Lorraine: No real problems this week really so long as you read the clues properly!; 6 across being a fine example, I put ‘free association’ which then messed me up for 6 down, and took me ages to realise where I’d gone wrong. Moral of the story always read the clues properly. Apart from that another lovely crossword, thank you Everyman.
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Legend to solution comments:
* = anagram.
< = word reversed.
| Across | |||
| 1. | Little time to copy record (4) | ||
| TAPE |
T+APE | ||
| 3. |
Fix a hotpot (4) | ||
| STEW |
dd | ||
| 6. |
Talk by consortium exposing early method of psychoanalysis (4,11) | ||
| WORD ASSOCIATION |
WORD+ASSOCIATION | ||
| 10. |
In an artless way, of course (9) | ||
| NATURALLY |
dd | ||
| 11. |
Speed shown in running heats (5) | ||
| HASTE |
(HEATS)* | ||
| 12. |
Questions about English politician causes furore (7) | ||
| TEMPEST |
TEST around (E+MP) | ||
| 14. |
Newsworthy subject? Capone? (7) | ||
| TOPICAL |
TOPIC+AL (Capone) | ||
| 15. |
Hang South American writer with daughter (7) | ||
| SUSPEND |
S+US+PEN+D | ||
| 18. |
Difficulty learner found in examination – marks? (7) | ||
| PROBLEM |
(L in PROBE)+M | ||
| 20. |
Lacking sense batting, an Englishman at first (5) | ||
| INANE |
IN (batting)+AN+E | ||
| 21. |
Item of night attire, jet black, Ed left out for a change (3,6) | ||
| BED JACKET |
(JET BLACK ED)* minus L | ||
| 23. |
Ruler, therefore, got hug, unexpectedly (6,3,6) | ||
| GEORGE THE FOURTH |
(THEREFORE GOT HUG)* | ||
| 24. |
Large or small container in which odds and ends are kept (4) | ||
| TIDY |
dd (see ‘tidy’ in Collins) | ||
| 25. |
Song of praise suggested by that man on the radio (4) | ||
| HYMN |
homophone of ‘HIM’ | ||
| Down | |||
| 1. |
See Oscar on board cutting a card (5) | ||
| TAROT |
O in TART(= cutting) | ||
| 2. |
Couple bagging last of flour that is plain (7) | ||
| |
PRAIRIE |
(PAIR around (flou)R)+I.E. | |
| 4. |
Poet has crackers in restaurant (3,4) | ||
| |
TEA SHOP |
(POET HAS)* | |
| 5. |
Wish claim would fail, being fanciful (9) | ||
| |
WHIMSICAL |
(WISH CLAIM)* | |
| 6. |
Went in with Asti, possibly good for this? (4,7) | ||
| |
WINE TASTING |
(WENT IN ASTI)*+G &lit | |
| 7. |
Leave resort on the Adriatic (5) | ||
| |
SPLIT |
dd | |
| 8. |
Keen on pint in vault (5) | ||
| |
CRYPT |
CRY(=keen)+PT | |
| 9. |
Hence, met lad injured in grudge game (6,5) | ||
| |
NEEDLE MATCH |
(HENCE MET LAD)* | |
| 13. |
Potter around canteen before a contest (4,5) | ||
| |
MESS ABOUT |
sort of dd(cd?) | |
| 16. |
Came from the East and joined forces (7) | ||
| |
EMERGED |
E+MERGED | |
| 17. |
Payment owed one in arrears (5) | ||
| |
DEBIT |
I in DEBT | |
| 18. |
Chaplain in rooms overlooking outskirts of Rome (5) | ||
| |
PADRE |
PAD(= rooms)+R(om)E | |
| 19. |
Speaker, last in very small chapel (7) | ||
| |
ORATORY |
ORATOR+(ver)Y | |
| 22. |
Girl’s in black – are nuns? (5) | ||
| KAREN |
hidden: blacK ARE Nuns | ||
Yes, enjoyable puzzle, easy enough. I think 13D is MESS (canteen) A BOUT (contest)
Thanks Lorraine. Yes, enjoyable enough but a very quick solve and no need to confirm anything with Google or a dictionary. I often wonder why the easiest crossword of the week comes out on the day when I have the most time available.
Super blog, Lorraine – I really like the way you set out the clues to remind us of what we were thinking about seven days ago. Reasonably straightforward but as always an enjoyable solve over the Sunday morning coffee. Today’s was a bit tougher though, I thought.
And ‘when in doubt, read the clue’ is my motto too – when I remember of course!
Too late for most, but I believe Lorraine will see this. I want to endorse Kathryn’s Dad’s praise for the blog. I know it takes extra time and effort to copy the clues across and separate the answer from the explanation but I for one really appreciate it. Thank you.
And yes, yesterday’s Everyman was a bit tougher than usual.
Lorraine
A great idea
Since we never have enough discipline to retain our copies of the prize crosswords after our attempts to finish them, we rarely check the blogs as we can’t cross reference to solution to the original clue.
A very nice innovation.
Lorraine
just found your website.
as an absolute beginner,
i will be checking in often
already a convert
thanks!
Sorry to all, nmsindy was quite right (comment no.1) about 13 down, must have had a blonde moment for a minute. Glad that you all like the blog.
Lorraine.