The Age Cryptic by DA #20,439

I got off to a good start with this puzzle and had five answers in the first half an hour. It was a straightforward puzzle with no themes. My rule with a DA puzzle is it's been a good solve if I end up with at least five answers, so I was psyched with that result. After those five, the struggle began.  Each clue was hard won after that. I peeped in on the D.A. Trippers for a few but the clues that stumped me, they didn't have trouble with, and the ones I got quick, folks had questions about so that was interesting.

Like last week I found it easier to spot the definition and got lots of answers with cross letters before being able to solve the cryptic half of the clue. I'm going to say that's probably a very normal way to get through these puzzles once someone has put the effort into learning them. I get a sense of what's going on without knowing with complete confidence until after the solution is there.

I have gaps in solutions for 15A (got it!), 19A, 28A 1D (got it!) and 18D so let me know if you have tips on those. Here's my pic:

1A - Decent riddle about deal ending freight mover (5,4)
"Freight mover" is the definition and "decent" = GOOD and "riddle" = SIFT  to be place "about" "deaL ending" = L to give us: GOODS (L)IFT.

6A - Discussed which trials were conducted here? (5)
My first clue in the grid. "Discussed" is a homophone signpost and "which trials were conducted here?" where WHICH = WITCH, then the answer to that question is SALEM. A town I used to visit when I bunked off classes at university. Shhh don't tell my mom! (That's just me wondering if my Mom is still reading the blog: Hi Mom! I sent you a new cryptic magazine. Call soon, xoxo)

Edit** 9A - Sort of complex iPod with a loose case in need of fixing (7)
I didn't get this because I thought "sort complex" was an anagram signpost but I never got the right bits to make the word I needed. "Complex" is the definition and is "sort" an anagrind not next to the fodder - breaking the rules? Newbies like me need those rules. "sort iPod" is anagrind and partial fodder,  "with A" and "LoosE case" = EL  and then "in need of fixing" could be a long anagrind to give us OEDIPAL. So do we really need the word "sort" at the beginning? It ruined the whole clue for me. ** Apologies for this, I did blind out the word "of" in the clue which should read "sort OF complex" which removes all of my confusion. I can't believe I created my own problem with this in such a spectacular fashion. Apologies! I'm sure i'm not the only one this happens to. go on, make me feel better - confess. Please?

10A - Send for a ruffian after 31 days in Cannes (4,3)
"Send for" is the definition and "ruffian" = LOUT to be put after a month with "31 days" where "Cannes" means we want the French spelling and there's only one with three letters, leaving us with MAI for MAIL OUT. How does mail out mean to send for? Is this like in Ye Olde Kingdoms where a summons was sent via a messenger?

11A - Bother Olympic racer, admitting crack in locker stuff (5-2, 7)
I got this by working backwards and with help from cross letters on the 7-letter word. I pegged "locker stuff" for the definition and "bother" was an anagrind. I thought about the different types of lockers - there aren't that many - and what we put into the lockers to get me the Overhead Locker and CARRY-ON LUGGAGE. From the clue it's "Bother" = CARRY-ON and "Olympic racer" = LUGE with "admitting crack" = GAG as in a wisecrack put into LUGE.

13A - My opinion involving one famous key? (2,3,3,2)
"My opinion" is our definition and correct me if I get this wrong, "involving one" = I and "famous key?" is the rest of the fodder with the question mark acting as an anagrind to give us IF YOU ASK ME. Some D.A. Trippers mentioned "involving" being the anagrind and yes that is on the lists of anagrinds but why is the question mark there? Question marks can indicate Reverse anagrams, cryptic clues and other things - can it indicate an anagram? Just being a sign that some chicanery is still afoot?

15A - Celebrity exploding train from the east (4)
"Celebrity" is our definition and I guessed the answer was IDOL and "exploding" could be ID for incendiary device. I don't know how "train from the east" becomes OL except that it's possibly LO and "from the east" is a hint to reverse that to OL. I don't know how OL is "train." Outward Line? Just looked in at DAT and Mort says " 15A is hidden in reverse in the word “exploding”" meaning "from the east" is reversal and "from" must be the hidden word signpost for expLODIng to hide IDOL.

17A - Old city shelled out (4)
"Out" is our definition and "old" = EX which is a cluing device I've seen a lot of recently and "cITy shelled" = IT as if the letters IT where a nut and removed its "shell," giving us EXIT.

19A - Auditor's amending apartment sheets for scribe (7,3)
"Sheets for scribe" is our definition and I got the answer from that and cross letters. I had thought "Auditor's" was a homophone signpost and then "amending" was a deletion signpost but maybe it's as simple as "One who writes writs (Auditor) is in the act of WRITING?" Yeah? Maybe?  Do auditors write writs? "Apartment" = PAD was much easier to grasp. Answer is a WRITING PAD.

25A - Olympic racer, perhaps, to search for farmyard crest (7)
Again, I got this with cross letters and working in reverse. "Farmyard crest" is the definition. I had the "C?X" in place for the first three letters with 12D and 18D. I googled "Olympic racer COX" as O was the most likely vowel and got hits for the rowing position coxswain normally shortened to COX,  "To search for" = COMB giving us COXCOMB. I thought that would be spelled COCKSCOMB and had to look about to be sure COXCOMB was correct. That was a fun jaunt through google to learn about the variants of those words.

26A - Cool stuff - investment holdings? (7)
I got this with cross letters and a guess but it should not have been a guess because the answer is right there in the clue - it's a hidden word! "Cool stuff" is the definition and "investMENT HOLdings" gives us MENTHOL. That's neat because "holdings" can be used as a hidden word signpost and I'd missed it completely until I was typing this up.

27A - Cursed old PM among his mates (5)
I didn't get but I should have! It's very cute. Mort even joked "Small quibble: 27A doesn’t have any mates!" But I'd had the wrong letter in the last box for 18D and could only see RUSTY which didn't sound very "cursed" to me. "Cursed" is our definition and it's a mild curse word we want. "old PM" = Kevin RUDD whose mates may call him RUDDY.

28A - Criminal and suspect spearing fish (9)
I got this with cross letters and having given up, cheekily put in KIDNAPPED and went away. I woke up this morning and looked again and thought "KIDNAPPER" would definitely be a "Criminal" so how does it fit the clue? "Fish" = KIPPER that has been "speared" with a word for "suspect" but how does "suspect" = DNA?  That's where I fall down on this one.

1D - Virtually come to dislike dope (4)
"dope" is the definition and that's all I have. Rupert at DAT says "1D: A phrase (2, 3) meaning to become less fond of, or lose freshness, with its last letter removed." This makes "virtually" a deletion signpost and "come to dislike" = GO OFF -F, leaving  GOOF.

2D - Mum awfully loyal with dad on vacation (3,4)
This clue annoyed me. The hints by the DAT didn't help and made me further confused. "Mum" is the definition and "awfully loyal" is anagrind and partial fodder, "dad" = DA mixed together for OLD LADY. So how does the "on vacation" part fit in? It's being suggested at DAT that "dad" is being vacated but only the letter D for Dad? Seems a far leap to me but I'm probably missing something.

3D - Fine woollen boot can be picked up inwards (8)
Again, did not get and what is going on here? Mort says " 3D letters 1-6 mean “fine”. The last two are a type of boot." meaning "fine" = SUPERB and the "woollen boot" = UGg but how does "can be picked up inwards" fit? I don't understand the use of those words to the clue. Answer is SUPER BUG. I'm going to tease at this thread a little longer.

4D - White House private about WC? (5)
We do want a "white house" but don't let the capital letter in "House" send you down the wrong path - it's a red herring. We just want a generic white house, not the White House. "Private about" = GI reversed to IG and "WC" = LOO for an IGLOO which is certainly a white house.

5D - Twice I'm getting title adjusted for deadline (4,5)
Back in safer territory. "Twice I'm," is literal = IM IM, and "getting title adjusted," is part fodder and anagrind. Mix all together to get TIME LIMIT.

6,22D - Vicissitudes in the playground? (6,3,11)
Don't judge me for having to look up the definition of Vicissitudes. Not a word in my daily lexicon. With cross letters I was able to get SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS  for things that "change or alternate" on the playground.

7D - Ballet outfit sign late contract (7)
"Ballet outfit" is our definition and "sign" = LEO, "late" = TARDY which we "contract" or remove a letter -Y, to make LEOTARD.

8D - Fashion skirts (additional length) creating chief profit source (6,4)
I spent time trying to figure "fashion skirt" = MAXI but no. "Chief profit source"  is the definition and there I thought "mining ores" would fit the enumeration, but does it fir the clue? No, but it's on the right track. Mining being Australia's chief profit source and if we found a huge deposit we'd say we'd found the MOTHER LODE. That's how I got the clue. Cryptically it's "Fashion" = MODE which "skirts" around either "OTHER L" or "THERLO"  but I'm more inclined to think "Additional" = OTHER and "length" = L.

12D - Tamworth scooter bordered on sound solution (4,6)
Another clue I worked in reverse. I got "sound solution" as ANSWER but knew a homophone of that was what we needed. I then looked at "scooter" and though about mopeds but nothing worked, then I thought about a "boot scooter" and got that dreadful Steps song "5,6,7,8 Boot Scootin' Baby" stuck in my head. That song was about Line Dancing - it's dreadful. Such a cruel earworm. "Bordering" = LINED + "answer"  gives us the ending for LINE DANCER. It wasn't until I'd peeked into DAT that the "Tamworth" connection was revealed as the location of the Country Music Festival. a place where plenty of line dancing would take place.

14D - African footballer incurs fine after season opening on biffo (9)
I needed a lot of DAT hints to get this. All sport and Aussie slang was out of my league. "African footballer" is what we want and it's not an individual (that was a lot of google time wasted) but a team. Which football? Rugby.  "Fine after" = OK to be placed after, "season" = SPRING and after "opening on Biffo" = B like this: SPRING(B)(OK).

16D - Mansion I develop upstate (8)
"Upstate" is our definition, not as one word for a location north of us but two words "Up state" or an awake state. "Mansion I develop" is fodder and anagrind to give us INSOMNIA.

18D - Truly bound, cross-catalogued (7)
I believe it's a double definition but I only used the "cross-catalogued" part to get INDEXED. There is certainly more to "truly bound" than I'm seeing. Something inside something else? X in "indeed"?

20D - Makes out beer source in litter location (3,4)
"Litter location" got me there with cross letters. I had tried to work "snog" in there for "Makes out" but I figured that was unlikely and it was probably something like "sees" or "understands" because nothing as base as snogging in newspaper puzzles, right? Ha! "Makes out" = PETS which is much more involved than just simple snogging. "Beer source" = HOP meaning we would be find "litters" at the PET SHOP.

21D - Sausage containing horse, game and big apple (6)
Don't listen to the newspaper solution, trust me, I'm right here. "Sausage" is the definition (which looks more naughty than it should since it's following the making out and petting clue) and a "horse game" = POLO, remember to always ignore punctuation at first. The "big apple" is the city of New York = NY for POLONY, which is a kind of sausage found everywhere with many different names. In fact with the NY ending I thought BALONY but that's usually spelled baloney. It's the same "sausage" though. It's not "colony" as the newspaper is telling us.

23D - Carrying beginner off, injured (5)
I don't know the solution. I got this with a hint from Mort " “Carrying” is used in crime novels to mean the answer. " and guessed ARMED which is the answer. Oh! just got it! "Beginner off" is just saying we want to remove the first letter from a synonym of "injured" = HARMED - H. Yes score!

24D - Inshult? (4)
I couldn't tell if we were looking for a Fuddism of lisp/wisp slam/swam? I've seen Fuddisms on the Cryptic Crossword Society and privately published puzzles. They come up in the Mensa puzzles sometimes. An example here:

Elmer Fudd's abundant spouse (4) = RIFE/WIFE

...but don't know if they're used in published puzzles much. This clue is not a Fuddism, it's simply SLUR, a synonym of an "insult" that also is slurred when spoken. I've probably killed the cleverness of this clue in my deadpan explanation. Sorry.

There we are, done. A few missed beats that I'm sure will be resolved soon enough. As always if you have a more elegant or concise solution, please share.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,435

This puzzle was great! Lot's of fun stuff going on here. It kicked off a nice week of getting the kids back to school for term four, Husband away on business, I had the house to myself and the solitude was bliss. I love Mondays. I sing the song of Monday Praise.

There was a fun bit of play here. I usually skim through all the clues and pick out easy ones first. My eye caught on 35,36-across which reads:

Good luck getting 8-down and 11-across (7,7)

Oh really- you're taunting us? Challenge accepted! Coffee made. Here's my final pic:

Which included a finger puppet monster that has haunted my desk for a couple of weeks now and seemed fitting to include considering some of the solutions we're about to encounter.

1, 4A - Nice Russian vodkas, say, with soulmates (7,7)
"Soulmates" is our definition and "Nice" = KIND, "Russian" = RED and "vodkas" = SPIRITS for KINDRED SPIRITS.

9A - Grow pot after former lover died (6)
"Grow" is our definition and I admit to spending too long looking at the wrong kind of "pot" = PAN to be placed "after former lover" = EX and last letter is taking the D from "died" to give us
EX(PAN)(D), I wonder if the D is like when we look at genealogies and a person's death is marked with a D for deceased.

10A - Burning and killing it! (2,4)
A fun double definition: ON FIRE!

11A - Not out of French kiss list (5)
Right - this is one of our taunting clues! "List" is our definition and something "not out" is IN, "French" = DE and yes it's usually LE but that's not a hard&fast rule, (scroll down to French for the list) "kiss" = X as xoxo is kiss-hug-kiss-hug, a popular ending for an affectionate letter. Gives us INDEX.

12A - Vehicle with oddly brown emission? (6)
"Emission" is our definition and "Vehicle" = CAR, "oddly BrOwN" = BON for CARBON.

14A - Oscillating any wig around (6)
"Oscillating" is the definition and "any wig around" is fodder and anagrind to give us YAWING.  I'd first thought "Oscillating" was the anagrind.

16A - Digit in bank code from Kentucky (5)
"Digit" is our definition and a "bank code" = PIN and "Kentucky" = KY for PINKY. Our first finger.

18A - Vermin love sauce (5)
I love this clue, the surface is fun and icky. "Vermin" = PEST, "love" = O for the sauce PESTO.

22A, 20D - Bottom oar moving watercraft (5,4)
This one confused me at first because I was solving it in a weird way (the bottom of bottom = MOT and homophone of "oar" for OR and...?) but it's a straightforward anagram so I don't know where my head was. I think I was distracted by cross letters and I knew the second word. "Watercraft" is what we are looking for and "bottom oar moving" is fodder and anagrind to give us MOTOR BOAT.

24A - Genes hiding doughnuts in duvet (5)
"Duvet" is our definition and "genes" = DNA "hiding doughnuts" = OO to be put into DNA like this: D(OO)NA.

28, 30A - It protects body from nasty tummy nemesis! (6,6)
Is this an &lit? Cryptic definition? I wish I could get better at recognising clue types. It's very good. "Nasty tummy nemesis" is anagrind and fodder to give us IMMUNE SYSTEM, which does protect us from nasty tummy and other nemeses.

31A - Sailors inputting coordinates for chasm (5)
I think I have this one but please correct me if I'm wrong. "Chasm" is the definition and "sailors" = ABS the S added as it's plural. "Coordinates" = YS, the S also added as it's plural and the Y is used in maths for plotting coordinates on axes. "Inputting" is a container signpost so we put the YS into the ABS like this: AB(YS)S.

32A - Don't begin tippling and leaking (6)
"Leaking" is the definition and work this clue backwards and get "tippling" = BOOZING and then "don't begin" means to remove the -B leaving us with OOZING.

33A- United Nations announce ticket cost is a ripoff (6)
This was one of the last clues in, I had the answer lightly pencilled for a while. "Ripoff" is the definition and "United Nations" = UN and "announce ticket cost" where announce is a homophone signpost for FARE to become FAIR and the answer is UNFAIR.

35, 36A - Good luck getting 8-down and 11-across (7,7)
Skip down to 8D and get that answer MIDDLE, then 11A was INDEX - both have something in common; they're both fingers. Look at their placement in the grid in the picture - they make the shape of a cross. "Good luck" = CROSSED FINGERS. Is that not just some damn good fun for a puzzle?! I mean so often crosswords are dry fact finding exercises or spot the signpost but this was a step above. Puzzles need to have more of this kind of stuff.

1D - Ken mashed backspace with parts of leg (8)
"Parts of leg" is what we are looking for and "Ken mashed" is partial fodder and anagrind with "backSPACE" as a one-word instruction to reverse SPACE in the grid like this: (KNE)(ECAPS).

2D - Sleep in nice acrylic pyjama tops (3)
"Sleep" is the definition and it is found "in" "Nice Acrylic Pyjama tops" = NAP as the first or "top" letters of the preceding words spelling out our answer.

3D - Finishing reno without walls getting dent (6)
"Finishing" is our definition and "reno without walls" means to remove the first and last letter from "rENo" leaving EN then "getting dent" = DING for (EN)DING.

5D - Snoop around cuddling and kissing for extra vote (5)
"Extra vote" is our definition and to "snoop around" = PRY, to be put "around"  a "cuddle and a kiss " as I mentioned earlier = O X like this: PR(OX)Y which makes me remember one of my favourite movies The Hudsucker Proxy "You know, for kids!"

6D - Eye condition initially infected Rob, Ian then Ingrid sadly (6)
"Eye condition" is our definition and the key word here in "initially" and just like 2D it's an initial letter clue so "Infected Rob, Ian Then Ingrid Sadly," = IRITIS.

7, 21D - Abuse players drunk then hit with a tool (14)
Oh look ! I got the sport related question! Ha! "Hit with a tool" is our definition. There's been a lot of discussion in the news about verbal abuse by players mostly in cricket but also AFL but to be honest, it happens in all sports. I think Australia is the first to put a word to what that particular type abuse is called (Or it's that I've only learned the term since moving here) and it's called sledging = SLEDGE, "drunk" = HAMMERED. "Hit with a tool" = SLEDGE HAMMERED. This gets me in my Fallout addiction where there's a unique sledgehammer weapon called The Tenderiser.

8D - Diamonds within 1.6km of heart (6)
"Heart" is the definition and "diamonds" = DD as it's plural we want two of them, "1.6km" = MILE so we put the DD "within" the MILE to get: MI(DD)LE.

13D - Jewellery boxing area (4)
Double definition: RING

15D - Dodge ball embraced by Beckham, topless (5)
"Dodge" is our definition and "ball" = O to be "embraced" or put inside a "Beckham, topless" = DAVID -D like this: AV(O)ID.

17D - You ancient chaps in Middle East nation (5)
"Middle East nation" is our definition and "you ancient" = YE and "chaps" = MEN for YEMEN.

18D - Underarm of one in public transport (3)
""Underarm" is our definition and "one" = I being put "in" "public transport" = PT to give us PIT. The Scots have a great word for the armpit: oxter.

19D - Is rewinding third Dark Knight (3)
"Knight" is what we're looking for and "is rewinding" = SI as we just reverse the "is" and "third daRk" = R as it's the third letter in "dark" to give us SIR, the title one gets on becoming a knight.

23D - Old boy ogled and followed (6)
This was my last clue in and I got it stuck in my head "ogled" was an anagrind and "oldboy" the fodder which really only gave me "bloody" but the cross letters are an O and a Y so I kept thinking I was missing something. Yes, I was - the whole clue. "old boy" = OB  and "ogled" = EYED for OBEYED. I even have it wrong in the grid as I'd ignored the tense and put it OBEYER.

25D - Dump rotten clue (3-3)
"Clue" is our definition and a "dump" = TIP and something "rotten" is OFF leaving us with TIP-OFF.

26D - Mother returned first and last letter on online store (6)
"Online store" is what we want and "mother returned" = MA reversed to AM, "first and last letter" = AZ and we just use the ON from the clue to get AMAZON.

27D - One second...we return to emergency broadcaster (6)
"Broadcaster" is the definition and "One" = I, "second" = S, "we returned" = US reversed to SU and "emergency" = ER all put together to give us ISSUER.

29D - Keen bird spent 50 on Romeo (5)
"Keen" is the definition and "bird" = EAGLE but "spent 50" = -L to remove the Roman numeral for 50 and replace it with "Romeo" = R the letter from police code to give us EAGER.

34D - Donkey takes cockney's avocado (3)
"Donkey" is our definition and work this backwards so "avocado" = HASS the popular variety of avocado and Cockney slap the H off to leave us with ASS.

There, we are done. That was fun, right? I had fun.  I say that because I solved it - we always sing high praise for the ones we solve.

Let me know if you had smoother or other solutions. Also, let me know if you go down any rabbit holes because then I won't feel so lonely about falling down my own.

Have a great day, unless in Melbourne then just do your best to stay dry and upright.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,433

I got stuck into this late Friday night and had most of the left side done when I gave up for sleep. Saturday morning I peeked into The D.A. Trippers and with their hints, got most of the right side done, too. Only red pen was 5A, 13A, 8D and 24D. I'm annoyed about 24D because as a former psych major - that was a gift.

I'll struggle to break down a lot of clues because I got many this week by seeing the definition and guessing from cross letters. I was also good at spotting a few of the big phrases, 3D being particularly American friendly. My usual tactic is to seek out the anagrams first but those were well hidden. I got 21A (also American friendly) first then 25A which got me 15D and from there the left side fell into place.

I'm going to try and make this as quick as I can and not waffle on - big challenge (I may have failed). I've got the Spring fever. I want to be outside, in the garden. Typing up blog posts- yuck! Boring! But here I am.  First up, here my pic:

1A - Billy's place affected passion (8)
I had most cross letters and asked my daughter "Where would you put a Billy?" and she, in her 15 year old, charming way says "Tcha! Why would I know?! Oh my God...do you mean a billy can?" to which I calmly replied, "I don't know, maybe. Where do you put a billy can?" "Tcha! For fuck sake! I don't know! Maybe, in like, a fire?" It's ok, we are a swearing family - I'm all for freedom of expression. "In 'like a fire,' you mean what? What kind of fire?" "Oh my god! fucking camping...I think. Leave me alone!"  Which may seem a terrible way for any child to speak to their mother, but she was sat next to me on the sofa, watching TV and nearly in my lap because she truly is Mummy's Girl. A moment later she demanded hugs. But she's right, and I thanked her."Billy's place" is on a CAMP FIRE which is a fake or put-on kind of passion.

5A - Acknowledge netballer facing ban (4,2)
I didn't get this. Definition is "acknowledge" and looking up the netball positions on court one is WA and "facing ban" = VETO to give us WAVE TO.

10A - Wallopers drawing extremes in cryptic clues (7)
I had it in my head this was Codswallop and I tried to find words beginning with CODS to work but that was the wrong line. "Wallopers" is the definition and "DrawinG extremes" = DG to be placed into "cryptic clues" which is anagrind and fodder like this: CU(DG)ELS. (Thanks to Mort for getting me away from fishy distractions and on the right course because I was on Monty Python for a long time and Rowan Atkinson, of "Little Wallop" talking about Cod.)

11A - Text sample favoured railing (7)
"Railing" is the definition and a "text sample" = PARAGRAPH -graph leaving PARA which is what I believe "sample" is about, deletion and only having a "sample" of the word "paragraph", and the "favoured" one is a PET for PARAPET.

12A - Old torturer to decrease at first (4,6)
I got this right off with just the first letter in place. "Old torturer" is what we are looking for and not a particular person but a device that starts with a synonym for "decrease" = IRON MAIDEN.

13A - Conveying desert's interior? (4)
I didn't get this because I didn't identify the clue type. I couldn't discern where the definition was from the wordplay because all the words are used. "conveying" means "to carry, bring, or take from one place to another," so it's working as an anagrind for "dESERt's interior" where me need to mix those four letters to get SERE, which means dry, withered - like a "desert" or maybe even a "desert's interior." It's all very clever.

15A - Chain dossier - rarely excerpted (6)
"Chain" is our definition and "excerpted" stood out as it means to pull out selected words and I twigged it as a hidden word signpost. "dosSIER RArely" = SIERRA, meaning a mountain chain. I've played enough Sierra video games to know its mountain logo - sad but true.

16A - Coffee crowd breaking tension now and then (8)
"Coffee" is the definition and I got this with cross letters and a caffeine addiction. I'm struggling to figure out the answer from the clue, however. Julian at DAT says : "16A Definition = coffee. Crowd = letters 3-7 which are breaking (i.e. in the middle of) Tension now and then (i.e. the alternate letters) as letters 1,2,8." so that means "crowd" = PRESS, "breaking tEnSiOn now and then," =  ESO for ES(PRESS)O. I've not seen "now and then" used as an odds/evens signpost so I'll be adding that my book. (there is no real "book" but I really should get one. I have a collection of notebooks with scribbles in them)

18A - Intensified mud-smearing with paper (6,2)
"Intensified" is our definition and "mud smearing" is partial fodder and anagrind "with PAPER" being the rest of the fodder, tossed together to give us RAMPED UP.

19A - Heartless tutor that's attached to IT guru (6)
I knew the definition was "IT Guru" but could I figure this out? No. I'm married to one of these guys. I put the question to my Facebook friends "What's a 6 letter word for an IT Guru that has an H for the 4th letter?" and got replies instantly. How is it parsed - Don't know! I can see "heartless tuTor" = T but that's it. Answer is TECHIE. Maybe a "heartless tutor" = TEACH -A and something attached is I.E.? That kind of works. I get this while editing - see editing is good!

21A - American's spare flag? (4)
I got this first! American's call a spare tyre a TIRE which also means to flag in energy. It's one of the words I always forget to change into UK spelling when I write. I'm fine dropping Us in weird places, though.

22A - Pub intellect twice wasting time fumbling editorial assistant (4,6)
I asked for help here because I did not know how to break into this clue. Gayle to my rescue:
"@cc 22A anagrind = fumbling
fodder/anagrist = pubintellect minus (wasting) the 2 t’s
def is something editors used to use to mark up text "

Following those instructions we get BLUE PENCIL which I did not know about and I'm happy I do now.

25A - Find June and Garth topless (7)
Sweet clue, I shared on our Cryptic Crossword Learners Facebook group. "Find" is the definition and if we make "jUNE and gARTH topless" we get UNEARTH.

26A - Dark spot disrupting flash (7)
"Dark" is the definition and a "spot" = AD and this has been used a lot lately, which will be "disrupting" a word for "flash" = SHOWY like this: SH(AD)OWY.

27A - When sailors meet head-to-head, they rock! (6)
My first inclination was to work ABBA into an answer being two sailors, "head-to-head" who "rock" but that wasn't working then Mort said "CC, 27A two sailors: first is reversed (letters 1,2); second is letters 3-6; answer is a type of rock." so we want AB reversed next to SALT , so their "heads" are together, another word for "sailor" to give us BASALT.

28A - Refuse booze at 18 usually (8)
Again, definition of "refuse booze" and cross letters brought me to TEETOTAL. I think there's an odds/evens thing going on with "usually" but I can't find it. DAT Ray says "28A – Defn = first 2 words. Now think of a sport that has 18 involved with it and that should get you there." uhm...ok. Google help me. I get AFL have 18 members onfield...and what? I'm missing the leap here! I have no connections. Sorry.

1D - Prickly types catcalling lead when play starts (5)
"Prickly types" is what we're looking for and "Catcalling lead" = C and "play starts" = ACT I to give us CACTI.

2D - MICES on TV? (8,7)
This clue gave me ache. I had the cross letters for the second word and guessed the TV show MIDSOMER MURDERS but I couldn't parse it. Seems a lot of people struggled here. Mort says  " 2D, the first letter of the clue gives the first word, spelled normally. The “ICES” bit gives second word."

Which in some ways confused me more because I couldn't understand how M = Midsomer "spelled normally" when it's not a normal spelling, it's unique to the TV show so far as I could find. I searched for abbreviations and other ways of looking at this but spelling "midsomer" only got me the TV show. "ICES" = MURDERS made perfect sense. I agree with others that this was an unfair clue as you can't get the first word unless you have cross letters and know the show.

3D - Where to buy cheap jumpers? (4,6)
I got this quick but I was happy to read Mort's hint "in 3D, the jumpers are very, very small."  to give us FLEA MARKET because that was a delightful mental image. Mine were wearing Fairisle.

4D - Archangel is here vaguely 'upstairs', quietly time-wasting (6) 
I got this the hard way with googling "archangel statues" assuming that's what form an archangel would take to be somewhere and found links to "Moscow Michael" and guessed with cross letters it was RUSSIA. Now we can see "vaguely" is an anagrind "'upstairs', quietly time-wasting " where "quietly" = P and "time" = T and "wasting" means to remove those letters from "upstairs" leaving USAIRS = RUSSIA.

6D - 160 square rods sound longer (4)
Again I googled "160 square rods" and found it was an ACRE which is a homophone of "ACHER" one who "longs for / aches for"

7D - State getting suss fast lane (7,8)
"Fast lane" is the definition and with cross letters I could see the first word was EXPRESS meaning to "state" one's feelings, "suss" = CHECK OUT to give us EXPRESS CHECKOUT. Checkout took me longer to get for some reason.

8D - Objectionable bridge location (2,3,4)
I didn't get this one, I didn't understand how "objectionable" was being used and I still don't. I do see how the "bridge" of the nose gives us ON THE NOSE but I don't use that phrase to mean objectionable. I use it to mean spot on, correct. I know it's used to refer to scents both good and bad. I know it to mean a way to reprimand animals with a "tap on the nose" which of course is objectionable behaviour towards animals. Is this an Australian interpretation that it's to mean objectionable?

9D - Soothe vegetarian gorilla? (7)
"Soothe" is the definition and a "vegetarian gorilla" is an APE and they'd eat PEAS to give us APPEASE. I got that with cross letters and crossed fingers. There is no instruction to say put PEAS into APE that I can discern except when I say "ape eats peas" and I don't know if that's a kind of thing in cryptic clueing. Is this like a reverse container? Oh, not like but IS! I may be in love with this clue. I keep giggling over it.

14D - Minor libraries oddly wanting Syria, Israel and Lebanon together (10)
"Minor" is the definition and "lIbRaRiEs oddly" = IRRE and I know, from having googled recently, what the acronyms for both ISIS and ISIL stand for that the L stands for LEVANT which includes the countries listed in the clue and gives us IRRELEVANT. Nicely done and topical.

15D - Outstanding feature of metro bush clash (4,5)
"Outstanding feature" is the definition and "metro bush clash" is fodder and anagrind to give us SORE THUMB. It made me think of cartoons where someone hits their thumb with a hammer and it swells up and throbs.

17D - Islamic scholars overall building up (7)
"Islamic scholars" is our definition but I got that with definition and cross letters. I think "overALL" wants us to put something over the word ALL or reverse the word ALL but what "building" is being put "up" eludes me. I don't know what SHUM is. Answer is MULLAHS.

20D - Spot cruciverbalist impersonating the French (6)
"Spot" is our definition and this time it's not an ad. "Cruciverbalist" = ME, referring to the author DA, "impersonating" = AS and "French" = LE as the common answer to give us MEASLE.

23D - Faithful Himalayan almost burst into giggle (5)
"Faithful" is our definition and the "Himalayan" we want, I think, is a YAK "almost" means remove the last letter leaving YA and that will go "into giggle" = LOL for LO(YA)L.

24D - Infantile phase, it's said (4)
I needed to back to Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development to remember the "infantile phase" is the ORAL phase and it's also something "said."

And there we are. Another week done and a new one to look forward to. I really enjoyed this puzzle. I enjoyed the breakdown, too. I had a lot of clues to share with my Facebook friends and introduced the Learners to Reverse Containers. That's hot puzzle fun. Everyone wins.

I have to go buy a door and some groceries. You have yourselves a great week.

The Age Cryptic by DH #20430

I got to this last night after dinner and fiddled about with it while watching TV until I crashed at Midnight. I told myself "I'll just watch this movie, it's terrible and I'll get bored." but I didn't. Blade with Wesley Snipes 1998 as a vampire hunter. It was bad in that funny-good way. I now regret staying up to watch it because today I'm wrecked but I have read they've made two more of them with rumblings of a fourth Blade movie, so maybe the kitsch of it endures. I didn't even finish the puzzle. I got stuck on a few clues along the right side I needed google for but was too lazy to get off the sofa and grab my laptop. Here's my pic:

Notice my new, snazzy, purple clipboard! Yes a special place for my puzzles to be solved where ever I may be. I went all-out Nerd at office works recently. Sadly I am exhausted and have a mountain of things to get on with so I can't do the full breakdowns like I usually do. If anyone wants me to explain a clue, leave a comment and I'll tackle that with you. Anyone who can't read my writing I'll try to decipher that, too.

Happy Hump Day and here's hoping the clouds clear for tonight's total eclipse!

The Age cryptic by LR #20,429

I'm on a rough schedule this week so not much time for anything. This puzzle was great fun and gave a couple new spins on word play. I shared a few of the clues with the Cryptic Crossword Learners group with 10A being a favourite that spurred on others to create. Particular favourites of mine were 1D and 14D. Here's my pic:

1A - Nice meals at quirky Victorian town (11)
Anagram: "Nice meals at quirky" is fodder and anagrind to give us: CASTLEMAINE.

7,23A - Easy drink (3,2,3)
I'm going to guess a cryptic definition here. Answer is CUP OF TEA and we use the expression "Not my cup of tea" to say something is beyond our skill or liking. So that thing that is our "cup of tea" would be easy for us and it's also a drink. Yeah? Make sense? I mean it could just be that it's easy to make tea but that seems weak.

9A - Caved in when semi-colons expired (9)
"Caved in" is our definition and "semi-COLon" where "semi" means half, we take half of "colon" = COL and "expired" = LAPSED for COLLAPSED.

10A - Makes beers from fruit damage we hear (5)
"Makes beers" is the definition and "from fruit damage we hear," means we want a homophone of damage done to a fruit = BRUISE/BREWS.

11A - Love North jumper when winning (2,3)
"Winning" is the definition and "Love" = O, "North" = N and a "jumper" is a = TOP for ON TOP.

12A - Copy a harp composition from Bible books (9)
"Copy a harp composition," is fodder and anagrind to give us APOCRYPHA.

13A - Lady in white holds grand opening for overpass (6)
"Overpass" is the definition and a "Lady in white" = BRIDE, "holds Grand" = G to go into BRIDE for BRIDGE.

14A - Endless purgatory surrounding Old Testament inn (5)
"Inn" is our definition and "Endless purgatory" = HELL -L "surrounding Old Testament," = OT like this: H(OT)EL.

17A - Inactive geek lost 500 in infotech (5)
"Inactive" is our definition and "geek" = NERD who has "lost 500" = -D and "infotech" = IT to give us: I(NER)T.

18A - Bit of a peeper? (6)
Where the "peeper" is an eye and the "bit of" an eye we need is the RETINA. Not about toads which was my first thought. Or voyeurs.

21A - Jack, with little guitar, fights for music players (9)
"Music players" is our definition and "Jack" = J, "little guitar" = UKEulele and "fights" = BOXES giving us JUKEBOXES. I'm getting that Fallout 3 twitch again.

25A - How to resign with some ubiquitousness? (1,4)
Hidden word clue, because being able to resign with an element of omnipresence seems weird but a closer look at "ubI QUITousness" reveals I QUIT.

26A - Lost war locket in bathroom facility (5,4)
"Bathroom facility" is the thing we are looking for and a quite specific one too - nothing as lofty as a portaloo. I have to stop thinking American where bathroom = toilet. "lost war locket" is anagrind and fodder that when mixed gives us: TOWEL RACK. Sneaky as my preferred anagram algorithm didn't get this.

27A - Sets model against son (3)
It's frustrating that it's always the dinky, 3-letter clues that stump me.  I could see the parts but not how they fit. I confessed this on Twitter and @LRxword took pity and gave the solution:
" SETS = TVS (as in TV sets)
Model = T Against = V Son = S "

28A - Alcoholic, difficult doctor and tattooist (4,7)
"Alcoholic" is what we're looking for and "Difficult" = HARD, "doctor" = DR and a "tattooist" = INKER for a HARD DRINKER.

1D - Crazy copper has Calvin Klein glasses (6)
"Crazy" is our definition and "copper" = CU, "Calvin Klein" = CK and "glasses" = OO which was a new device for me and I like it! Answer is CUCKOO.

2D - Divorce, then sit around extremely peaceful (5)
"Divorce" is the definition and we want to put SIT "around" "extremely PeacefuL" = PL  like this: S(PL)IT.

3D - Guide hurt model with toxic substance (4,5)
"Toxic substance" is what we are looking for and "guide" = LEAD but swap the pronunciation to the element, "hurt" = PAIN and "model" = T for LEAD PAINT.

4D - Sum up angst around wild horses (8)
"Wild horses" is our definition and "SUM up" means to put SUM in reverse in the grid for MUS with "angst around" as partial fodder and anagrind - yes that word "around" sure does have many uses! MUS(TANGS).

5D - Do iron renovation within building (6)
"Within building" is the definition and "Do iron renovation" is fodder and anagrind to give us: INDOOR.

6D - Spark at month's end? (5)
This month is October but next month is novEMBER.

7D - Old queen with women's mag ripped apart (9)
"Old queen" is who we are looking for and an Aussie "Women's mag" = CLEO with "ripped apart" is anagrind and partial fodder for CLEO(PATRA)

8D - OK...dad's stable lost top trainer (8)
"OK" is the definition and "dad's" = PAS with "STABLE lost top Trainer," is instruction to remove the -T from STABLE leaving: PAS(SABLE)

13D - How criminals escape skin problems? (5-4)
Double definition for escaped criminals and skin problems? BREAK-OUTS.

14D - Plebs in upper house vote between Aussie chants (3,6)
"Plebs" is the definition,  and "upper House" = H, "vote" = POLL to be placed "between Aussie chants" which is the favourite reply to "Aussie Aussie Aussie" = OI OI...OI. But we only want two to give us" H(OI) POLL(OI) what a lovely clue! I enjoyed this very much.

15D - Common replacement in cool venue? (3,5)
Double definition: HIP JOINT. Not Gin, like I first put in. Apparently not everyone swaps vodka for gin, like I do.

16D - Frequently changed spots Casanova finally married (8)
"Frequently changed" is our definition and "spots" = SEES, "casanovA finally" = A and "married" = WED put together for SEES(A)(WED).

19D - Cockney curse on alien spinning about old English city (6)
We are looking for an "English city" and a "Cockney curse" = HEX -H, "alien" = ET and "about" here is being used like "regarding"  = RE that is "spinning" making ER to give us EXETER.

20D - Hiker in Western Australian lake missed a right (6)
"Hiker" is our definition and "Western Australian" = WA, "lake missed A" = LAKE -A, "Right" = R to give us: WA(LKE)(R)

22D - Meat worker forgot queen was masculine (5)
"Masculine" is our definition and a "meat worker" = BUTCHER who's "forgot queen" = -ER leaving just BUTCH.

24D - Road song (5)
Double Definition: TRACK.

And there we are! Not a bad start to the week at all.

I have  a mountain of of a ToDo list with an eagerness to get things ticked off as fast as I can. Our Guides unit are doing a presentation about International Day of The Girl at the school's assembly this Friday and I still have a script to write, art supplies to buy, kids to talk down from ledges who don't want to be on stage and then I'll need someone to talk me down from the same ledge because muggins here orchestrated the whole thing and is now wishing for a coma until December. Coward. Ah, they're just kids - easy audience, right?

Apologies for brevity. Have a great day.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,427

A kinder puzzle this week with some fun wordplay. I did find this week the definitions were much easier to spot and with cross letters I got in most answers without parsing the clues. That may be great for just solving puzzles but not so much for this blog where I still have to break down and explain the clues. I have many gaps to sort and I made quite a few leaps of faith in my answers.

First few clues in were the early Down clues and 10A - the middle-top section. Then a couple in each corner. SE corner being where I got lost. Here's my pic:

Yes, back to using the newspaper since the digital access is still screwed. Spewing, as the Aussies say. (Also I love when I can get the Target word straight off) Let's dig in:


1A - David's wife crazy about husband when he attains degree (9)
"David's wife" is who we are looking for and I had a few cross letters when I thought "degree" = BA then I got the answer. I think "Crazy" = BATS "about husband" means to split BATS around H for "husband" then "HE attains degree" = HE BA to give us BAT(H)S HE BA.

6A - Blow papers fast (5)
With cross letters and a hint from DAT that "blow" meant to strike or RAP but the "papers" bit was holding me back because I was thinking thesis, dissertations  and those kind of papers. Then I thought of ASBOs or serving someone papers like a summons to court. No it was all much simpler with just ID being our personal "papers" to give us RAP ID as a definition for "fast"

9A - One against some giant chant in the ear (3)
"One against" is the definition and I got this with cross letters. Answer is FOE. I'd pencilled in "nae" at first. I wonder if "ear" is a homophone signpost. Otherwise I'm stumped.

10A- Cancels a devil/saint clash (11)
Anagram with "cancels" as the definition and "a devil/saint clash," is fodder and anagrind to give us INVALIDATES.

11A,2D - Furiously relinquish your seats after a great concert (2,4,3,8)
I got a bit hung up on this one because I focused too much on my own concert going habit which hang about until the crowds disperse but to be very honest I despise crowds and don't go to concerts. Boring, I know. I thought the 8 letter-word may have been "carparks" which was all bad and wrong. We've had this answer before and it wasn't until a glass of wine was in me it was revealed: GO LIKE THE CLAPPERS. With audience members being the "clappers" in haste to rush out of the venue. Probably to the car parks.

12A - Emergency vessel hoist carries charge switch (4,4)
"Emergency vessel" is the definition and "hoist" = LIFT and "carries charge, switch" where "carries " is being used as a container signpost for "charge" = FARE to be "switched" or reversed like this LIF(E RAF)T.

15A - Equivalent to tattered orphan suppressing humour (2,3,4)
"Equivalent to," is the definition and "tattered orphan" is anagrind and partial fodder "suppressing humour," = WIT with "suppressing" telling us to insert WIT into the fodder like this:
ON PAR (WIT)H

16A - Hearsay via cast (5)
I didn't get this and it was so straightforward a clue, too. "Hearsay" is a homophone signpost, "via" = THROUGH/THREW and we want THREW as a synonym for "cast"

17A - The best cosmetic? (5)
Double definition: CREAM. My only concern was would it be CREAM or CREME for "cream of the crop" or "creme de la creme" with "creme de la mer"

19A- Note a duet petering out in spite of Chinese pride (5,4)
I got this with cross letters and a DAT hint that the last two words were the definition. Uhm, well. I don't really know. Answer is GREAT WALL. I guess "note" = G, "petering out" may be a deletion instruction. Or "in spite" could = GALL, "note" = RE + A from the clue which just leaves the TW unparsed. G(RE+A)(TW)ALL. Needs more work.

21A - Hamlet's pile blocked yokels in Oregon? (8)
With DAT Gayle's hint this was a hidden word clue, eagle eyes and a bit of google confirming "yokELS IN OREgon," ELSINORE is what we want.

22A - Helplessly said, 'Run off, run.' (6)
I didn't get this, I think I'd given up on the SE corner for TV and cuddling on the sofa with the husband. Gayle says "I thought it was way more complicated, looking for some deletion from despairing, and I first thought it was adrift until I got 20D. Said minus aid. Run off is 2-6." making "Helplessly said" where "help"= AID to be removed/"less" from "said" leaving the S and "run off" = PRINT for SPRINT.

25A - Cost of first lines doesn't perturb superior (6-5)
Another red pen. "Superior" is the definition and I think it's solved as "cost" = FEE, "of first" = OF and "doesn't perturb" is fodder and anagrind to give: T(OF)(FEE)NOSED. I'm not confident in that solution as I've not parsed "lines" so I think there's more going on with "of first lines" than what I've got so far.

27A - Chandelier-maker from Japan removed packaging? (3)
"Chandelier maker" is the definition and "from Japan" = ASIAN with "removed packaging" meaning to take off the first and last letter leaving SIA, the Australian female artist whose recent hit was called Chandelier. She doesn't seem to be everyone's cup of tea, but I think she's brilliant. Her "Eye of The Needle" is a lovely song. Many found her video for Chandelier confronting but damn that girl - who is 11 year old Maddie Ziegler -  is an amazing dancer. Stunning. I get goosebumps and teary every time I watch the video -  a tinge of envy too. I see all the hard work, determination and expression of heart. Sia is one of the best songwriters/performers today, making a top hit out of a song about the pain, addiction and shame of alcoholism. Art is confronting.

28A - Leading Perth fringes like fencing (5)
"Leading" is the definition and "PertH fringes" = PH which was as far as I got and then the cross letters fell in to give me ALPHA. How does "A LA" give us "like fencing?"

29A - Fertiliser shop demolished lot for auditorium (9)
"Fertiliser" is the definition and "shop demolished" is partial fodder and anagrind, and I think "lot for auditorium" is asking for a homophone where "lot" = FATE to give us (PHOS)PHATE.

1D - Cloud over mired salamander, shedding tail? (5)
"Cloud over" is the definition and "mired" = BOG and "Salamander" = EFT "shedding tail" means -T leaving B(EF)OG.

3D - Suaver rainwear (7)
Double definition: SLICKER. Oh a joyous break-in clue for any puzzle.

4D - Turn to green diplomat losing circular letter (4)
"Turn to green" is the definition and "diplomat" = ENVOY "losing a circular letter" = -O leaving ENVY.

5D - Organised grill at hen party until dawn (3-7)
"Party until dawn" is the definition an and "organised grill at hen" is anagrind and fodder to give us ALL-NIGHTER.

6D -Next to nothing in the Outback dwindling (3,4)
I didn't get this one, "next to nothing" is the definition and "the Outback, dwindling" = RED CENTRE minus the -RE for RED CENT. A red cent was a penny and the phrase "not even a red cent" or "not worth a red cent" means having or being "next to nothing."

8D - Peg wraps this fracture in domestic cloth (9)
"Domestic cloth" is our definition and the "peg" = DOWEL which will "wrap" around "this fracture" which is partial fodder and anagrind put together like this: D(ISH T)OWEL.

13D - Split view of plug over object with show-case, perhaps (8,3)
"Split view" is the definition and this clue got a lot of attention in DAT but despite the clues given I didn't understand it all. I got it with cross letters and a belief that the 3-letter word was maybe a  synonym-then-homophone for "View" = SEE/SEA but let's see what Rupert said: "13D: Definition is the first two words. Plug = 1, 2; object = 7, 6; show = 5, 4, 3; case, perhaps = 8 – 11." That means "Plug" = AD, "object" = IT as in a thing we'd call an "it" "Show" = AIR reversed but I don't see how we know to reverse it unless that's "over" and "case perhaps" = C SEA. I at least knew I had the beginning and the end, it was the middle that was was giving me trouble. The answer is ADRIATIC SEA. Now, please explain to me how that is "Split view" because the only thing I can come up with is the whole phrase becomes a homophone like A DYADIC SEE = ADRIATIC SEA. I think that becomes a stretch too far into puzzler's mania.

14D - Sensitive picture of biscuit (6,4)
I'd stared at this with cross letters for most of the day then lazily put in FINGER FOOD thinking we eat biscuits with our fingers so why not. Next morning, a quick looksie and I could see the answer much clearer. Erase the lazy answer and "sensitive" = GINGER which I've only heard used as the adverb gingerly, We don't say to the easily offended "Oh don't be so ginger!"  (I don't know maybe you do. We don't have this Ginger hang-up in America that commonwealth countries seem to have.) or "My arm is real ginger where I bashed it last week,"  so that wasn't an apparent synonym for me "picture" = SNAP for a GINGER SNAP.

15D,7D - Strings here or taps bearing advice regarding a sprained ankle (9,3)
"Strings here" is the definition and with cross letters and an idea the end with "advice regarding a sprained ankle" = STRAP IT, I could see ORCHESTRA PIT. I thought "bearing" was a compass point = E so what I don't know is the "or taps" bit, or maybe just the "taps" = CH if OR is from the clue. (OR)(CH)(E)(STRA PIT)

18D - Striking lead man (7)
The whole clue is the definition making this an &lit. "striking lead man" is anagrind and fodder to give us MANDELA.

20D - Laidback place screening copied and secured (5,2)
I think "secured" is the definition and "laidback" is a one word instruction where a synonym for "laid" = PUT and that's reversed  "back" in the grid. "Screening" is a container signpost with "copied" = APED to give us: T(APED)UP

23D - Speed up freeway hub's traffic (5)
I think "Hub's traffic" is the definition and "speed up" = DART reversed in the grid to TRAD and "freeway hub's" =  E as the centre of "freEway", to give us TRADE.

24D - Radio stations call studio dregs in city (4)
"City" is what we are looking for and I didn't get this, which I'm sad about now. It's a start/end kind of clue with "dregs" being the signpost because the dregs of something are the scraggly, icky bits at the end, like coffee grounds left in your cup. "radiO stationS calL studiO"= OSLO.

26D - Dandy grandpa doffing cap after Piaf's finale (3)
"Dandy " is the definition and I got this with cross letters and definition so I don't know if I got this right but I figure "grandpa" = OP as an "old age pensioner" but please hold back on the outrage if you are under 65 and a Grandpa. "piaF's finale" = F So where does that leave "doffing" in my solution? Unused so it must be wrong. Ok how about "Grandpa" = POP then "doffing cap" means first remove the -P then add the F for FOP. I like that one better. A bit of stream of consciousness solving, there.


So there we are. As always if you can fill in those clue gaps or have alternative, elegant solutions please share in the comments.

I have a busy week next week with kids back to school and big events for last term of Girl Guides. We're  advocating the International Day of The Girl on October 11th all term with talks at the primary school, getting a petition signed to present to MPs and asking them to lobby for continued education for girls around the world and not cut back on aid.

I will hopefully have a puzzle for Tuesday but with this fault at The Age not loading up "Today's Paper" for several days now I'm tempted to quit my subscription and just solve Guardian puzzles for a while, or only do the Monday/Friday Fairfax if I have to buy the paper myself. I am looking forward to Monday as LR is back and he tells me: @Crypticrochet they are back next week. hopefully you'll be able to answer 1-across without a map! Sounds like I have an advantage! 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, don't forget to put your clocks back.

The Age Cryptic by RM #20,423

What a gorgeous few days we've had! It's wonderful as we are all finally on vacation - yes even the resident workaholic has promised not to answer emails or his phone for a whole week, save for a few 6AM meetings. He knows how to Vacation that guy. Ok passive aggressive narkiness aside it's been wonderful and what better way to break into the fresh week of beachside sinshine - ok that was a random typo but I like it so it stays -  than with a breezy puzzle.

This puzzle had a few laughs which was great. I like a funny surface and it was a promising start:

For the most part oarsman is a tosser! (7)

I truly do admire and appreciate a smooth, humorous surface. I don't know who couldn't.

I've also opened up an old puzzle book I bought back in 2007 when I made my first New Years' resolution to try and learn how to solve cryptic crosswords. It's The Daily Telegraph's Big Book of Cryptic Crosswords #16. It's a good lesson in tight clueing as there are few words spared. It's also a very dry and dull tome to work through, some examples:

1) One titled man returns to show the flag (4)
2) An understanding of statuary (8)
3) Actors off-stage (6)

That's the style for the majority of clues in 240 puzzles but I'm persisting in the hopes it will train me to get better at recognising the smallest bits of clues because these puzzles seem to be mostly "Bits and pieces" clues and where do all those bits'n pieces come from? I mean, plenty of people must love these puzzles, they've publish over 16 collections. Now, with the help of the online community I can get those answers that in 2007 I couldn't. Back to the present and to RM, here's my pic:

1A - For the most part oarsman is a tosser! (7)
"Tosser" is the definition and "THe most part" = TH and "oarsman" = ROWER for a THROWER.

5,23A - You don't like Jimmy Barnes anymore? Mad! (3,4,6)
"Mad" is the definition and Jimmy Barnes is a famous Aussie rock star and if you no longer like him you could be OFF YOUR ROCKER.

9A - Someone who heads down to Sound City for the variety (9)
I got this with cross letters and figuring out "Variety" was the definition. Is it "someone who heads down" = DIVER  "sound city" is asking for a homophone of "city" = SITY for DIVERSITY.

10A - Count on getting child out of bed (3,2)
"Count on" is our definition and getting a "child" = TOT "out of bed" = UP for TOT UP.

11A - Sheen used to entice saint inside (6)
"Sheen" is the definition and "entice" = LURE with a "saint" = ST "inside" like this LU(ST)RE.

12A - Odysseus' wife and writer run off together (8)
"Odysseus's wife" is the one we need and a "writer" = PEN and to "run off together" = ELOPE for PENELOPE. (We'll not debate the apostrophe and just declare author's preference)

14A - Were we not in league with the innkeeper against the monarchy? (10)
"Against the monarchy" is our definition and I'm not sure about "were we not in league," but I could see "innkeeper" = PUBLICAN to give us REPUBLICAN. So how do we get the RE? Is it the "weRE we" bit? How does "league" fit in?

16A - In good health despite bad weather report (4)
 Homophones where one means "good health" and the other is "bad weather" is HALE/HAIL. Here we want HALE. The word "report" is our homophone signpost and I'm guessing because "bad weather report" has the signpost that's what makes "in good health" the definition we want in grid. Are there firm rules on writing homophone clues that pertain to this?

18A - Basic part of an element and anatomically essential (4)
Hidden word clue where "basic part of an element" is the definition and hidden inside "anATOMically essential" is ATOM.

19A - Trainee position at swinging hipster inn (10)
Anagram: "Trainee position" is the definition and "swinging hipster inn" is anagrind and fodder to give us: INTERNSHIP.

22A - Doctors claim twitch is weather related (8)
"Weather related" is the definition and "doctors claim" is anagrind and partial fodder to lead "twitch" = TIC like this (CLIMA)TIC.

26A - Take headscarf and demure coat on a light bender (5)
"A light bender" is the definition and "headScarf" is a one word instruction to take the first letter of Scarf and add it to "demure" = PRIM for PRISM. I'm guessing "coat" is being used as a "contents" signpost to get us to put the S into Prim,.

27A - To gain unauthorised access, need to sound commonplace (9)
"Commonplace" is the definition and "To gain unauthorised access," means to HACK if we think of computers and "need to sound" tells us we want a homophone of "need" for the end to give us HACKNEYED.

28A - Choosy about article when frightened (7)
"When frightened" is our definition and "choosy" = PICKY to be split "about article" = AN for PANICKY.

29A - Kind-hearted cook refused ride but expressed gratitude (7)
"Expressed gratitude" is the definition and "Kind-hearted cook, refused (-ride)" means to remove the letters "ride" from "kind-hearted" leaving KNHATED to be "cooked" giving us: THANKED.

1D - Wrestler half strangled strange 2 year old (7)
My first thought was how unusual for there to be a number in the clue rather than it being spelled out. Then I noticed the grisly surface. "2 year old" is our definition and "wresTLER half" = TLER, "Strange" = ODD and that's to be "strangled" or surrounded by the TLER like this: T(ODD)LER. I'm guessing the number was used instead of the word "two" to make it look less like an anagram with "strange" being an anagrind and "two year" being fodder. It would have been a good misdirection, though.

2D - Right salutations to use at these parties (5)
"Parties" is the definition and "right" = R and "salutations" = AVES for RAVES. See, playing video games can be helpful! In Fallout 3 the members of Caesar's legion often greet us with "Ave!"

3D - Go to a hospital room and steal stuff from the last closet (8)
"Closet" is the definition and "go to a hospital room"  = WARD and "steal stuff" = ROB with "thE last" = E all together for WARDROBE.

4D - Precipitate the pronouncement of royal rule (4)
Homophone clue and  "pronouncement" is the homophone signpost. "precipitate" = RAIN in the noun form,  and "royal rule" = REIGN. The clue wants the four letter word RAIN.

5D - Extend yoga exercise when inspired? (10)
Anagram: "Extend yoga exercise" = OXYGENATED to mean "when inspired?" in its verb form.

6D - Has sofa the right stuffing for Dad? (6)
Hidden word: We want to find a synonym for "Dad" hidden, or "stuffed" into "soFA THE Right" = FATHER.

7D - He expounds alternative medicine at reduced cost - tops every other course! (9)
This is the one clue I'm struggled to parse. The answer is OSTEOPATH which is a form of "alternative medicine" and I first tried to see if this is an odds/evens clue with both "alternative" and "every other" being in the clue. I think I finally got it with "reduced cost" = -C leaving OST, "tops Every Other" = EO, then "course" = PATH. I don't know the purpose of "He expounds," which looks like a homophone signpost.

8D - Agent left sweeter bits when sated (7)
"Sated" is the definition and  "agent" = REP, "left" = L and "sweETEr bits" = ETE for REPLETE.

13D - Diabolically shy infidel is converted (10) 
Anagram: "Diabolically" is our definition and "shy infidel is converted," is fodder and anagrind to give us: FIENDISHLY.

15D - Supply of expert oversight (9)
"Supply" is the definition and "expert" = PRO and I'm not as sure here because "sight" = VISION but not "oversight" which is an omission or error. Answer is PROVISION so how does the "over" in "oversight" work? Is it just to say "Pro" before "vision"?

17D - Lack of sleep is a minion's undoing (8)
Anagram: "Lack of sleep" is the definition and "a minion's undoing" is fodder and anagrind to get: INSOMNIA

18D - Coppola, when carefree, has a sweet bubbly spirit (7)
Anagram: "A sweet and bubbly spirit" is the definition and "Coppola when carefree" is fodder and anagrind to give us ALCOPOP.

20D - Dad attacked speech then joined procession (7)
"Procession" is our definition and I got this from definition and cross clues. I think "Dad attacked" is partial fodder and anagrind "speech then joined" is a homophone signpost for PAIRED/PARED giving us PARADED. Only that gives me an extra D if I use DAD+PARED so I'm not confident in that solution.

21D - Where planes pull up to sailor with a raincoat (6)
"Where planes pull up," is what we want and "sailor" = TAR and "raincoat" = MAC short for Mackintosh, to give us TARMAC.

24D - Boat known as yak? (5)
"Boat" is our definition and "known as" is usually abbreviated to AKA but that's "also known as" so here we just want the KA then ad the YAK from the clue for KAYAK.

25D - Dropping jazz singing (4)
Double definition: SCAT. This sent me on a morning of listening to Scatman Crothers hits all morning yesterday. He was delightful.

There we are, all done. Where yesterday was all Scatman, this morning I needed some angry piano and needed Amanda Palmer because no one can abuse a piano as beautifully as her.

Have a good day! No really, I hope you do have a great day.


Oh, in case you were wondering the answers to those clues are: 1) IRIS 2) PEDESTAL 3) EXEUNT