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Towards the end of the month I have been producing more challenging puzzles, so today's is rated a 4/5 in terms of difficulty. If you find it hard going, don't despair! Just remember, that unlike Crosaire, I don't use any obscure words as answers. Oh, and I'll warn you ahead of time, given all the flooding in Ireland right now, one of these clues seems rather inappropriate. It's just an unfortunate coincidence!
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.
Across
8 Hailing from there one pays tax to the Iranian king (4,4)
9 In the morning, before the North gets the country music (6)
10 Them ---> in bones (6)
11 The toilets in the East End are an unresolved issue (5,3)
12 Countries growing weed? (10)
15 Get us into Denmark before nightfall (4)
16 More chaotic after the proposition (7)
18 Moved along with Ed to where Kenny could get the letter (7)
20 In with the sect that was quiet (4)
21 That merchandise is beside the cash register, and it hasn't moved at all (5-5)
23 Escape a delayed climb (8)
25 Vaguely aware that ten can make it hard to hear (6)
27 Seen in a tizzy around the American ... easy to happen with a cold (6)
28 A gent's business is in such places (8)
Down
1 It's key to the French party (4)
2 101 are right with us high in the sky (6)
3 Do they cross the road with crows on leashes? (10)
4 Those buildings in the distance are for Aer Lingus perhaps? (7)
5 Without Ireland, this organisation is to place mainly Canada and the US first (1.1.1.1)
6 I was there at No. 10D (8)
7 Something served at ten at Ulster's big dance (6,4)
13 Getting ready for carrying the coffin yet again? (10)
14 He has something in store for us that hops around the castle and the queen (10)
17 Harped on about both parents being gone (8)
19 Listen ... book Kay as it sounds like she knows Mr. Byrne (7)
22 On three occasions in the old police force (6)
24 This attracts attention to them with a fort (4)
26 An Irish river that's toward the quiet side (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!
Across
8 Hailing from there one pays tax to the Iranian king (4,4)
TAX-I RAN-K
Tax (TAX) to the Iranian king (IRAN K) = TAXI RANK: hailing from there, one pays.
9 In the morning, before the North gets the country music (6)
A(N-THE)M
In the morning (A-M) gets North, before the (N-THE) = ANTHEM: country music.
10 Them ---> in bones (6)
M-ARROW
The-m (M) ---> (ARROW) = MARROW: in bones.
11 The toilets in the East End are an unresolved issue (5,3)
LOOS-E END
The toilets (LOOS) in the East (E) End (END) are = LOOSE END: an unresolved issue.
12 Countries growing weed? (10)
GRASS-LANDS
Weed/marijuana (GRASS) countries (LANDS) = GRASSLANDS ... well, maybe!
15 Get us into Denmark before nightfall (4)
D(US)K
Into Denmark (DK) get us (US) = DUSK: before nightfall.
16 More chaotic after the proposition (7)
THE-OREM
After the (THE) "more" chaotic (EREM) = THEOREM: the proposition.
18 Moved along with Ed to where Kenny could get the letter (7)
DONEGAL
Moved "along" with "Ed" = DONEGAL: where Kenny could get the letter (LETTERKENNY).
20 In with the sect that was quiet (4)
WAS-P
Was (WAS) quiet (P) = WASP: insect ("in" with the "sect").
21 That merchandise is beside the cash register, and it hasn't moved at all (5-5)
STOCK-STILL
That merchandise is (STOCK'S) beside the cash register (TILL) = STOCK-STILL: and it hasn't moved at all.
23 Escape a delayed climb (8)
ESC-A-LATE
Escape (ESC) a delayed (A LATE) = ESCALATE: climb.
25 Vaguely aware that ten can make it hard to hear (6)
EARWA-X
Vaguely "aware" (EARWA) that ten (X) = EARWAX: can make it hard to hear.
27 Seen in a tizzy around the American ... easy to happen with a cold (6)
SNE(EZ)E
"Seen" in a tizzy (SNE-E) around the American easy (EZ) = SNEEZE: to happen with a cold.
28 A gent's business is in such places (8)
AGENCIES
A-gent's (AGENTS) business is in AGENCIES.
Down
1 It's key to the French party (4)
G-A-LA
It's key (G) to the French (A LA) = GALA: party.
2 101 are right with us high in the sky (6)
CI-R-R-US
101 (CI) are (R) right (R) with us (US) = CIRRUS: high in the sky.
3 Do they cross the road with crows on leashes? (10)
JAYWALKERS
Are JAYWALKERS crossing the road like DOG-WALKERS, only with crows on leashes?
4 Those buildings in the distance are for Aer Lingus perhaps? (7)
SKYLINE
Aer Lingus is an airline, or perhaps one could say SKYLINE: those buildings in the distance.
5 Without Ireland, this organisation is to place mainly Canada and the US first (1.1.1.1)
N.A.T.O.
Mainly Canada and the US first, North America (NA) then "to" (TO) = N.A.T.O. - this organization without Ireland.
6 I was there at No. 10D (8)
AT-TEN-DEE
At (AT) No. 10 (TEN) D (DEE) = ATTENDEE: I was there.
7 Something served at ten at Ulster's big dance (6,4)
TEN-NI'S BALL
At ten (TEN) at Ulster's (NI'S) big dance (BALL) = TENNIS BALL: something served.
13 Getting ready for carrying the coffin yet again? (10)
REHEARSING
Yet again (RE-) carrying the coffin? ('HEARSING') = REHEARSING: getting ready for.
14 He has something in store for us that hops around the castle and the queen (10)
SHOPKEEPER
That "hops" around (SHOP) the castle (KEEP) and the queen (ER) = SHOPKEEPER: he has something in store for us.
17 Harped on about both parents being gone (8)
ORPHANED
"Harped on" about = ORPHANED: both parent being gone.
19 Listen ... book Kay as it sounds like she knows Mr. Byrne (7)
NOSEGAY
It sounds like she "knows" (NOSE) Mr. Byrne (GAY) = NOSEGAY: bouquet (Listen ... "book Kay").
22 On three occasions in the old police force (6)
TH(RIC)E
In the (THE) old police force (RIC) = THRICE: on three occasions.
24 This attracts attention to them with a fort (4)
A-HEM
The-m with "a" for "t" (a for-t) = AHEM: this attracts attention to.
26 An Irish river that's toward the quiet side (4)
A-LEE
An Irish river (A LEE) = ALEE: that's toward the quiet side.
6 comments:
Hi Bill,
Delighted to report that you challenged me yet again but that this time I persevered for the tantara! It took me just under an hour and I managed without having to leave it and come back. Felt very at home with both a Donegal and Cork connection not to mention the fact that my father (now retired) was a shopkeeper and I too spent many summers behind the counter. That clue took a long time as I was trying to make it start with STOCK and nearly convinced myself STOCKEEPER was a word. ALEE was my lookup of the day an thanks for the headsup on it as it's far from quiet these days. I put in ATTENDED at first but got the DONEGAL from the moved along and ed so spotted that mistake. Only got the letter and kenny connection after. Very nice clue. EARWAX was one of my last as I tried to think of words meaning vaguely aware! Great clue once solved!!JAYWALKERS took a long time as I tried making anagrams from LEADS and CROWS. Loved ....them for a fort for AHEM. Was heading to the dictionary to see if there was such a thing as a hem fort before it clicked! NOSEGAY is my clue of the day managing to get both Mr and Mrs byrne mentioned - I'm sure he calls her Kay sometimes:)Started looking for a bookie/gambling connection first.Overall a good balance of very 'gettable' and 'do a bit of workable' clues. So it's onwards and upwards to a new week with hopefully continued success for us all.
Martina
Oops sorry about the double entry! Re yesterdays puzzle Moley, no I didn't do it in under 3 minutes!
Martina
Hi Martina,
Thanks for checking out the puzzle, and a bigger thanks for taking the time to give me such comprehensive feedback. It's just what I need!
It sounds like the 4/5 rating wasn't too far off, and the great news for me is that you were able to solve all the clues.
Re ALEE
I try not to use answers requiring a lookup, but sometimes things sneak through if I make assumptions. ALEE would be a good example. I spent a lot of time on the water years back, and do sometimes forget that some terms aren't as common on dry land (excuse the rainy pun!).
Re JAYWALKERS
I'm afraid we've been trained by M. Crosaire to look for anagrams everywhere. In WEB puzzles I rarely use anagrams without some sort of a signal (like vaguely aware), so the "leads" and "crows" anagram was actually unlikely. But as I said, we've been trained already :)
Re NOSEGAY
The Kay/Gay connection was pure happenstance ... I had forgotten that Gaybo's wife was Kathleen, so the gods were with me on that one! Glad you liked it though. Was one one of my faves too.
I've started into next week's puzzle. It's my first 5/5 difficulty offering, so I'm thinking very few "gimmes", if any ...
Thanks again, Martina. Much appreciated.
Hi Bill and Martina
Glad to follow in Martina's shoes and report a tantara...though still only walking in your shadow in the Crosaire stakes Martina, may your roll continue!
At first glance I thought I was going to have a very tough time with this WEB puzzle but after a slow start it filled up nicely...slowing down towards the end for the last few.
Like Martina, I initially put in ATTENDED for 6d...until I got DONEGAL and saw the error of my ways. Smiled when I saw 'an Irish river that's toward the quiet side'...nice timing Bill...the aLEE we've been looking at for the past few days is more like a raging torrent! And not a drop of water in the taps to boot!! It's created a whole new social whirl Leeside....the afflicted descending on more fortunate friends who have 'the running water' for showers, laundry and take-away H2o! I'm just back from such an excursion...and feeling squeaky clean!
The 'American' ref. in SNEEZE clue sent me off course for awhile....and I briefly entertained a 'bookie' connection for 19d until the BOUQUET/KNOWS/NOSE SCENT me on the right track....lovely clue!
Loved JAYWALKERS, WASP, SHOPKEEPER, NOSEGAY, ANTHEM, EARWAX (the clue not the yucky stuff) and AHEM...but I have to admit that I only got AHEM from 'this attracts attention' and an alphabet roll when I was looking at A-E-....it was my last one to fill, and with fingers crossed, I looked at your solutions sheet...very clever clue...so even though I didn't fully 'get' it...I got it for my tantara!
Very happy with the 4/5 rating...it was a notch up from last week...but still leaves me with the vague hope that I just might be able to give next week's 5/5 a fair bash!
Thanks for a great puzzle Bill.
Liz
Hi Liz,
Tantara ... that's what I like to hear :) Thanks for sticking with it. As I work on the harder puzzles, I am leaving less "gimmes", so a slow start I think is inevitable. And I am gratified to hear that things slowed down at the end. There have to be a few that won't give up without a struggle!
Re ALEE
I wrote this clue early last week, so I was quite shocked when I read in the IT Online that the R. Lee has burst its banks. I felt quite guilty leaving the clue in. I hope things get back to normal soon over there.
Re AHEM
I have to say I like my "letter FOR letter" device, and I've used it a couple of times before, but it's definitely not something seen in a Crosaire puzzle. At least you didn't object once you saw the explanation!
I do hope you find time to check out next week's puzzle. I am dying to hear some feedback on what I am trying to set as a 5/5 offering.
Thanks again, Liz ... I love the feedback!
Hi Liz,
Having discovered that you were quietly working on a long run of clearances, one that started on Monday 16 Nov, I now see that your clearance of WEB 031 on 22 Nov means that you had a Sweep-the-Week including Sunday. That's your first Sweep-the-Week PLUS! I wouldn't want you to miss the chance to get your name on the Honour Roll again!
Congratulations :)
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