and it's not the guy from Cheers but shortened form of normal. "Can" = BOG as both are slang for toilet which was reminiscent of last week's clue where "can" was used. "Flag" = STANDARD to make BOG-STANDARD.

27A - Literary convict eludes woman spelling I-S-S-U-E? (3)

It's one of those rare occasions where my feminist radar didn't ping but others' did regarding this clue. I was more involved with the struggle of thinking of "literary convicts" and yes my first thought was Great Expectations but I discounted it as it was too many letters. Silly me. I thought of Of Mice and Men, Count of Monte Cristo, Man In The Iron Mask, The Fugitive which I wasn't sure was a book first, Les Miserables even Harry Potter and got nowhere. Should have stayed with my first instinct and MAGWITCH from Great Expectations where "eludes woman" = -WITCH and leaves MAG as a synonym of "issue" and here the misogyny claim is laid. DA didn't have to clue this as "woman" he could have used sorceress, enchanter, conjuror anything to keep this in the realm of fiction and magic to get us to remove the word witch. By just using "woman" it's like saying women are witches. I'm glad others pointed this out as I was so absorbed in which criminal I hadn't noticed. Glad to know others look out for this sort of thing, too. A short discussion about it is on DAT.

28A - Applaud text oldie retained (5)

"Applaud" is our definition and "retained" is a hidden word signpost showing that within "tEXT OLdie" is the word EXTOL.

29A - Tackle a bloke smuggling stripped part aboard boat (9)

Not sure if "Tackle" or "boat" was the definition I worked the middle trying to find words for "bloke" that had "stripped pARt aboard" = AR in it and that was A MAN giving us AM(AR)AN leaving the beginning to be CAT and our definition is a "boat" = CATAMARAN. I've never heard of "tackle" = CAT so this took me a while and thankfully there was a cross clue to get us the C. CAT is a short name for catamaran in the dictionary so I wonder if the same thing as 12A is happening here where a thing's nickname is clued as its opening?

1D - Cleaned up benches on time (5)

"Cleaned" is our definition and "up benches" = PEWS but for a down clue it's reversed to SWEP which is sitting "on time" = T to make SWEPT.

2D - Lobby for an IT expert adding light (11)

"Lobby" is our definition and the answer is ANTICHAMBER. I don't know how we get there. I figure "an IT" is fodder but that makes "expert" an anagrind and not one I've seen before. Nor do I know how "adding light" = CHAMBER unless AMBER is a stop light colour and "adding" is just CH? Lost here.

3D - Half a mind to flaunt way to cook (9)

"Way to cook" is our definition or maybe just "cook" I'm not sure. I get that "half a MInd" = MI and "to flaunt" = CROW but I'm not sure where the AVE comes from to make MICROWAVE. Unless "way" = AVE as similar street names and AVE is short for avenue?

4D - Race tips supplied by morning papers (4)

"Papers" is our definition and "RacE tips" = RE and "morning" = AM to make REAM. I had thought "supplied" was going to be a container signpost but it's just for surface.

5D - $50 lord gains Scrabbling (6,4)

Took a while to see that the definition is just "$" and "50" = L as the Roman numeral and "LORD GAINS scrabbling" is fodder and anagrind to make DOLLAR SIGN.

6D - Fails ultimately from investing in crops (5)

"Fails" is our definition and "ultimately" is usually used to hint that the first letter of the previous word is our target letter - or maybe I've thought that because it's usually used to the right of the target word in clues I've solved before and I grab the first letter from the word on its left (is that confusing or what?). The definition of "ultimately" is "last; furthest or farthest; ending a process or series:" so it really means the last letter of the next word furthest away, either side. This was a revelation for me, so don't laugh! As "fails" is the definition we need to take the last letter from the next adjacent word "froM" = M and that will be "investing in crops" where "investing in" is a container signpost and "crops" = BOBS like the haircuts not the agriculture, to create BO(M)BS.

7D - Silver, say, close to coin silver (3)

I'm not sure but "Silver" must be our definition and I know one of them is "silver" = AG and "close to coiN" = N as we want the closing letter of the word coin. This makes our answer N(AG) but why "Silver, say" means I don't know. I'm not seeing a homophone of silver and nag unless we're back to horses like last week's Trigger and this is the Lone Ranger's horse Silver who was a nag? From what I've read Silver was a boy horse.

8D - Spy prepared to accept mark or yen as kickstarter kitty (4,5)

"Kickstarter kitty" is our definition and I know "mark or yen" are different currencies or MONEY but this wasn't helping me get what "spy prepared to accept" was about. It could be "spy" = SEE and "mark" = DM for Deutschmarks the old German currency but then I can't get the end of the clue. Answer is SEED MONEY. I feel I'm missing an anagram here with "prepared" in the clue. DAT Dom says "8d letter 4 is the first letter of a 4-letter word meaning prepared – this means that “yen” is NOT backwards, just the single letter." Meaning "prepared" = DONE which takes in "mark" = M and then "yen" = Y for the end? SEE(D(M)ONE(Y) is this right?

13D - Be pugnacious at first, laying into quieter Canberra heavyweight (5,6)

"Canberra heavyweight" is who we are looking for but I got this from cross letters and a confirmation that I was looking for a proper noun but spent a fair amount of time looking for Aussie boxers out of Canberra. It wasn't until I'd solved 12A that I twigged the answer was CLIVE PLAMER. Unfortunately I'm not able to reverse solve this clue. All I've got is that it's likely "quieter" = P but not the rest. Ah, Ray has explained this morning "13D – “Be” gives 4 letter synonym for letters 2,3,4,5. “pugnacious first” = letter 6. “laying into” – container indicator. “quieter” gives 6 letter synonym for letters 1,7,8,9,10,11." meaning "quieter" doesn't give a P as I'd expected but means CALMER with "be" = LIVE and "Pugnacious at first" = P to be C(LIVE)(P)ALMER.

14D - Pretty exotic broth won over nice cook (10)

"Pretty" is our definition and "exotic broth" = PHO and "won over" = GOT  as in "got them eating out of the palm of my hand!" reversed to TOG and "NICE cook" is partial fodder and anagrind to make PHO(TOG)(ENIC).

15D - A bod's contorted with pole dance (4,5)

"Dance" is our definition and "ABODS contorted with POLE" is anagrind and fodder to make PASO DOBLE. A kind of Spanish dance.

17D - Admit style reflected solo state (9)

"Solo state" is our definition and I think "admit" = SING as in one who confesses "sings like a bird" and "style reflected" = MODE reversed to EDOM. What I'm missing is where we get the middle letter from to make SING(L)(EDOM)

21D - Nut to punt on Eels centre (5)

"Nut" is our definition and "to punt" = BET and "eELs centre" = EL to make BETEL.

23D - Dominate an old comic (5)

"Old comic" is who we are looking for and I was looking for a comic strip or cartoon for a long time, trying to make HAGAR fit. I needed cross letters to see this because I wouldn't have thought "dominate" = HOG (not that I thought it was hag either I just couldn't think another five letter comic strip character starting with an H) and the "AN" from the clue would make HOGAN the favourite Aussie comic and movie star.

24D - Finesse nailed in reception (4)

"Finesse" is our definition and "reception" is a homophone signpost for "nailed in" = TACKED -> TACT.

26D - Old coot getting back object (3)

"Old coot" is our definition and I don't know what this is! So infuriating to get stumped on a three letter word. I think "getting" = TIG like in a game of tag. Do Aussies call that Tig like the Scots do?  reverse that for GIT but what is "object" there for? I don't know!


That's me done for the week. Not a bad week really. I think I'm going to drop the DP and focus on the Guardian puzzles for Wednesday. I still find them really hard. any other free puzzles you can recommend? I have a subscription for the Age/SMH but don't want to pay for another subscription to just solve the puzzle unless it's really worthwhile.

Enjoy tour weekend! I'm taking the kids out for burgers because I have a thing for burgers. Need a big break from the computer before it becomes my Grand Overlord.

The Age cryptic by RM & DH #20,566 & 20,567

Quick posts for these two as they weren't super difficult. I did find the RM harder than the DH. I'll start with RM.

I solved this from the bottom up and got 19D in first which must be the psych major in me that could spot that one so fast. I found the top difficult because I couldn't get 1A and had to cheat to get that before moving anywhere. Quite disappointing. I also cheated for the last word on 22D but I'm not kicking myself there - the phrase is off. I know that as "As a last resort" so I had "In the last....." and drew a blank. I was also unsure about 9A because I'd already had STEREO in 17A and wasn't expecting the same word twice, even as another version. But it was hard to argue with the hidden word right there before me.

Here's my pic:

11A - Second little taste is the most delightful (8)

I don't know where the "TEST" part is coming from. "Second" = S, "little" = WEE so how does "taste is the most" = TEST? I don't see how we drop the A and mix the rest of "taste" to get there.

I was going to ask about 4D but I just saw it's "agreement" = OK "entering into" "the day before" = EVE to make EV(OK)E.

That's all I had trouble with yesterday. Once I had the pun for 1A everything else fell into place. I really struggle without a first letter in place. I'm sure I'm not alone in that. 

Today's puzzle was done in an hour. My fastest newspaper solve yet. I'll wager the advanced solvers had this done before their first cuppa was cold.

3D - Irish business starts naming old Colleen the final heretic (10)

ICONOCLAST is our answer and I know "Irish" = I, "business" = CO but I don't know where the "NO" comes from. I had a dumb handwritten typo in there so ignore the "noo/new" thing, I was not paying close attention. "Colleen" = C and the end is "final" = LAST so I don't know why "old" = NO.

4D - Experience final stroke in hoist (5)

I got this from cross letters and definition, otherwise I'm stumped as to how we get HEAVE.

13D - Something to eat for supporters of Charles (4,2,4)

My last one in the grid and I had all the cross letters and no idea. I used One Across to help me out but don't know what this about. Charles Lamb, sure but is the clue just a play on his name? Is he a popular guy in Aussie history? I've never heard of him. Yet I got 17D immediately because I love Doris Day. I got 16D after a lot of googling because I only know about Carlsbad California and couldn't figure out the Czech link. "Lewis" did not make me think Carl Lewis first. Jerry Lewis would always be my first Lewis, especially since it was his 89th birthday yesterday. Carl Lewis isn't far behind, though as I know him from the Olympics.


That's all I've got. I printed off today's Brummie and will give it a go but it looks tough. I need to give these Guardian guys a fair shake more often - the puzzles are free, why do I shirk them? Lazy. Comfortable with the gang at the Age.

If you have questions or solutions please add them in the comments as they are always appreciated. Have a great day!

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,564

I survived but it was a close battle. No themes or trickery at least apart from a couple of cross reference clues. I took it in parts with breaks and it took me until about 4pm. Things that I get frustrated about seem to have answers pop into my head when I get away from them for a bit. I was able to get portions of clues and found I could solve from the end of a clue and not the front or vice vera.

The pic:

1A - Pretty easy shift? So shift? (7)

"Pretty easy" is our definition and pick a "shift" to be your anagrind and mix "shift so" to get SOFTISH.

5A - On conversion left a gift - timeless Bible cover (3,4)

"Bible cover" is what we are looking for and "conversion LEFt A GIFt, timeless" with "conversion as our anagrind and the rest is fodder except "timeless" means to remove the Ts from the fodder and mix what's left to get FIG LEAF.

9A - Over Gaga's first release and Nickleback (5)

"Over" is our definition and "gAGA's first release" = AGA as we let go of the first letter and set it free like a bird. Then "Nickelback" is a one word instruction to take the chemical name for nickel =  NI and reverse it to make AGA(IN)

11A - Wave bright and noisy holding lines where a surfer's been (8,7)

"Where a surfer's been" is our definition and have to think of web surfers not ocean ones, "wave BRIGHT and NOISY" is anagrind and partial fodder which will be "holding lines" = ROWS to create B(ROWS)ING HISTORY. I got this from cross letters and then had to solve in reverse. (pic below)

13A - Booze Barn unpackaged wine supply? (6)

"Booze" is our definition and "bARn unpackaged" = AR as we strip the outer letters,  and the "wine supply" = RACK which is more where the wine supply is stored or is a wine collection called one's rack? To make ARRACK. New word for me.

14A - Art panels get instant audit on journey (8)

"Art panels" is our definition and I know "on journey" means to move a synonym for "journey" = TRIP to the front but how "get instant audit" makes TYCH for the word TRIPTYCH I don't know. I did know the word triptych so for that I'm quite chuffed and was able to get it with cross letters.

17A - Cycle shed shocked troop on the rocks (4-4)

I've got nothing. I put the cross letters into One Across to get the answer but I cannot marry the answer to a definition, not as I know it anyway. Answer is DIRT POOR. If "on the rocks" is our definition then it's a new twist for me. Idiom search does confirm it to mean bankruptcy. I think it's a way linking to the ship version of being marooned and losing your ship.

19A - A Kardashian served fairly trendy Korean dish (6)

First clue in but I'm not too proud about that. "Korean dish" is what we're looking for and "A Kardashian" = KIM and "fairly trendy" = CHIC but drop the last letter as "fairly" is a deletion signpost, leaving us with KIM(CHI)

22A - 3-down's insurance cover? (4,3,8)

Skip ahead to 3D to see the answer is INN and if we think of the smaller B&B kind of INN what kind of insurance cover would they need? HOME AND CONTENTS. That seems like a straightforward clue and not very cryptic so have I missed an angle here?

23A - Merges fine print you've even added (9)

"Merges" is the definition and if I wasn't a carpenter's daughter who watched way too much of Norm Abrams and the New Yankee Workshop then I'd never have gotten DOVETAILS. (Yeah my accent's a bit like that but it dips into Scottish sometimes too. It's a trip) The only element I can parse is the "yOuVe even" = OV Oh! I see now! "small print" are DETAILS and "added" must be a container signpost to make D(OV)ETAILS. Is that it?

24A - Frank account, possibly, recalled invasion on army base (5)

"Frank account" is the definition and "recalled invasion" = RAID reversed in the grid to DIAR with "armY base" = Y to make DIARY of Anne Frank. Very clever clue. I felt great solving this.

25A - Clientele coming to defend old carrier (7)

"Old carrier" is our definition and I had cross letters in place and got this from a guess before noticing this was a hidden word clue with our answer hidden in "clienTELE COMing" to make TELECOM. I never would have picked "defend" as a hidden word signpost.

26A - Chinese banker negative over grant, led off by zillionaire outsiders (7)

"Chinese banker" is our definition and yes I went down the rabbit hole of looking at names of banks. Not for long, though. I figured the end of the clue first with "ZillionairE outsiders" = ZE and thought does "negative" = YANG like yin and yang to make YANGTZE. Except Yang is the positive and Yin is the negative. I got the answer but I don't think I got it the right way. I can't parse the T either. Although I do see an anagram of Tangy!

1D - Titanic's right location for director and foremost celeb (9)

"Titanic's right" is the definition but really we need to think of any ship, not just the Titanic. "location for director" = BOARD as in a board of directors, and "foremost celeb" = STAR which will be moved before the BOARD to make STARBOARD. Nice misdirection, I was kicking myself when I got it.

2D - Can squared jackets exhibit taste? (7)

"Exhibit taste" is our definition and "can" = LAV where can is slang for the toilet/ LAVatory, "squared jackets" = FOUR as a square has four sides and that will "jacket" or split around LAV to make F(LAV)OUR. It took a while for me to get square = four, is this a common device in clues?

3D - Flopped in Scandinavian hotel? (3)

"Hotel" is our definition and I needed Mort's hint over at D.A. Trippers "for 3D read the first word as two words, then apply to a four-letter Scandinavian." to get me through. "Flopped" is one of DAs one-word instructions read as "F-lopped" from a "Scandinavian" = FINN, drop the F and we get INN as our answer.

4D - A trip to the cleaners for watering? (6)

This is a double definition and it seemed to give folks a lot of trouble. I got it straight off of as the Canadian slang "You got hosed! You hoser." for "a trip to the cleaners" and "for watering" = HOSING. Did Australia not get the McKenzie brothers? Americans can't be the only people who like laughing at Canadians. With Canadians, I meant with.

5D - 1-across US comedian at her installation (8)

1-across was SOFTISH and is our definition here. I found this one hard and parsed after solving from cross letters. "US comedian" = FEY as in Tina Fey then "AT HER installation" means to "install" the fodder into the word FEY to make FE(ATHER)Y.

6D - Make up rubbish against peer (11)

"Make up" is our definition and "rubbish AGAINST PEER" is anagrind and fodder to make GREASE PAINT.

7D - Science emergency limits bottling of pointless scent (7)

A "science" is what were are looking for and "EmergencY limits" = EY which will be "bottling up" or containing a "pointless scent" = COLOG(-ne) as we remove the compass points to make E(COLOG)Y.

8D - Baroque relish (5)

Double definition: FANCY.

12D - Extremely sexy officer in chat turned obsequious (11)

"Obsequious" is our definition and "extremely SexY = SY and I had it from there.  "Officer" = COP and "IN CHAT turned" is partial fodder and anagrind to make SY(COP)(HANTIC)

15D - Hysterical Cubs leader kicked swarming beehive, perhaps (9)

"Beehive perhaps" is the definition "HYSTERICAL + Cubs leader" gives us the fodder and "kicked" is the anagrind to make HAIRSTYLE. For an anagram clue, this was one of my last in the grid. I got the answer from cross letters and had been completely in the dark about what was going on. So devious. Does "swarming" have another use or is it just for surface?

16D - My word is broken by loutish carry-on (8)

"Loutish carry-on" is our definition and "MY WORD IS broken" is fodder and anagrind to make ROWDYISH.

18D - Taking away Dreamtime Park? (7)

"Taking away" is our definition and "dreamtime" = REM as in REM sleep, the sleep phase where dreaming occurs, and a "park" = OVAL, a very Aussie term, to create REMOVAL.

20D - Call netball foul (7)

Double definition: CONTACT. Call / netball foul.

21D - Getting warmer, approaching farm's pigs? (7)

"Getting warmer" is our definition and I got this from cross letters. "Approaching farm's pigs" means we are going TO A STY when mushed together makes TOASTY.

22D - Was disgusted by almond tips in batter (3,2)

"Was disgusted" is our definition and "AlmonD tips" = AD which goes "in" "batter" = HIT to make H(AD)IT!

24D - Teller's over brownish grey (3)

"Brownish grey" is our definition and "teller" is a homophone signpost meaning we want a word for "over" = DONE which sounds like DUN.

There we go. Finished for another week. Good guesses, backward parsing and a headdesk or two. Am I the only one who does this kind of "I think I know it!" backward anagram solving?

As always if you can help with the red clues or have better or alternate solutions then please share your experiences in the comments.

Looks like a lovely weekend and I'm going to go have some it, hope your weekend is wonderful, too.

The Age Cryptic by NS #20,563

Something is wrong. Very wrong. How is it I've had all four puzzles this week done before lunch and no deep dramas? How is this possible?! These have been easy puzzles this week, right? Tomorrow is going to be kick in the guts. That's when the other shoe will drop. I am not going to get cocky but damn am I chuffed and doing a dance around my house.

It's closing in on the first year of this blog (May 5th). My New Year resolution last year was to get good at solving cryptics. To really understand what this stuff is all about and I think I've come pretty far. I actually started in February 2014 because I wasn't decided on any kind of NYE resolution - dumb things really. It was my husband who told me to start this blog. I started by just talking to myself but I'm delighted with all the great people I've met through this obsession. So many lovely people do cryptic crosswords. Thank you lovely people for helping me achieve my goal. I still have a long way to go but you make the way more fun.

The NS was pretty good. Her signature giant anagrams weren't too bad and I was able to get 27A immediately thanks to Tuesday's episode of Miss Marple The Moving Finger. This was a good challenge in the charades and homophones of "you" = U featured a few times. 25A was a pickle to parse. Here's my pic:

A reminder of what all my scribbles mean:

Definitions are underlined
Actionable signposts or words are circled
Anagrinds are in rectangles
Anagram fodder has a squiggly underline
Dashes above/below letters are beginning/end letters or odds/evens 
Underlined numbers are not fully parsed unless ticked and circled numbers are ones I share with the Facebook Cryptic Crossword Learners club.

What I need help understanding:

12A- Somewhere to sleep, i.e. clearly not outside, is complying with orders (8)

Answer is OBEDIENT with "complying with orders" as the definition but I don't know where the O comes from. I thought "somewhere to sleep" = BED then add the IE from the clue, "NoT outside" = NT leaving "clearly" as the only word not used.

13A - In rebuke, the voice quality was icy (5-4)

I got this with cross letters and thinking "quality was icy" but it wasn't settling for me. I think I just got this; is it "rebuke" = SCOLD and the "in" is a container signpost for "voice quality" = TONE for S(TONE) COLD?

23A - Do enter, in or under cover (6)

I got this from cross letters, it was my last clue in grid. Not sure it's right. I'm not sure how this is parsed. I put in INDOOR.

21D - One citizen is a keen supporter, embracing first great hero (5)

Again I had all the cross letters and could only think of one word to fit AFGHAN. Nothing makes sense for me though so it's likely incorrect. I thought "One" = I or "citizen" = KANE "Keen supporter" = PRO what's being "embraced" and who was the first "great hero" David? Roman/Greek  gods? I can't see where to dig into this clue. The likely definition is "One citizen"...maybe?

That's it from me. Raising a bottle of cider to wish us all big wins tomorrow in the battle against DA's offering.

The Age Cryptic by DP #20,562

A very short post today for a very short puzzle with only 25 clues to solve and most pretty easy, or at least easy to get with cross letters. I'm having a killer week with these puzzles! I must be careful not to get overconfident.

There was small Rapunzel theme with the long entries but none too (s)tressing.  Shame it wasn't used for 20 across as a Cockney clue.

Quick pic and then three clues I'm not able to parse:

12A - Haymaker uses it to toss into position (9)

I took a while with this thinking "haymaker" was a punch but once cross letters were there it was looking pretty ugly to try and fit a punch word in there. I then realised it was being literal about someone who makes hay and what they use to "toss" hay being a PITCHFORK. What I don't know is what makes this cryptic. If "toss" = PITCH then how does "in position" = FORK?


15D - Entirely and contrarily wrong (8)

I got this with all the cross letters in place and guessing. I think "entirely" must be the definition but...oh is "contrarily" saying using the opposite of "in wrong" to become OUT RIGHT? Oh that makes sense. Sorry I think I got it.


16D - Phone sound may cause elation after 1st of December (4-4)

And again I think I just got this as I'm typing. Is it "1st December" = D and ELATION is an anagram to follow to make DIAL-TONE? "may cause" is a weakish anagrind, huh?


Well I guess I only need help with one after all that. I hope I can keep on this roll for the rest of the week. Wishing you easy puzzle solving as well. You know, I wager the expert solvers are feeling pretty cheated out of a challenge. I can't wait to get to that point!

The Age Cryptic by DH 20,561

Wow, I didn't think I'd get a chance to do anything today but this puzzle was very easy. I had most of it done in the waiting room for my daughter's x-rays with no tech allowed to help me out. The bottom went is first and then the top, getting a little held up in the NW corner with 10A and 1D.

I am riled by 13D and I've said before I don't like negative or sexist words for women used in puzzles. I say that because there are so few words of equal weight that can only be applied to men that don't also insult another group, like women or homosexuals. Try and think of an insult to describe men that is not unisex or involve women ("sissy" "douche" "pussy") or homosexuals ("fudge-packer" "faggot") and see how many you get. I asked friends to help and the list was very small: Pecker (-head, -wood), Wanker, Bum. I was trying to get a launch word to put into the thesaurus to get more male central insults and it's proving difficult. Not that I want to go about insulting men but to point out there are millions of words that would better serve in a crossword than reusing ones that are used to harm. Would I be happy to see "Pecker" in a grid defined as an insult to men? No way, I like men too much.

That said, I did like a few of these clues and the circled ones are shared on CCLearners Facebook group. I was happy to see 23A and thought if it wasn't one of the three horses I could name, I'd be screwed. I know Trigger, Silver (The Lone Ranger's horse) and Tornado (Zorro's horse) and I was safe - it was one of those. I liked 6D too because my first thought was of Bernadette Peters but then realised it's cryptic so had to be someone else.

I did finish but I have a few questions. Here's my pic:

12A - Award for short December speech? (10)

I got the answer by making the word "declaration" short by one letter but is there another solution here?

16A - Colourful church to go up (6)

"Church" = CE and "to go up" = RISE for CERISE, a colour. I can't think where we'd use "colourful" with CERISE apart from blushing but we don't say "blushful" so I'm missing some grammar thing here. I'm not the biggest grammar pedant but I should try more.

19A - Pass model a horse gun (4)

I got this a double definition with just "horse gun" = COLT but the rest I'm not sure of unless it's "pass" = C as in the grade and "model" = T but that doesn't leave anything for the LT that I see with "horse." Does this mean just having "horse gun" as the clue would've been too easy?

13D - Time old Ottoman starts new toilet for shrew (9)

I used thesaurus, definition and cross letters to get. I thought "time" = T and "starts New Toilet" = NT but how "old Ottoman" worked I don't know.

17D - Betting the Italian back to take care of hair trouble (5,3)

I got this with cross letters and definition but I just realised this as I was typing - is it "betting" = SP, "the Italian, back" = IL reversed to LI and "to take care of" = TEND. Yes, I think that's it!

24A - Stresses existence of Egyptian goddess (4)

Is this just saying "Is! Is!" in a kind of "Is not!" "Is so Is so Is Isisisisisinfintytoamillion!" kind of thing?

That's me done. Oh well I do have a few more male centric insults to add to the list: Goon, Brute, Cad (not used much these days really but then neither is termagant), Lout, Basement dweller, Neckbeard (I had to have that one explained to me - thanks @Mr_Indigo) Boy, Deadbeat and Putz. I have seen lout in puzzles as well as thug. I know it's my pet peeve with puzzles and I don't expect it to be everyone else's. I just want us all to play nice.

The Age Cryptic by RM #20,560

Hello! I've been away and neglected my blog.  I had a child with a broken wrist needing x-rays and a cast and my husband has been away with business. I've also taken to protest my husband's strict "no pets" rule and have been feeding the backyard Magpies.

My little experiment was to see if they'd like some peanuts - my friend in Perth says her maggies love peanuts so I figured why not. A tray of peanuts sat on my deck for three days.  My friends came over for a drinks and movies night, without kids, and laughed at me. "Mince! They love mince. You'll never tempt a magpie with peanuts."

The next day, after they'd gone home, the magpies arrived. A family of four that live my neighbour's gum tree. They liked the peanuts. I texted my friends and told them. The next day a magpie was trying to walk through the hole in my screen to come into the house. I took a video and shared it on Facebook (can't get it below 100mb for Blogger and I'm not tech savvy enough to figure it out) and today - today! - I hand fed two of them chicken. It's amazing! I fixed the screen, too. Thank you Youtube! (I can replace a screen on a sliding door but not compress video. My Dad would be proud)

I got through today's puzzle all right. Right side was easier than the left and the SW corner were my last clues in. I shared a few with the Cryptic Crossword Society and C.C. Learners on Facebook. I liked 1D, 19D and 26A was lovely just for the use of "shillelagh" which is a great word to say.

I won't to a full breakdown, just a pic and questions on where I'm not sure about parsing:

Clues I'm unsure of:

3D - Sparing with words, somewhat large, round bottomed and pointy headed (3)

I got this with cross letters and definition. I guess "large" = L but the rest is lost on me. I keep think of papooses.

8D - Otherwise he'll use oddly lacking middlemen (4)

With cross letters I'm going with "Otherwise" as definition and ELSE as the answer. I tried making the answer from  "hE'lL uSe" = ELS and then adding the "middlemEn" but the word "lacking" makes me think something should be removed. I'm not sure.

24D - Close to second shack (4)

Second is just an S? is that right? I had the H in place from 25A and thought it was to mean the second letter in "sHack" so I wasn't sure.

I'm posting without having the solution to hand so if there's an error, let me know. If you have better solutions, also add those to the comments - especially for 9D as I'm sure that's a bit wonky (Sports stuff works for me but not everyone) I kept thinking of "Wireworker" as an operator, those people who used to connect phone calls or phone LINES on a switchboard but sadly don't exist any more. Also at the same time I was working that clue, Jerry Lewis shared a clip of the film You're Never Too Young of him using an operator's line desk. I love him to wee bits.

I'm out tomorrow as daughter needs another round of x-rays and possible recast so my day is gone. Have a great afternoon!