I thought this was a typical Phi puzzle with some excellent clues.
I finished this puzzle and thought that there can’t be theme using these entries.. Then I thought, this is a Phi puzzle so the odds are that there is a theme, especially as there were some oddities in the down entries and there were some three letter entries and some names of people and places.
A bit of research showed that many of the across entries relate to the Church of the FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER [1a, 11a, 12a] and its gospel, the LOOSE CANON [16a, 18a]. Articles about the Church also refer to PIRATES [23a] and a NOODLY APPENDAGE [26a]. Phi used NOODLE [29a] in the grid rather than NOODLY.
You can read all you want to know, and more, about the Church here
The most obscure of the down entries, for me anyway, was PHAEDRA COMPLEX at 5d. I was able to deduce the correct spelling from the wordplay. With hindsight, now having read the description of the COMPLEX, I think the clue was excellent.
| Across | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Clue | Wordplay | Entry |
|
1
|
Going overseas, say, unknown during affair (6)
|
Y (letter frequently used to signify an unknown value in an equation) contained in (during) FLING (brief sexual relationship; affair) FL (Y) ING |
FLYING (people FLYING may be [say] going overseas)
|
|
4
|
A job worried someone uncommitted (8)
|
A + POST (job) + ATE (worried)
|
APOSTATE (a person who has abandoned their religion, principles; someone now uncommitted)
|
|
10
|
Holby City character right to back ditching second repeat showing (5)
|
(NURSE [character from the hospital drama Holby City] + R [right]) all reversed (to back) and excluding (ditching) S (second) (R ERUN)< |
RERUN (repeat showing)
|
|
11
|
Pasta shortcomings rejected by the agitated Italian after reflection (9)
|
GAPS (shortcomings) reversed (rejected) + an anagram of (agitated) THE + IT (Italian) reversed (on reflection) SPAG< HET* TI |
SPAGHETTI (type of pasta)
|
|
12
|
Large creature on stone in sea at Calais (7)
|
(ON + ST [stone]) contained in (in) MER (French [Calais] for ‘sea’) M (ON ST) ER |
MONSTER (large creature)
|
|
13
|
Studies church area in great detail (7)
|
DENS (studies) + ELY (reference the diocese [church area] of ELY)
|
DENSELY (in great detail)
|
|
14
|
Famous ship – alias ‘unit at sea’ (9)
|
Anagram of (at sea) ALIAS UNIT LUSITANIA* |
LUSITANIA (reference RMS LUSITANIA, a British ocean liner that was sunk by a German submarine in World War I, causing a major diplomatic uproar)
|
|
16
|
Where to go and seem only 50% insecure (5) |
LOO (toilet; where to go) + SE (two of the four [50%] letters of SEEM)
|
LOOSE (insecure)
|
|
18
|
Nameless writer chasing Catholic clergyman (5)
|
C (Catholic) + ANON (anonymous; nameless writer)
|
CANON (clergyman)
|
|
20
|
Estate unhappy about male attached to visiting group (9)
|
SAD (unhappy) containing (about) (TOUR [visiting group] + HE [male]) S (TOUR HE) AD |
STOURHEAD (reference STOURHEAD, National Trust estate near Mere in Wiltshire)
|
|
22
|
Classic play over time getting surprised comment? (7)
|
O (over; cricket term) + T (time) + HELLO (a word that can be used to express surprise)
|
OTHELLO (classic Shakespearean play)
|
|
23
|
Some sailors fixed a disturbed sea when returning (7)
|
(SET [fixed] + A + RIP [disturbed state of the sea]) all reversed (when returning) (PIR A TES)< |
PIRATES (robbers or marauders operating at sea; some sailors)
|
|
26
|
Additional item in program to stop time (9)
|
APP (application; an abbreviated term used today to describe a computer program) + END (stop) + AGE (period of time)
|
APPENDAGE (anything hanging on or attached; additional item)
|
|
27
|
Daughter positioned at front of a country villa in Russia (5)
|
A + CHAD (African country) with the D (daughter) moved to the beginning (positioned in front of) D A CHA |
DACHA (villa in Russia)
|
|
28
|
Extendable gag deployed in haunt of vice? (8)
|
RETCH (gag) contained in (deployed in) STY (place of great debauchery) ST (RETCH) Y |
STRETCHY (extendable)
|
|
29
|
Food item getting line in no poem (6)
|
L (line) contained in (getting … in) (NO + ODE [poem]) NO OD (L) E |
NOODLE (form of pasta, but also made from other ingredients such as wheat or rice)
|
| Down | |||
|
1
|
Gathering of people united in criminal history (5)
|
U (united) contained in (in) FORM (criminal record) FOR (U) M |
FORUM (meeting to discuss topics of public concern; gathering of people)
|
|
2
|
Ultimately shady sets of characters around ring primarily – not boxers? (1-6)
|
Y (last letter of [ultimately] SHADY) + (FONTS [complete assortments of types of one sort, with all that is necessary for printing in that kind of letter; set of characters] containing [around] R [first letter of {primarily} RING]) Y F (R) ONTS |
Y-FRONTS (a different form of underwear from boxer shorts)
|
|
3
|
Chamber group without a website? (5)
|
NO NET (no internet; without a website) I suppose the ‘?’ allows for the rather loose defintion
|
NONET (instrumental group of nine players which could also be described as a chamber orchestra or group)
|
|
5
|
Family problem – new chap, for example not initially fussed about daughter (7,7)
|
(Anagram of [new] CHAP FOR EXAMPLE excluding [not] F [first letter of {initially} Fussed]) containing (about) D (daughter) PHAE (D) RA COMPLEX* |
PHAEDRA COMPLEX (the difficult relationship which can arise between a new step-parent and the [usually teenage] son or daughter of the original marriage)
|
|
6
|
Wrong to adopt church line when probing the German war hero (9)
|
(SIN containing [to adopt] CH [church]) + (L [line] contained in [probing] DER [one of the German forms ‘the’) S (CH) IN D (L) ER |
SCHINDLER (reference Oskar SCHINDLER ,a German industrialist, spy, and member of the
|
|
7
|
20th-century style badly rated by company (3,4)
|
Anagram of (badly) RATED + CO (company) ART DE* CO |
ART DECO (style of decorative art characteristic of the 1920s and 1930s)
|
|
8
|
Some instructed, if you instruct (5)
|
EDIFY (hidden word in [some] INSTRUCTED IF YOU)
|
EDIFY (improve the mind of; instruct)
|
|
9
|
Aghast – most corn poorly digested – unless you have this? (1,6,7)
|
Anagram of (poorly digested) AGHAST MOST CORN A STRONG STOMACH* |
A STRONG STOMACH (with A STRONG STOMACH one has the ability to smell, taste, or see unpleasant things without feeling ill or upset)
|
|
14
|
Resin shortage not ending (3)
|
LACK (shortage) excluding the final letter (not ending) K
|
LAC (dark red transparent resin)
|
|
15
|
Fisherman’s device – canvas cover set up to carry fish (6,3)
|
TENT (canvas cover) reversed (set up; down clue) containing ANGLE (fish) T (ANGLE) NET< |
TANGLE NET (long NET, anchored to the seabed at both ends; fisherman’s device)
|
|
17
|
Article overlooked when setting up Hamlet‘s finale (3)
|
DANE (Hamlet was the Prince of Denmark, hence he was a DANE) reversed (setting up; down clue) excluding (overlooked) A (indefinite article) END< |
END (finale)
|
|
19
|
Spy heading off round Hungary – he hasn’t a chance (2-5)
|
(SNOOPER [spy] excluding the first letter [heading off] S) containing (round) H (international vehicle registration for Hungary) NO (H) OPER |
NO-HOPER (one who hasn’t a chance) |
|
21
|
Hospital department used cryogenics, perhaps given encouragement (7)
|
ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat; hospital department) + ICED (possibly [perhaps] used cryogenics [branch of physics concerned with phenomena at very low temperatures])
|
ENTICED (tempted; given encouragement)
|
|
22
|
Sailor going round China for precious stones (5)
|
OS (ordinary Seaman; sailor) containing (going round) PAL (friend; China) O (PAL) S |
OPALS (precious stones)
|
|
24
|
Run business involving one broadcast medium (5)
|
R (run; cricket scoring notation) + (ADO [fuss; rigmarole; business] containing [involving] I [one]) R AD (I) O |
RADIO (broadcast medium)
|
|
25
|
What computer key offers – the reverse of upper-case English? (5)
|
CAPS (capitals; upper-case) reversed (reverse of) + E (English) SPAC< E |
SPACE (reference the SPACE bar on a computer keyboard)
|
I thought this was fairly friendly but good Phi puzzle, Stourhead (last in) the only one giving trouble for me.I can never get Phi themes even though they are invariably there.
Thanks for blog and ;puzzle.
This is a very satisfying solve, with several quite challenging moments. I spent far too long getting PHAEDRA COMPLEX though familiar with the term…..and my LOI,STOURHEAD was a guess with help from the wordplay. But there are lovely witty clues like 19d,21d and 24d to name only a few.
The blog’s intro made me check that the date is not April 1st……..but I don’t have time to follow up the reference right now.
Thanks to Phi and Duncanshiell.
With impeccable timing, New Zealand confirmed today that the Flying Spaghetti Monster can be mocked: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/83592921/yes-you-can-make-fun-of-pastafarianism.
I did say there’d be another Henderson puzzle, and here it is.
Very good. Even I spotted the theme. The only one I couldn’t manage was PHAEDRA COMPLEX (and now I’ve found out what it is, I’m not sure I want to remember it …)
I might just download some application forms for the Pastafarian church. Looks like my kind of religion.
Thanks, both, and good weekend to all.
Big day approaching for Pastafarians – Sep 19 is “International talk like a pirate day” arrrrh!
Despite knowing that, and only struggling on the Phaedra clue, I still missed the theme – arrrrrh!
@Paul A
A regular in the bar I, er, frequented in the Isle of Man used to really push ITLAPD! Arrggghh, or ahhh… good times – and good puzzle. Thanks to S&B
Well, I guessed there was some sort of a theme, knowing the expression ‘loose can(n)on’ and having vaguely heard of ‘spaghetti monster’. Didn’t associate ‘pirates’ with anything, though, apart possibly from ‘radio’ – remember Caroline?
The excellent clue for PHAEDRA COMPLEX is surely an &lit.
I thought STOURHEAD was a bit obscure for non-members of the National Trust, but that’s a minor quibble.
Thanks.Phi and duncan
We’ve only just had time to look at the puzzle.
We missed the theme completely so thanks Duncan for sorting it all out and providing the links! After the comment from K’s D we googled the complex but then wished we hadn’t too.
Thanks Phi for the amusing challenge on this Bank Holiday weekend.
Have just checked the church on wiki and we think Henderson is ‘off the wall’ – have had a really good laugh!
Thanks Phi for the theme.