I’ve always found it a bit of a struggle to get on Hamilton’s wavelength, and this morning’s offering was no exception – but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the challenge. Even though this was a themed puzzle, of which I’m not usually a fan, I found this a fun solve. There were some complicated constructions, and one or two stubborn puzzles – and I learned a new word, at 12ac. which is always a bonus. Thank-you, Hamilton.
ACROSS
9. QUEEN-SIZE Anagram of squeeze in
10. STEAD Steadfast [firm] minus fast – see 18ac.
11. ASTRIDE A + stride [walk]
12. TRENTAL Rental [payment], but I’m not sure how t = 60% agree…
13. SIT Anagram of its – see 18ac.
14. POSTER GIRLS Cryptic definition
17. ROLLS A tent-dweller would probably sleep on a bed-roll (see 18ac)
18. BED Hidden in suBEDitor – thus we have bedstead (10ac), bedsit (13ac), etc…
19. ASSES Assess [evaluate] minus s(tudying)
21. STAND AT EASE Stand [put up with] + a + tease [kid] – nice definition
23. PAN Reversal of nap [certainty] to give, with 18ac, bedpan
25. CULPRIT Pri(zes) [winnings] within cult [group]
27. CLOTHES Lot [loads] within chest [crate] minus t(thinking) to give, with 18ac, bedclothes
28. ROMEO Anagram of more O [ordinary]
29. TOM PEARSE Anagram of tempers a(pproached) o(ld) to give a character in the song Widecombe Fair (more often spelt Pearce, it seems)
DOWN
1. SQUAWS Qu [question] within saws [what proverbs are]
2. TEETOTAL Double definition: there are a total of eighteen tees on a (golf) course…
3. INDISPOSED Anagram of do side spin
4. TIME I’m within te [note?] to give, with 18ac, bedtime, when one goes down? Not sure about this one…
5. GET THE IDEA Et [Egypt, in vehicle registration code] + the [definite article] within Gide [French author] + a
6. ISLE Even letters from lIpSaLvE; the allusion is to London’s Isle of Dogs
7. WETTER With 18ac, gives bedwetter [one who has lost control]
8. IDOLISES Anagram of Isolde is – not sure what heroine is doing here
15. SUBSTITUTE Subs [fees] + institute minus inst [this month]
16. GRACE NOTES Grace [cricketer] + notes [alludes to]
17. REST CURE Restore [make good] with o [zero, nothing] replaced by Cu [chemical symbol of copper]
20. SAPPHIRE Sap [energy] + phire [sounds like fire]
22. AFLAME A + flame [lover]
24. NOSIER Reversal of re [about] + I [one] + son [relative]
26. ROOM With 18ac, gives bedroom, a place for people who are retiring
27. CAMP With 18ac, gives camp-bed, which can be taken anywhere
Hi Ringo, thanks for an excelent blog. You’re not alone – I struggle with my wavelength at times….
Just to say that:
12a – 60% of tally (agree) around rent
29a – the Oxford Book of Ballads quotes “Pearse” but I accept it could go either way
4d – in my childhood I was always told I was going down to sleep even though the bedroom was upstairs! Is that a Midlands peculiarity? Having said that, my children (and latterly my grandchildren) have always as young babies been put down for a sleep. I’ll be interested in what others think…
8d – I’m afraid “heroine” is only there for the surface
Thanks Ringo and Hamilton. Enjoyed this. TRENTAL was new to me also. I eventually spotted the 60% of TALLY, by analogy with 25a (half of PRIZES). Several to smile at, like 7d.
For 13A I assumed that ‘sit’ was inside ‘oppo-sit-ion’.
Thanks for the blog, Ringo
Hi Hamilton – thanks for stopping by and clearing up my various confusions!
@Ernie – oh, of course, you’re quite right – I thought “in opposition” was rather unsatisfactory as an anagram indicator…
Thanks Hamilton and Ringo.
Re 4dn: Under ‘put down’ the COD gives ‘put (baby) to bed’.
If sleepy, I think the youngster will indeed be ‘ready to go down’!