http://www.crosaire.paxient.com/2009/11/happy-92nd-birthday-derek.html
Days to Derek's birthday: 4
Progress towards the goal of 40 greetings posted: 28
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Write a 92nd birthday greeting for Derek Crozier.
Print today's WEB puzzle (spoiler alert ... today's solution and clue explanations are included on a second page!).
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As it's the second WEB Crossword of the month, it's rated as a fairly gentle 2/5 in terms of difficulty. It's also my way of saying "Many Happy Returns, Derek!"
And a reminder ... the Sunday slot is still open for anyone who wants to post his or her own, original crossword. Just contact me and I will help you with the mechanics of compiling and posting.
"Many Happy Returns, Derek!"
Across
1 By taking a third alternative, but only once every year (8)
5 Hopes she's able to join the Women's Institute (6)
10 Before tea Ultan has a little dried fruit (7)
11 Get all the quarter-final teams in shape? (7)
12 XLKWS (5,5)
13 Capable, I hear, of getting from one to three (2,2)
15 It's L.A.'s, so the lieutenant's here about that opera number (6)
17 The service here, to some degree, is strangely senile (8)
18 The lion was half-hidden there (3)
19 Unwed cows? My ears must have deceived me! (8)
20 The heat's on here ... I told you to give the Uzi to Jack! (3,3)
23 Joyce's companion was no artist (4)
24 Clean up her corrupt little chap (10)
27 It's quite ordinary, Monsieur, for you to see a northern Dane there (7)
28 The South has something like a 24-across that's pretty egocentric (7)
29 He is first to get into the sea according to Pierre (6)
30 It's puzzling, yet simple ... No. 10 is right beside it (8)
Down
1 It's Tim, I'd say, who's not happy, Doc (7)
2 Are you with the French, and are you in charge? (5)
3 We have a try to make nuclear power "cool" (5,5)
4 O, man! Is there a sailor in the middle of 15-across? (6)
6 Just a little bit after ten, thanks (4)
7 Hillary's greatest achievement perhaps? (4,5)
8 Jo's insane to be seen in Silcon Valley (3,4)
9 He's employed the woman to take in Ray's kids initially (7)
14 These are strange circles ... one forgets the past (10)
16 Takes care of that racket I can hear with what's left of the doughnuts (9)
17 That would be Edward sleeping there (3)
18 To see the dyer dye moved some, but didn't move me (3-4)
19 The least you can do is note that you take the motorway (7)
21 That woman who's been wailing has been all round here (7)
22 There are times the Queen uses it to make things disappear (6)
25 I won't be there, so it'll be the one after the A51 (5)
26 Can the little one be around a bee? (4)
Here is each clue alongside its answer, with an explanation of the link between clue and answer. I hope it all makes sense! As always, I welcome feedback via comment and/or email. I’m particularly interested in hearing about clues that were too obvious or easy, and clues that were annoying or perhaps caused frustration. But, I’ll listen to all suggestions on how to make my puzzles more challenging and more fun!
I hope you spotted that the top and bottom rows of the grid spell out the message, "BIRTHDAY WISHES, MISTER CROSAIRE!"
Across
1 By taking a third alternative, but only once every year (8)
BIRTHDAY
"By" taking "a third" alternative = BIRTHDAY: but only once every year.
5 Hopes she's able to join the Women's Institute (6)
WI-SHE'S
The Women's Institute (WI) she's able to join (SHE'S) = WISHES: hopes.
10 Before tea Ultan has a little dried fruit (7)
S-ULTAN-A
Before tea, 'T' (S) Ultan (ULTAN) has a (A) = SULTANA: little dried fruit.
11 Get all the quarter-final teams in shape? (7)
OCTAGON
Get all the quarter-final teams (8 sides) in shape = OCTAGON.
12 XLKWS (5,5)
FORTY W-IN-KS
XL (FORTY) KWS (W IN KS) = FORTY WINKS.
13 Capable, I hear, of getting from one to three (2,2)
UP TO
Getting from one to three (UP TWO) I hear as = UP TO: capable of.
15 It's L.A.'s, so the lieutenant's here about that opera number (6)
L(ARIA)T
The lieutenant's here (L-T) about that opera number (ARIA) = LARIAT: it's la's-so.
17 The service here, to some degree, is strangely senile (8)
BA-SELINE
To some degree (BA) is strangely "senile" (-SELINE) = BASELINE: the service here (at tennis, say).
18 The lion was half-hidden there (3)
DEN
Half hid-DEN = DEN: the lion was there.
19 Unwed cows? My ears must have deceived me! (8)
MISHEARD
Unwed cows (MISS HERD) I "heard" as = MISHEARD: my ears must have deceived me.
20 The heat's on here ... I told you to give the Uzi to Jack! (3,3)
HOT TUB
Give the Uzi to Jack (JACK UZI) I told you, and you heard as = JACUZZI = HOT TUB: the heat's on here.
23 Joyce's companion was no artist (4)
NO-RA
No (NO) artist (RA) = NORA (Barnacle), James Joyce's companion.
24 Clean up her corrupt little chap (10)
LEPRECHAUN
"Clean up her" corrupt = LEPRECHAUN: little chap.
27 It's quite ordinary, Monsieur, for you to see a northern Dane there (7)
M-U-N-DANE
Monsieur (M) for you (U) to see a northern (N) Dane (DANE) there = MUNDANE: it's quite ordinary.
28 The South has something like a 24-across that's pretty egocentric (7)
S-ELFISH
The South (S) has something like a LEPRECHAUN (ELFISH) = SELFISH: that's pretty egocentric.
29 He is first to get into the sea according to Pierre (6)
M(IST)ER
The sea according to Pierre (M-ER) "first" to get into (IST) = MISTER: he is.
30 It's puzzling, yet simple ... No. 10 is right beside it (8)
CROSAIRE
Yet simple (SIMPLE) no. 10 (X) = SIMPLEX is right beside it = CROSAIRE: it's puzzling.
Down
1 It's Tim, I'd say, who's not happy, Doc (7)
BASHFUL
(One of the 7 dwarfs) who's not Happy or Doc = BASHFUL: it's tim-id say.
2 Are you with the French, and are you in charge? (5)
R-U-LE-R
Are you (RU) with the French (LE) and are (R) = RULER: you in charge.
3 We have a try to make nuclear power "cool" (5,5)
HEAVY WATER
"We have a try" to make = HEAVY WATER: to make nuclear power cool (it's a coolant).
4 O, man! Is there a sailor in the middle of 15-across? (6)
AR(AB)IA
In the middle of LARIAT (AR-IA) a sailor (AB) = ARABIA: O-man is there (in the geographic region of ARABIA).
6 Just a little bit after ten, thanks (4)
IO-TA
After ten (IO) thanks (TA) = IOTA: just a little bit.
7 Hillary's greatest achievement perhaps? (4,5)
HIGH POINT
(Sir Edmund) Hillary's greatest achievement (HIGH POINT) perhaps was conquering Mt. Everest.
8 Jo's insane to be seen in Silcon Valley (3,4)
SAN (JO'S)E
In-sane (SA-NE) Jo's (JO'S) = SAN JOSE: to be seen in Silicon Valley.
9 He's employed the woman to take in Ray's kids initially (7)
WO(RK)MAN
The woman (WO-MAN) to take in R-ay's k-ids initially (RK) = WORKMAN: he's employed.
14 These are strange circles ... one forgets the past (10)
RECONCILES
These are strange "circles one" = RECONCILES: forgets the past.
16 Takes care of that racket I can hear with what's left of the doughnuts (9)
REST-RINGS
With what's left (REST) of the doughnuts (RINGS) = RESTRINGS: takes care of that racquet ("racket" I can hear).
17 That would be Edward sleeping there (3)
B-ED
That would be (B) Edward (ED) = BED: sleeping there.
18 To see the dyer dye moved some, but didn't move me (3-4)
DRY-EYED
To see the "dyer dye" moved some = DRY-EYED: but didn't move me.
19 The least you can do is note that you take the motorway (7)
MINIM-U-M
Note (MINIM) that you (U) take the motorway (M) = MINIMUM: the least you can do.
21 That woman who's been wailing has been all round here (7)
BANSHEE
"Has been" all round here = BANSHEE: that woman who's been wailing.
22 There are times the Queen uses it to make things disappear (6)
ERAS-ER
There are times (ERAS) the Queen (ER) = ERASER: uses it to make things disappear.
25 I won't be there, so it'll be the one after the A51 (5)
A-LI-B-I
After the A51 (A-LI) it'll be (B) the one (I) = ALIBI: I won't be there.
26 Can the little one be around a bee? (4)
B(A-B)E
Be (B-E) around a bee (A B) = BABE: the little one.
10 comments:
Hi Bill,
Just about to begin this weeks puzzle and will comment as soon as I can.
I just uploaded number 18 of my own offering so you have a few to keep you busy today :)
Hope your well.
Mark
Hi Bill, Mark,
What a great birthday crossword! I loved your clever birthday message. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have got my tantara without it. I was missing CROSAIRE, MISTER and ALIBI, having struggled for a while with an able seaman who wanted to be a tar.
CROSAIRE started to emerge from part of the clue and the crossing letters, and then the penny dropped. I only really ‘got’ the clues at that stage. ALIBI then followed.
I found the puzzle fairly challenging (my first glance produced utter despair), but very satisfying as I began to make progress. North-West corner (all but ARABIA) came first. A first sitting solved about half the clues. A second sitting, and your birthday message, gave me my tantara. Particular favourites were
Across
SULTANA, OCTAGON, FORTY WINKS, UP TO, MISHEARD, HOT TUB, NORA, MUNDANE, SELFISH, CROSAIRE
Down
BASHFUL, HIGH POINT, RESTRINGS, DRY-EYED, ALIBI, BABE
I’m sure MISTER CROSAIRE will love his ‘crossword card’.
Eleanor
Hi Mark,
I am just about to reciprocate, and have printed out your puzzle. Have cuppa in hand!
I see that you've created a "Happy Birthday, Derek" puzzle too! Looking forward to attacking it!
Hi Eleanor!
Long time no see!
Thank you so much for leaving that lovely, creative birthday greeting for Derek. I am sure he will be thrilled to be getting poetry from a young lady on his 92nd birthday! It's a really nice touch, Eleanor.
And thank you for checking out the WEB Crossword today, and sticking with it! I do worry when the feedback is that the puzzle is "challenging", but breathe a huge sigh of relief when I hear that "tantara". I do try to drop in some clues that are "gimmes" to avoid the first impression being one of "despair". Looking back, I probably should have added some easier clues for a 2/5 rating, to make the puzzle open up more quickly. Good comment!
It seems that you liked the clues that I did, so that's a good sign!
Once again, thank you for taking the time to do the puzzle, and (most import to me!) to provide feedback.
It's always good to hear from you, Eleanor.
Hi Bill,
Fantastic puzzle and the 2/5 rating was exact. Finished in less than half an hour so a nice tantara. Like Eleanor, the birthday message was great. I never thought about doing that. You do add the fun elements to puzzles.
Hard to choose a clue of the day because there were so many to pick. Feel a bit spoilt for choice.
So If you don't mind I will pick the clue's of the day.
CROSAIRE
FORTY WINKS: I always enjoy your cluINes
LEPRECHAUN: Fantastic
SULTANA
Well done!
Mark
Hi Eleanor,
I would also like to say that your poem was just brilliant. Really nice way to send a birthday wish and entertain the CROSARIANS.
All the best,
Mark
Hi Mark,
So the 2/5 was OK! I think perhaps the difference between your rating and Eleanor's is that you are a regular solver on Sunday so maybe you are used to my style(s) of clue.
I'm glad you liked the clue for CROSAIRE. It's a difficult one to clue for without giving the game away, and I had already come up with a different clue in a prior WEB Crossword that was also a "homage" to Crosaire.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. It's always appreciated. And it's great to hear that tantara :)
Hi Bill, Mark and Eleanor
Fabulous puzzle Bill...tantara!...but I did have to work for it!! I seem to agree with Eleanor on all counts...although I managed to finish in one 35-40 minute sitting, not sure how long exactly...
...I had the same experience, filling the N.W. first...and ending up stuck on MISTER and CROSAIRE...along with RESTRINGS and BANSHEE (which shoulda been DEAD easy!)...MISTER CROSAIRE slowly unravelled...but it took me another five minutes to connect the four corners for the full greeting...very nicely done, Bill.
My favourites list corresponds almost exactly with Eleanor's...with the addition of WORKMAN...and also that I thought the interconnection of the ELFISH and LEPRECHAUN clues was fairy good!! Too many nice clues to single any one out...how bad!!!
...oh, and seeing as you don't have an Aria slot on WEB, think we should go for 'Solvers Choice'!...I'm going to nominate Sonny and Cher 'I Got You Babe'...been to YouTube already!! http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=i+got+you+babe+sonny+and+cher&search_type=&aq=1&oq=I+got+you+
...I'll anxiously await next week's WEB puzzle...to see how much more difficult you make it...I fear that if you up the level significantly, I'll be well beaten before I ever see a 5/5...time will tell!!
You'd often refer to clues as nice and tight; well, that was a very nice and tight puzzle...and really enjoyable, so many thanks Bill!
Liz
...and Eleanor, I join Bill and Mark in saluting you ...what a lovely tribute to M. Crosaire
Hi Liz,
I am glad you liked the puzzle, and delighted you managed to squeeze out a tantara. I'm also glad the birthday message didn't stay completely hidden!
I haven't included a "WEB Aria" as I didn't want to tip my hand with any of the answers. Maybe solvers choice is the answer :) And that's a great choice for today, Liz!
I've started into my 3/5 already. I am not planning on upping the ante too much. I am saving that for the end of the month!!
Thanks again for the feedback, Liz.
Hi Bill,
Happy to report another finish and in one sitting at bedtime which I really impressed myself with:)
Really liked FORTY WINKS, MISHEARD, HOT TUB. Put in CROSAIRE without actually 'getting' the clue and I was trying to make some sort of Downing street connection! For your honour roll my sister with her first completed Crosaire at the weekend is called Breda.
Martina
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