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The way I see it, it took James Bond to knock me down. I finished up last week at 4-in-a-row, aiming today to tie my personal best of a run of five correct solutions. But I ran up against PIERCE. I put in VIARIE using some desperate logic, just to leave myself some hope as I couldn’t stare at the unfinished puzzle any longer.
Today’s Crosaire Aria
6D: PIERCE
For two years, in the nineties, we lived next door to Martin Campbell, the film director from New Zealand. It was our one and only celebrity encounter ... and I finally get to mention it! He is probably most famous for directing Pierce Brosnan in his first Bond film (and then Daniel Craig in his first, Casino Royale). We had each other over for dinner a couple of times, and he is a very nice man, with a lovely family. My wife (an American) was in awe of him. As she put it, just being close to someone who could get Pierce Brosnan to do whatever he wanted ... The stuff fantasies are made of I guess!
The Clue of the Day
9A: Fifty one, indeed, has got compressed (6)
Here’s a clue that is unmistakably Crosaire. He loves his Roman numerals, and is also found of using “in-deed” as a device for putting a DE- in the front of an answer and and -ED in the back. He has a slight variation here. In-deed (E-DED) fifty one (LI) = ELIDED: has got compressed. It’s not a clue I’d be proud of, but then again, M. Crosaire plays by his own, delightful rules!
The Lookup of the Day26D: ABELES
ABELE is the old English name, rarely used now, for the white poplar tree. The name ABELE worked it’s way into English via Old French and Old German, from its original root in the Latin albus, meaning “white”. White poplars are closely related to aspens, with a smooth greenish-white bark. Young trees have very characteristic diamond markings on the bark.
Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!
Across
8: SPRING UP
The season (SPRING) it’s the end (UP) = SPRING UP: bound.
9: E(LI)DED
In-deed (E-DED) fifty one (LI) = ELIDED: has got compressed. Nice clue …
10: SERIES
How a goddess, Ceres, by the sound of it = SERIES: comes by installments.
We’ve bumped into the lovely Ceres before …
11: LITERATE
In a late way (L-ATE) could tire one (ITER) = LITERATE: being a SPELLER.
12: METTLE
Tin, for instance, is a metal, which sounds like METTLE: spirit.
13: ‘E’S-CHEWED
‘E’s (‘E’S) got his teeth into (CHEWED) = ESCHEWED: yet has given it up (and ESCHEWED sounds like “a stewed” … sort of …).
15: LYRE
(Is) not true, liar, sounds like LYRE: the instrument.
17: PUERILE … anagram of “lie, pure”.
19: EN(THUS)E
Nee about (EN-E) like this (THUS) = ENTHUSE: and be ardent about it.
22: LIN-E
Nothing, nil, back (LIN-) is the “start” of the answer, LINE: for a ruling.
24: HOT MEALS
27: ENT-ICE
After ten (ENT) it’s frozen (ICE) = ENTICE: just to tempt you.
29: REASSERT … anagram of “RAs” & “TREES”.
30: LI-LIES
Those that may be lying (-LIES) is the “last” part of the answer: LILIES: a-rum.
We’ve met arum and lily before …
31: S(EVER)E
Always (-EVER-) is “inside” the answer, SEVERE: strictly speaking.
32: PE(ST)ERED
Peered about (PE-ERED) the saint (ST) = PESTERED: and kept on annoying him.
Down
1: SP-HERE
At this point (-HERE) is the “last” part of the answer, SPHERE: an all-rounder.
2: MINI-STER
One has a little (MINI) rest (STER) = MINISTER: in the government.
3: E(GGS)H-‘E’LL
He (E-H) gets the horses (GGS) = EGGSH + ‘e will (‘E’LL) = EGGSHELL: will easily get broken.
4: SPELLER
A SPELLER can be LITERATE, and a witch.
5: SEPT-IC
The month, September, is shortly here (SEPT) I see (IC) = SEPTIC.
6: PIERCE
PIERCE is the man, and PIERCE is to go through it.
7: REST-LESS
Keep still (REST) more (LESS??!!) = RESTLESS: but not be keeping still. Seems backwards to me …
14: SEE-N
Just look at (SEE) the North (N) = SEEN: sounds like ‘scene’ (and the “view” of it).
16: YE’LL
You (YE) will shortly (‘LL) = YELL: make a lot of sound.
18: UNOPENED
20: NEEDLES-S
The sewers (NEEDLES) over to the South (S) = NEEDLESS: you don’t have to get.
21: HOTELIER
One who keeps in, sounds like one who keeps an inn = HOTELIER.
23: I-SO-TOPE
If I too much (I SO) drink (TOPE) = ISOTOPE: it’s almost all the same.
We’ve TOPED our way through this before as a Lookup of the Day …
25: MISSES
The young ladies who aren’t married, (still using the name they were “nee’d” with!) are addressed as MISSES: one doesn’t get it. We’ll call this one “quaint” …
26: ABE-LES
A boy (ABE) a couple of boys (LES) = ABELES: in the wood.
ABELES may not be chestnut trees (they’re like aspens) but ABELES is an old chestnut …
28: C-LEVER
To get the prize (LEVER) is the “last” part of the answer, CLEVER: bright enough.
10 comments:
Morning Bill, et al,
Interesting one today I though - at first it seemed full of insolubles but I did get it all in the end.
I agree with you about RESTLESS - why does he say "more" ? It was my last one and I had grave doubts about it.
Also I thought SEPTIC was dodgy because there was no confirmation of the answer in the clue. Maybe Derek thoght we should know that one by now seeing as he uses it so often !!
Hob nobbing with the Holywood elite, eh ? Fancy !
- P.
Hi Bill, Peter,
Didn’t happen for me today. I was down to two, PIERCE and ABELES. Then I got a PIERCing flash of inspiration, but gave up on ABELES.
Liked Goldeneye, but a really brave man would have gone for an ABBA song here…..
I’m with both of you on RESTLESS. Taking my cue, back to work for me.
Eleanor
My overweening pride forbids me from sharing how many, forgive me, how few, clues I solved today. Could anyone help me to see in 20 down the connection between sewers and needles? I'm fairly new to this. Still trying to strike the right balance between retirement, coffee and crossword. Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Don't be despondent - it's meant to perplex and time, practice, and this blog will help a lot over time !
In the short term - SEWER is one of his favourites. SEWER meaning effluent processor is the dummy to divert you. SEWER meaning something which SEWS is the clue - NEEDLES are used to sew. NEEDLES with South (S) added is NEEDLESS - which is something you don't have to get. Voila !
Hope this helps !
- P.
Hi all,
Bill has kindly allowed me to mention my blog here. My puzzles are similair to Crosaire and are not just for the sunday spot. If you are trying to get used to the daily puzzles then give mine a go. Once I get a bunch of you having a go i will be publishing alot more. So far I have 3 on the blog with 2 ready to publish. Best to start with The first as it gently settles you into the style of them all. The link is on Bill's page or you can just go to. www.markbxwords.blogspot.com. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them.
Todays puzzle was great apart from one clue. PEURILE. Got the spelling wrong and was stumped. PIERCE was a nice clue . Alltogether a good start to the week .
Hi there Peter,
Well done you, solving this one.
I just glided over SEPTIC in the commentary, but I did have the same concerns as you. I figured that if I had missed something, one of the bright sparks here would point it out :o)
We weren't really hob-nobbing with the Hollywood elite ... just trying to create the illusion!
Hi Eleanor,
Looks like you came down to the same two clues that I was staring at in the end. I finally managed to dig ABELES out of the back of my mind as we've had that answer twice before. Hopefully it will come to the forefront of my mind more readily now that I've done a more complete look up. As for PIERCE, well, that one was just tough, I thought. Fair, but tough.
And you'll see plenty of ABBA from me. Can't get enough of the stuff :o)
Kevin,
We all have bad days with M. Crosaire. It takes just a few key clues, that sometimes we miss, to open up the rest of the puzzle I think.
Don't work too hard on balancing crossword, coffee and retirement ... just let if "flow over you" :o)
Hi Mark,
Re PUERILE
You're probably too young to have done Latin at school. I remember we had a big, red Latin book, printed in America. It tried to bring a dead language into modern usage for us kids. We'd reluctantly read about the boy and the girl (puer et puella) going off for a picnic and drinking coca-cola (picus nicus et cocam colam). You don't forget that kind of thing! :o)
Good luck with your crossword blog, Mark. I appreciate you sharing them with us. I have your latest one printed and I'm looking forward to having a go at it!
Hi Peter and Bill,
Many thanks for your encouragement. Much appreciated.
Kevin
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