The Age cryptic by DA #20,648

As some may know my mother passed away on the 16th. I was trying to make to my way out to Florida to help settle her estate but it's looking more likely I'll be going later. It's very difficult to grieve alone, although my husband does his very best and I'm grateful to him. I've been on the phone, moods up and down and all that stuff. Trying to support my brother who's gotten the tough job of phoning everyone and share the terrible news over and over again and the words are knife every time they're said.

I did spend Friday doing the DA. I was stuck at home and it was a comfort to have the extreme distraction. It was distracting. I cheated on a few (21A, 1A and 12A) to break into the lower part of the puzzle and then a bit of put in and erase - I'd thought 8D was ROYAL ICING at first. Here's my pic:

5A - Fair rum invoice (6)

I think it's supposed to be "rum" = bizarre/ Bazaar but not sure.

16A - Monk is getting tie knotted after work in triage (10)

I got this from cross letters and the definition "triage" but i'm not sure how it fit together. I had read on DA's twitter with a tweet "Have American words tyrannized English? Do the math" so to be cheeky I wrote in a Z instead of an S.

21A - A pop put up with retrenchment, forming resolution (12)

I got this from definition and cross letters but otherwise I'm not sure what was going on. I was thinking it was PA with REVERSE backwards and mixed but didn't get the last three letters.

7D - Zany Latin Capital by Downer? (10)

Cross letters and definition again. I think "zany LATIN" is anagrind and partial fodder and I thought "capital" = X as that's how capitals are on maps...right? I suppose nowadays they're red circles. I couldn't figure out where the rest of the letters came from, even with reverse working this.

14D - Treasure damn ears? (10)

This was weird. How does "treasure" = BUGGERLUGS? Bugger lugs means "are you deaf? did you not hear what I said? Do you have buggered lugs?" That's the definition we've always used. To claim someone is not paying attention.

20D - Main dump - an acre for wildcat? (6)

I know the question mark screams of shenanigans but I got this with definition and cross letter. I can see how "an acre" = LOT but why does "main dump" = OCE?


That's all I've got...no wait where do we get the L in 1A. I could parse the rest but not the L. Ok, now I'm done, cheers!

Apologies...

I have had some issues back home in the USA that have taken over my attention and I've not had the time or free brain-space to get any puzzles out. I'll be on hiatus for the foreseeable future. If I put up anything it'll be tidbits for my own distraction.

I'm still around so feel free to message on Twitter or just say "Hey!" I love a good, friendly hey any time.

CC/JWC

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,638

What a puzzle to get on Monday! Cheeky, fun and a few experimental clues to boot. Great stuff. It was pretty easy but I still found a few in the SE corner harder and needed One Across to help me get 13D. My favourite was 28A. It was a fun bit-by-bit reveal that I had to write out to see the answer. 2D was too risque to believe it was the answer but it was. Well done LR.

I had a few I couldn't parse straight away but I've got them now and I think I've got everything scribbled up nicely:

I've not heard the phrase DOG ACT meaning to be despicable so that was new for me. 9A was good because at first it looks like "zero fat" is an anagram. I don't know for sure if 22D is supposed to be BETA or ZETA but I figured we don't get enough chances to use Z-words so I went with that. Any letter could be an "unknown" right?

For all my raving about 28A I just noticed I didn't write out the solution which is: "foggy" = MISTY, "quiet" = P and "Edward" = ED all words are MISTYPED. I just circled it and shared on CCS. They made a claim that the clue isn't "kosher" but I think it is in the Rebus kind of way. That counts. I say if it's published it counts.

That's all I've got time for. I've had bad news from home and am playing phone tag with half my family. My Mom has had a mild heart attack and is in hospital. Fingers crossed she gets through the next 48 hours all right. Thanks LR for the fun distraction, I'll buy you lunch the next time I'm in Melbourne.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,636

Friday and we have a theme puzzle from DA. Don't we love a theme puzzle? Oh don't grumble it's not that bad. I know I used to grumble too but we're stronger than that now.

The key to the puzzle is in the answer for 17D "Paws debonair actors' bottoms in show (8)" but I managed to figure it out from 1A and 11A.  Actually I got this pretty late.  "DebonaiR actorS bottoms" gives us RS going "in" a word for a "show" = REVEL to make REVERSAL. Which means "paws" is really SWAP. All of the clues will have a word in them that when reversed will either be our definition or a part of the clue. I've highlighted those words in blue.

I haven't gotten everything but I think I did well. I wasn't able to get my printout until later afternoon because the fairfax website's "today's paper" was not working. I went out and got a paper, then tried a printout from my daughter's iPad which was awful and illegible. This is why my pic is much tidier than usual as most of my scribbles are on scrap paper.

1A - Wild lions come to minor pots (9)

"Minor STOP" is our definition and "wild LIONS COME" is anagrind and fodder to make SEMICOLON.

6A - Top composer (5)

"POT composer" is a double definition to make GLASS. DA had introduced me to Philip Glass in a recent puzzle. I'm guessing that the "pot" = GLASS connection is like a vase.

9A - The use of sacred loop to roll out items dropping rope's end (7)

"The use of sacred POOL" is our definition and a "roll" = BAP (which is also slang for boobs) with "out IT(-e)MS, dropping ropE's end" where "out" is an anagrind and we are to mix the letters of ITeMS minus the E to make BAP(TISM), the dunking of the bread.

10A - Garner millions, ignoring even live one (7)

"EVIL one" is our definition and GaRnEr MiLlIoNs if we "ignore the even" letters, it makes a GREMLIN. I was a bit let down the clue didn't include something about James Garner. He was lovely.

11A - Flog support letter (3)

"GOLF support letter" - TEE. Once applying the reversal this was a beginner level double definition and the one that got me the theme so I was pretty thankful for its inclusion. Despite DA's Twitter warning that this puzzle wasn't for beginners. Or is this an &lit? I can never tell with confidence.

12A - Avoid second drink flow (5,6)

"WOLF" is our definition and "avoid" = SKIRT and a "second drink" is a CHASER if we think of shots to make the cartoonish wolfie SKIRT CHASER which immediately made me think of this cartoon.

13A - She takes bats to infest synagogue's service (7)

"She takes STAB" is the definition but let's appreciate a truly lovely, if somewhat disturbing surface of the original clue - that's a great short story. This one is a hidden word clue signposted by "infest" and we find "synagoGUE'S SERvice" = GUESSER as someone who takes a "stab" at something.

15A - Does a plug fill digs with power? (6)

"Does a GULP" is somewhat the definition, well really it's just GULP. "Fills digs" = SLURS as in to insult someone, take a dig at them with "power" = P filling SLURS for SLUR(P)S. It's kind of an odd one to define, this clue.

18A - Show possibly featuring 'name caps' by one stopping cut skin (1-5)

"Show" is our definition and the one we want was on TV and did feature "namecaps/SPACEMAN" and I can see "one stopping" means the letter I will be going into a word for "cut skin" but I'm not sure how it gets us X-FILES. Whether we need to go back to "possibly features" or not I don't know. I was thinking excise, incision, fillet and others but what gets us the answer I don't know. Ray at the DAT suggests "A – key words here are “name caps”. “by” = 1. “one” = letter 3. “skin” gives 5 letter synonym – “cut” removes last letter – for letters 2,4,5,6." So "by" = X, the I is as I said and the "skin" = FLESH with the H dropped. Any other ideas?

20A - Perhaps net connection seizing metres beyond base (7)

I got this one once I added a question mark to make "Perhaps TEN?" the definition. "Connection" = BETIE which is "seizing Metres" = M and "beyonD base" = D to make BE(D)TI(M)E.

22A - Reward character lines, say (11)

"DRAWER" is the definition and "character" = PART which "lines" or goes into "say" = COMMENT to make COM(PART)MENT.

25A - Tops bishop here (3)

"SPOT" is the definition but the whole clue can be read as a double definition to make SEE, bishops being found at the Holy See or Vatican.

26A - Mid-exec at apple scratched head to find solution (7)

"DIM" is our definition and "exec at Apple, scratched head" = Steve JOBS then remove the head to make OBS then "find solution" = CURE to create OBSCURE.

27A - Brag in Japan one day, having split levels (7)

"GARB in Japan" is our definition and I think "one day" = I and MON "having split" is a container but I don't get how "levels" = KOS to make KIMONOS. Oh I get it! K.O's, knocks out for levels. Ahhaa - done!

28A - Bouquet boutique exposed Asian lamina (5)

"Asian ANIMAL" is our definition and "Bouquet boutique exposed" = FLORIST with its first and last letters dropped to reveal a LORIS.

29A - In America, all rats game for spanking bird (9)

"In America all STAR game" is the definition and "spanking" = SUPERB and the "bird" = OWL for the SUPERBOWL. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why "bird" = Bowl and thinking something cricket and getting now where until I wrote the word out and saw "superb" and felt very silly.

1D - Deliberately ram flying boats to get on (8)

"Deliberately MAR" is the definition and "flying BOATS" is anagrind and partial fodder with "to get on" = AGE to make (SABOT)AGE.

2D - Stemmed one flying over on side of Eire? (5,4)

This is a cryptic definition and the theme word is "eire/ ERIE" which is one of the Great Lakes on the border between USA and Canada, so my first thought was the answer was GREAT LAKE but once cross letters fell in I knew that was wrong. Then I saw MAPLE as the first word and knew what was "flying over on side of Erie" was the Canadian flag with its MAPLE LEAF being the "stemmed one" as the leaf clearly has its stem.

3D - Spins movie samples... (5)

"SNIPS/ movie sample" is our double definition for CLIPS.

4D - ...film pioneer screens quietly, with an extra bonk or two? (7)

"Extra KNOB or two?" is the definition I went with and I got this in a different way than most I'm guessing. With my head fresh full of classic cartoons after 12A I thought of Bugs Bunny asking "One lump or two" and the person who says two gets two big whacks to the head and becomes LUMPIER. I'm told by a few sources that it's the Lumiere brothers who are the "film pioneer" but I don't see how we drop the last E. "screens quietly" will give us the P with "screens" as a container signpost. I'd never have gotten the clue that way, I've never heard of the Lumiere Brothers, but Bugs Bunny is a film pioneer I know very well.

5D - States on a loveless billionaire (7)

"States NO" is our definition and the answer is NEGATES. I think the "billionaire" = GATES as in Bill Gates but why "loveless" = NE I'm not sure.

6D - Sub-god? (9)

Cleverness in spades. Reverse both "Sub god / BUS DOG" to get a double flipped double definition of GREYHOUND.

7D - Finally minimised spam volume (5)

"MAPS volume" is our definition and volume meaning book. "Finally minimised" = AT LAS(-t) for the book of maps, an ATLAS.

8D - Pole near door displaying nametag (6)

"GATEMAN" is our definition and "pole" = S for the South Pole and "door" = ENTRY for a SENTRY. I guess "near" and "displaying" are connecting words unless there's another use for them in solving I've missed.

14D - Stressed in busy shift: drinking, social  climbing, ending in tears (9)

"DESSERTS" is our definition and "BUSY shift" is partial fodder and anagrind which is "drinking social, climbing" meaning BUSY will take in a word reversed for "social climbing"  = BALL/ LLAB that's "ending in tearS" = S for (SY(LLAB)UB)S

16D - Spoons stir on pie crumbs (5,4)

"SNOOPS" is our definition and "STIR ON PIE crumbs" is fodder and anagrind for PRIES INTO.

17D - Paws debonair actors' bottoms in show (8)

"SWAP" is our definition and "deboaiR actorS bottoms" = RS going "in show" = REVEL to make REVE(RS)AL.

19D - Spans studio models (7)

"Studio models" are the definition and a model who goes to have their portrait done will sit for the artist or photographer and are called SITTERS. So although I think the "SNAPS" applies for photographers I got the answer thinking of oil paintings.

20D - Demolish trap (5,2)

"Demolish, PART" is a double definition for BREAK UP.

21D - Maybe note mullets en masse (6)

"Maybe ETON" and "mullets en masse" are both a SCHOOL.

23D - He's reluctant to yap where simpleton returned parcel (5)

"He's reluctant to PAY" is the definition and "returned, parcel" are two signposts telling us there's a hidden word (parcel) reversed (returned) in "wheRE SIMpleton" to make MISER.

24D - Duller one in big pot (5)

"Duller" is the definition and "one in big TOP" is a lion TAMER.

We did it. We got through a DA theme puzzle and we survived. We're even a bit smug and jolly about our superior skills at solving cryptic puzzles. We're going to treat ourselves to something we've previously denied ourselves as a reward for our perseverance. Because we are cool. We are brilliant cool.

As always please leave solutions in the comments. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,632

I don't know what it was about this puzzle but I struggled to get a hook in for ages. I finally managed to unzip it from the bottom a bit and then worked my up but got stuck in both corners. I was finished around half two this arvo. My first entry was 13A, last in was12A. Here's the pic:

First off, I really love the grid design. I think it's lovely. I know many think it's weird that I find such things appealing but I am a crafter and I see quilt patterns and crochet square designing. This is a lovely pattern. I am going to copy this one and have a play with it and see what comes out. It also looks like it has a lot of black space and might be a small puzzle but it's got 32 questions (the longest being 11 long) which is typically the most cryptics get. Most of the Age/SMH puzzles have nice grid design as opposed to the Guardian where it's a bit more helter-skelter. I wonder if it has anything to do with the programs compilers use.

I think there were a few tough ones to parse. 16A took me ages. 12A was last because I couldn't see where the P should go and kept saying "I'll get back to that one." only to realise at the end there was no P. Then 24A with its "French OCEAN songs" and I was trying to work something "shanties" which gave me enough letters to figure out what I needed to do. I may have just been a bit of a 10A today. 18D was very clever and took me a long time because one is two syllables and the other is one and we don't even pronounce half of the letters. Then I couldn't resist drawing some "wheels" for 23D in my breakdown.

The only one I'm a bit iffy on is 3D as I think it's just a double definition for  "leader" and "stationery" to make RULER but I keep wanting to put an L in RUER - why am I making harder than it needs to be? I just keep thinking stationery is paper, maybe pens but not all the stuff one would keep on their desk. That's just called crap, right?

If anyone has questions or alternate solutions then please speak up in the comments section. Keep warm fellow Victorians! I don't know about you but I've got some vodka to sling back to warm my cockles.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,630

I managed to get through this one before 2pm which is a boon! I found the top half easy to get through and then got a bit stuck in the SE corner. This is a puzzle of halves for me. I could easily get half of the solution and would be oblivious on the rest. I could get definition, and enough to solve the clue but not the whole thing.

I won't have time to do the full breakdown of everything but I think I'll enough half clues that it'll be almost the whole thing.  Here's my pic:

9A - Leading pay system lasts in training area (3)

I knew from the definition "training area" it had to be GYM and I could see "paY systeM lasts" = YM but I don't know why "leading" = G.

15A - Made fast skip (5)

I assume this is a double definition by its brevity and I got the answer BOUND with cross letters and "skip" as the definition so I only wonder if "make fast" is referencing the phrase "by leaps and bounds"

19A - Cast could exaggerate opening? (5)

"Cast" is the definition and the answer is MOULD. I think something funny is going on with "exaggerate" but I don't know what. Are we to drop the C in "could" by making it "ex" and if so, how does it get us to use the letter M?

3D - Damaged hot judo suit, leaving embarrassed (7)

"Damaged" is the definition and the answer is INJURED but I could only get the "embarrassed" = RED part. I don't know the point of "hot" I'm guessing we take the JU from "judo" and what's the use of "suit"? I can see something should be "leaving" but I don't know what. I think it's something that will "do" will "suit just fine" so that's what is "leaving ju(-do)" to get the JU but then what's the point of "hot" in the clue...and I just now realised it means trendy and not temperature and something trendy is "in". I think I just got it.

4D - Announced relative pick of the orderly (10)

"Orderly" is our definition and the answer is SYSTEMATIC and I knew "announced" was a homophone indicator but is the phrase "sistah, mah tick?" I fear I have an accent issue at play here.

5D - Boat builder refusing to cooperate with GP? (4)

"Boat builder" is who we need and the answer is NOAH and I can see "refusing" = NO but is it "refusing to cooperate" or does "cooperate with GP" = AH? I don't know where the AH comes from. Oh! is it when the Dr. says "Say Ahhh" and we oblige while they try and not trigger our gag reflex with the icky wooden sticks? Now I see.

8D - Smoked cocaine on the house when hospitalised? (9)

This was my first solve which should be no reflection on me as a person. "Smoked cocaine" is the definition and the answer is FREEBASED. "On the house" = FREE but I don't know how "when hospitalised" = BASED.

13D - Virtually raise search to attain odd comic from yore (7,4)

"Comic from yore" is the definition and the answer is JACQUES TATI who I've never heard of before but after watching a few videos on Youtube I think he's an inspiration for Mr. Bean. I was able to get the surname from "To AtTaIn odd" = TATI which I could google and with cross letters (Very thankful for the J being in place) but I cannot suss how we get JACQUES from "virtually raise search."

19D - Purplish mark - mole close to areola (7)

"Purplish" is the definition and the answer is MAGENTA but I'm completely clueless as to why. I was able to get this once I had the cross letters. Wait! Just got it while editing "Mark" = M, a "mole" is an AGENT and "close to areolA" = A but I'd not figured "mark" = M before.

25D - Writer suggests golf club lacks taste (3)

"Writer" is the definition and answer is NIB but again I got this with cross letters and the definition but I don't know how we get it here. Golf clubs? Bland? Uncouth? Billy Madison?

That was Friday. I was happy to have this done before 2pm which is an achievement for a DA but with so many clues I can't fully parse it's not a very satisfying finish. What is still proven is that by writing out the clues in this manner I do find more solutions. Sometimes I think I don't need this blog anymore and then I show myself "Eh, it doesn't hurt."

It looks a glorious day and I'm already halfway out of the door. I hope you get to enjoy this day too.. If you have solutions please put them in the comments or if you have alternate solutions then please share those too. Have a great day.

Just a last word to ask if anyone here knows someone who has struggled with diabetes to please support a diabetes charity. My paternal bloodline has a long list of diabetes sufferers who rarely make it past their 60s. I was reminded that the research done by charities benefits so many people. I recommend Diabetes Australia  or you can find a local chapter to support.

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,626 and The Guardian's Rufus #26.580

Good Monday to you. LR has been gentle with us and given us an easy puzzle to break into the week. I had this one done in record time, it had some great clues, too.  I especially loved 8D and 19D. I don't have any questions, I was able to parse everything. If anyone has a question I'm happy to answer. Here's my pic:

I had time so I gave the Rufus a try in the guardian. One benefit of DST is I get to print that at 9am instead of later. It wasn't so bad and I found the top half doable and then the bottom got a lot tougher and I had to cheat on a few. The picture isn't very good colour-wise to show which the red marks.

I have a few queries here:

12A - Limited the movement of stock (8)

I'm struggling to see the cryptic angle of this clue. It's so much like a straight clue I was confused.

25A - A cricket team's turning point (4)

I get the definition is "turning point" to become AXIS but I'm not understanding the cricket reference.

27A - Like the set of three in wash (6)

Even with cross letters I had no idea what was going on.

16D - Makes a secret assignation (7)

I can see how "makes" is CREATES but how does a tryst, rendezvous, meeting become creates?

I think that was it. I managed to suss out the other ones myself. I was really led astray with 11A thinking it was TORPOR instead of STUPOR and missing that "in a state" was anagrind. I thought it was was shifting of "port" in a US state and thought Oregon.

That was my day of puzzles and it was good to have them as I was stuck indoors with a sick daughter full of gunk and coughs. Fingers crossed I don't catch her lurgy. Hoping your Monday was kind to you.