Guardian 26,247 – Paul

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Good entertainment from Paul as usual. Most of this went in fairly easily, though there are a couple of places where I’m not totally convinced by my explanations.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Across
4. FAT CAT Wealthy man of business, proud owner of a large corporation? (3,3)
I’m not sure about this: the owner of a large corporation (=stomach) is fat; is he “proud” because he’s a lion and so a member of a pride?
6. CLARINET Blood circulating in a tube that’s blown (8)
IN in (circulated by) CLARET (slang for blood)
9,19. RONALD REAGAN Horse guards and regal waves for Star Wars actor (6,6)
(AND REGAL)* in ROAN. Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, derisively nicknamed “Star Wars”
10. APPETITE A l-little Lyonnaise lust (8)
A P-PETITE (French for little)
11. YOOF CULTURE Kids’ style, fashioning cool future by the end of puberty (4,7)
[pubert]Y + (COOL FUTURE)*
15. WAR-TORN Ravaged by conflict, old craft breaks up (3-4)
ART (craft) in WORN (old)
18. TWITTER FEED Babbling stream — Spooner’s river in better condition? (7,4)
Spoonerism of “fitter Tweed”
22. KINSHASA Capital family is obliged to access it (8)
KIN (family) + HAS (is obliged) in SA (sex appeal, “it”). Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
23. SATNAV Route finder rested, vehicle sent the wrong way (6)
SAT (rested) + reverse of VAN
24. POP GROUP Attempt to climb over King — as Queen, perhaps? (3,5)
POP (an attempt) + R in GO UP
25. PATTER Curtail arrangement for talk (6)
A curtailed PATTER[N]
Down
1. GALLIC Black flag finally raised, French (6)
Reverse of CILLA + [fla]G
2. SLOP BUCKET Prune and rabbit in stable waste container (4,6)
LOP + BUCK in SET
3. TREE FERN Plant joint inside empty tin (4,4)
REEFER in T[i]N
4. FORTY-TWO Government department overseeing redeployment of Tory wet, gutless figure (5-3)
(TORY W[e]T)* in FO (Foreign Office)
5. TANDOORI Riot brewing about unlimited people cooking chicken in Indian style (8)
ANDO in RIOT, and I think the ANDO must be “unlimited” [M]ANDO[M], unless anyone has a better idea. A much better idea from Muffyword and NeilW – the “people cooking chicken” are the restaurant chain NANDO’S, making the definition the more satisfactory ‘Indian style’
7,17. NEIL KINNOCK Prepare to play a sweep shot, say, batting during innings as elder statesman (4,7)
NEIL (homophone of “kneel”, as a cricketer would to play a sweep shot) + IN (batting) in KNOCK (cricketing slang for a batsman’s innings).
8. TWEE Precious little time to go (4)
T + WEE (urinate, “go”)
12. LENTIL SOUP With leguminous starter, stir pulse in to vegetarian food (6,4)
L[eguminous] + (PULSE IN TO)*
13. LOVE KNOT Send over small book token, perhaps, as an emblem of affection (4,4)
Reverse of VOL[ume] + TOKEN*
14. SKYDIVER Empty day eaten up by shirker, one for the high jump? (8)
D[a]Y in SKIVER
16. OUT THERE Dismissed three forms as unconventional (3,5)
OUT (dismissed – cricket again!) + THREE*
20. UKIP ____ , while I stay up for the party? (4)
While I stay up, you kip (sleep).
21. SNAP Break in game (4)
Double definition

37 comments on “Guardian 26,247 – Paul”

  1. Thanks Andrew and Paul,

    NEIL KINNOCK was my favourite.

    I thought in FAT CAT , “proud” was a reference to the arrogant nature of felines.

    I wonder if the definition of TANDOORI is just “in Indian style” and “unlimited people cooking chicken” are (n)ando(s).

    There is a reversal indicator (up) in the clue for SKYDIVER.

  3. Thanks Andrew. I agree with Muffyword about nANDOs but I thought the pride was more to do with the fact that FAT CATs are thought of as being very pleased with themselves.

  6. Had natter for patter but found this Pauline contribution just right for me. Needed the parsing for one or two. Thank you you Paul and Andrew.

  7. This is nothing to do with Paul, but surely whoever coined the expression Yoof Culture slipped up? If, as they patronisingly assumed, youth mispronounce themselves as “yoof” I’d have thought they mispronounce culture as well. So it should be something like “yoof cultsher”. If you like to use the expression. Which I don’t.

  9. Schroduck – I agree on the cricket obscurities.

    With regards to fat cat – my thinking was that if you are the ‘owner of a large corporation’ then you are fat and if you are the owner in a proud then you’re a fat cat (?.

    Thanks for the blog Andrew.

  11. Quite pleased to think that NEIL KINNOCK is regarded as an elder statesman, but as a clue (and only as a clue) RONALD REAGAN has the edge.

    Despite a few inabilities to parse (thanks Andrew), another excellent puzzle from Paul. A bit surprised though to see that hoary old chestnut IT = SA cropping up again.

  12. Blimey, ‘SA = it’…haven’t seen that for a while!

    I have a slight personal resistance to the ‘Black = Cilla’ type of clue, which Paul seems to enjoy, but maybe that’s just me. I liked ‘Go = Wee’ and ‘three forms’.

    Thanks to Paul and Andrew, good fun.

  14. Thanks Paul & Andrew – a good entertaining puzzle, although I failed to parse a couple.

    I got the RONALD but then tried to find a (minor) character in Star Wars – doh! 🙁

    I see some of the original cast are returning for Star Wars VII, due to be released December 2015 for the immature among you, like me.

  15. Thanks, Andrew.

    Good fun. It took me a few reads though to get started properly on this one, but once I had a foothold or two it yielded quite easily.

    I failed to parse WAR-TORN. WORN is not at all the same as ‘old’, though this doesn’t excuse my lacuna. Although there are plausible explanations offered above for ‘proud’ in 4a, I feel that the word is superfluous to the clue.

    Lots of good clues though; I starred 10a (nice alliteration), 24a, 1d, 8d (there had to be one of these in a Paul), 13d (great surface), 20d (these analogy clues are becoming as much of a Pauline trademark as the ribaldry).

  16. Having lived out of England for 27 years, I’m proud to say I’d never heard of the restaurant chain. Top puzzle this, notwithstanding, with TWITTER FREE just pipping NEIIL KINNOCK at the post. A familiar story, but as the Cambrian would no doubt say, “We’re alright!!”

  17. Nothing to add to what’s already been said, but I hope it’s not too late to convey my thanks to Gervase for yesterday’s link to MONDEGREEN – absolutely fascinating!

  18. ulaca @16: not sure you meant Twitter “free”, but that’s how I’d prefer the world!

    Ian Payn @7: I’d plump for Yoof “Cultcha”

    Yet again I’m amazed to be right on Paul’s wavelength – it has to end sometime. One slight niggle being that I thought 1d needed a “perhaps” or a “maybe” as Cilla certainly ain’t the only famous (or notorious) Black.

  19. Another possibility for 4A: ‘proud’ can mean swollen – literally, not just in the expression “swollen with pride”.

  20. Yes, my Chambers Thesaurus for ‘the surface stands proud’ gives: prominent, protuberant, sticking out etc.

  21. I was a bit late starting this morning because I was unable to find a paper in the morning. Found it as enjoyable as ever from Paul, and not too taxing though I failed to see the Nandos reference. Enjoyed RONALD REAGAN, TWITTER FEED and NEIL KINNOCK. Can’t decide whether I loved or hated YOOF CULTURE – it’s a while since I’ve seen YOOF anywhere. Last in was TWEE.

    Thanks to Paul and Andrew

  23. A very enjoyable puzzle from Paul as ever. I found the LHS easier than the RHS and I finished in the NE quadrant with TWEE after I finally twigged CLARINET and APPETITE. I was surprised to see so many Ks in the answers.

  24. Nando’s is also a nice piece of misdirection as they don’t actually feature Indian style food (at least they don’t here in Vancouver).

    The aforementioned attempts at associating ‘proud’ with the feline part of the solution in 4a are valiant but unconvincing: the first half of the clue would also have to imply ‘fat,’ =whjich I donlt see, I would have to call it SD2: single defintion given twice, definitlely a D- IMO.

    Despite all that, thanks to Paul and Andrew: my FOI was APPETITE but I didnt get the first until now.

  25. Really liked this but agree with Freddy about 4a, I’m still none the wiser and can’t shake the feeling that if it had appeared in a Monday Rufus, it would have attracted a lot more adverse comment.

  27. An enjoyable Paul puzzle although towards the easier end of his spectrum.

    Couldn’t parse the “ando” in TANDOORI though the answer was obviously correct. (Never heard of Nando’s anyway!)

    Surely “Yoof culture” is a pejorative term and not one used by “yoof” themselves. So culture is probably correct?

    Finally I think “FAT CAT” has an element of smugness and pride in its meaning.

    Thanks to Andrew and Paul

  28. Re 4d, BillyK @ 26. What do you not understand about 42 being a figure (number)?! It is also the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything.

    Re 9a, I’ve never seen Star Wars!

    Re 11a, I always associate YOOF CULTURE with Janet Street Porter. I don’t know why.

    Re 18a, I’ve never heard the expression “TWITTER FEED”.

    Re 5d, having lived in England for 71 years, I’ve never heard of Nando’s. Do they cook chicken?

    Re 16d, I’ve never heard the phrase “OUT THERE” meaning unconventional.

    Should I go out and shoot myself?

  29. An excellent puzzle, full of characteristic Pauline touches. I would never have got the Nando’s reference, though I walk past one of their restaurants quite often.

    As for Neil Kinnock, I wonder if Paul had the (no doubt apocryphal) story about George Thomas in mind. Speaker Thomas, dressed in full ceremonial uniform, black tights and all, was proceeding in solemn procession to open the day’s session in the House of Commons when he spotted his friend and fellow Welshman, Kinnock. “Neil”, he cried – and the assembled tourists did.

  30. Thanks Andrew and Paul

    I completed this with some difficulty in dribs and drabs during the day and finished it this evening. Plenty of nifty cluing as usual.

    I too plumped for Nando’s.

  31. @peterjohn

        “Should I go out and shoot myself?”

    I think “going out” could well be the key!  😛

          (…although you might find work as a High Court judge! )

  32. Limení @ 31. Yes, perhaps I should get out more, but I have heard of the Beatles, and Queen for that matter! However, the popular media are full of headlines about “celebrities” of whom I’ve never heard, and have no idea what they’ve done to be famous. I don’t watch soaps or “reality” TV,and I’m not a royalist!

  33. Quite so…only teasing – I’m with you all the way.

    It’s just that your post sounded so like the High Court judge at the top of The Oldie’s ‘Modern Life’ section that I couldn’t resist!

  34. Great story g larsen. P.s. I think I prefer Alias Smith and Jones of all your tv series. About to be remade I hear.

  35. Paul is one of my favourite setters so it hurts to say: ‘Nando’s’ -pathetic. I get out enough and have never heard of them. ‘Worn’ for ‘old’ – worse (for wear!).

  36. Being Indian got tandoori as the first one in, without clear explanation. For some reason gave up soon. I see many / most are gettable for me. Some references like cilla black or neil kinnock not. thanks for explanations.

  37. Thanks Paul and Andrew

    What can I say … this sat around for a long, long time – had actually started it on the day !!! Was stuck with 20d … I would pick it up and look at it from time to time without ever looking like getting it … and the gaps in between picking it up just got longer and longer. Last night when I picked it up … UKIP seriously just jumped out as the obvious answer – strange what a recent election can teach someone this far away … and then could appreciate one of my favourite Paul-type clues !!!

    Went through and relived the cleverness of many other clues. On checking, saw that I failed with the Nando’s part of 5d and also missed with FAT CAT (but agree with Brendan (NTO)’s version).

    It’s a very nice feeling to finally get one that’s been hanging around for this long 🙂 :).

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