Serpent provides the challenge today.
Every across entry has at least one B and the unchecked letters in the middle row spell out GOODBYE. Perhaps Serpent will drop in to explain what’s going on.
It took me a while to solve this, but the cluing seemed very fair when I came to write the blog.
I liked the two separate containments in 13 across between the W and A and again between the A and S of WAS
My favourite clue was the 2 +2 one for ORATORIO at 16 down.
Usually when I spellcheck a blog, the checker objects to one of the entries. Today was the first time I can remember for a long time when every entry passed. Well OMELETTE failed but that’s only because the checker prefers the American OMELET.
| Across | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Clue | Wordplay | Entry |
|
1
|
Foolish talk about why it’s said I like immature men (6)
|
BOSH (foolish talk) containing (about) (Y [sounds like [it’s said] WHY + I) BO (Y I) SH |
BOYISH (like immature men)
|
|
5
|
Acknowledge being given a hand to photograph one area of East London (4,1,3)
|
TAKE (to photograph) + A + BOW (area of East London) TAKE A BOW |
TAKE A BOW (acknowledge applause; acknowledge being given a hand)
|
|
9
|
Large party of press men introduced to social gathering (8)
|
JAM (press) + (OR [other ranks; men] contained in [introduced to] BEE [social gathering]) JAM B (OR) EE |
JAMBOREE (large party)
|
|
10
|
Bug that woman’s added to computer program (6)
|
BOT (computer program designed to perform routine tasks, such as searching the Internet) + HER (that woman) BOT HER |
BOTHER (hassle; bug)
|
|
11
|
Jerky movement of King trapped by tree trunk (6)
|
BB (reference BB King [1925 – 2015], American blues singer) contained in (trapped by) BOLE (tree trunk) BO (BB) LE |
BOBBLE (jerky movement)
|
|
12
|
Bribed two journalists working to overcome resistance on the inside (8)
|
(ON [working] containing [to overcome] R [resistance]) contained in (on the inside) (SUB [sub-editor] + ED [editor] giving two journalists) SUB (O (R) N) ED |
SUBORNED (bribed)
|
|
13
|
Position was filled separately by present contest (11)
|
WAS containing [was filled … separately] (HERE [present] between W and A + BOUT [contest] between A and S) W (HERE) A (BOUT) S |
WHEREABOUTS (location; position)
|
|
17
|
Expression of disapproval about desire is, in other words, middle class (11)
|
(BOO [expression of disapproval] containing [URGE {desire}]) + IS + I.E. (that is; in other words) BO (URGE) O IS IE |
BOURGEOISIE (middle class of citizens)
|
|
20
|
Where one might get bargain alcohol from high street store (4,4)
|
BOOTS (name of High Street store) + ALE (alcoholic drink) BOOT SALE |
BOOT SALE (the kind of SALE where you might get a bargain)
|
|
22
|
Cooler antelope reportedly seen on east of reserve (6) |
I + C (sounds like [reportedly] SEE) + E (final letter of [east of] RESERVE) + BOX (sounds like [reportedly] BOKS [antelope]) I C E BOX |
ICEBOX (cooler)
|
|
23
|
Poet’s written about love for stage (6)
|
BARD’S (poet’s) containing (written about) O (zero; love score in tennis) B (O) ARDS |
BOARDS (informal term for the stage)
|
|
24
|
Get very cross with one replacing young man’s last partner (4,4)
|
BOY (young man) with I replacing the last letter [replacing … last] Y + LOVER (partner) BOIL OVER |
BOIL OVER (get very cross)
|
|
25
|
Undo belt incorrectly fastened? Quite the opposite (8) |
Anagram of (incorrectly) UNDO BELT UNBOLTED* |
UNBOLTED (unfastened; quite the opposite on fastened)
|
|
26
|
It’s representative of instrument’s sound (6)
|
SYMBOL (sounds like [sound] CYMBAL [musical instrument]) SYMBOL |
SYMBOL (emblem; a sign used to represent something)
|
| Down | |||
|
2
|
One may speak to house surgeon wanting training (6)
|
OPERATOR (surgeon) excluding (wanting) PE (physical exercise; training) ORATOR |
ORATOR (one who may speak to the House [of Parliament, for example]) |
|
3
|
Drink author’s left out of authoritative guide (6)
|
I’M (author’s) + (BIBLE [authoritative guide] excluding [out] L [left]) IMBIBE |
IMBIBE (drink)
|
|
4
|
Charm of heroin’s heightened by weed (9)
|
HORSES’S (heroin’s) + HOE (weed) I think ‘heightened’ is there to improve the surface, but it may also mean that HORSE’S is above HOE in this down entry HORSESHOE |
HORSESHOE (symbol of good luck; charm)
|
|
5
|
Regularly strives to get even (3)
|
TIE (letters 2, 4 and 6 [regularly] of STRIVES) TIE |
TIE (draw level; get even)
|
|
6
|
Cook a lot of baked beans for starters and meat course (5)
|
Anagram of (cook) (BAKED excluding the final letter [a lot of] D) + B (first letter of [for starters] BEANS) KEBA* B |
KEBAB (small pieces of meat cooked with vegetables)
|
|
7
|
One helps serviceman adjust navigational aid on phone (5,3)
|
ALTAR BOY (sounds like [on the phone] ALTER BUOY [adjust navigational aid]) ALTAR BOY |
ALTAR BOY (BOY assisting the priest [individual delivering the service; serviceman] at the ALTAR)
|
|
8
|
You’ll need some breaks if you want to make it (8)
|
There is an old saying ‘you can’t make an OMELETTE without breaking eggs’ Wiktionary gives a reference to the use of a similar phrase in France before 1742. OMELETTE |
OMELETTE (see wordplay) cryptic definition
|
|
12
|
Fish evolved ears to absorb noise (7)
|
Anagram of (evolved) EARS containing (to absorb) DIN (noise) SAR (DIN) E* |
SARDINE (young pilchard; fish)
|
|
14
|
Human resources deducting £1 from debts? (9)
|
LIABILITIES (debts) excluding (deducting) LI (£1) ABILITIES |
ABILITIES (for example: strength, talent, skill all of which could be classified as human resources)
|
|
15
|
Behave extravagantly, dressing friend of Dorothy in frock (2,2,4)
|
TOTO (TOTO is a fictional dog, a friend of Dorothy’s in the Wizard of Oz) contained in (in) GOWN (frock) GO (TO TO) WN |
GO TO TOWN (behave extravagantly)
|
|
16
|
2 + 2 using binary composition (8)
|
ORATOR (entry at 2 down) + 10 (in binary notation the decimal number 2 is written as 10) ORATORIO |
ORATORIO (a story, usually biblical, set to music, with soloists, chorus, and full orchestra but without scenery, costumes or acting; composition)
|
|
18
|
Improve care for mental cases (6)
|
REFORM (hidden word [cases] in CARE FOR MENTAL) REFORM |
REFORM (improve)
|
|
19
|
Arrive at total (4,2)
|
COME TO (arrive at) COME TO |
COME TO (total,e.g. the bill COMES TO £50)
|
|
21
|
One would benefit from this being equally firm (5)
|
AS (equally) + SET (firm) ASSET |
ASSET (something advantageous or well worth having)
|
|
24
|
Have intercourse with teacher? (3)
|
B Ed (Bachelor of Education, a qualification held by many teachers) BED |
BED (have sexual intercourse with)
|
Thanks to Serpent and to Duncan for the blog.
Not only B but BO in all the acrosses; perhaps the Nina is telling us that Serpent has invested in a deodorant stick? (only kidding Jason)
Good fun, especially with the Nina and all those BO’s, even if they (so far) remain unexplained. I liked OMELETTE and BED. At least the puzzle didn’t end with a whimper.
Thanks to Duncan and ? sayonara as well to Serpent.
That may be the first time Ive encountered BB as king-greatstuff as usual from Serpent.
ORATORIO was lovely, just about at the limit of we arts types’ memories of binary stuff.
In 22 (ICEBOX) I just took ICE to mean ‘reserve’, set eastward (as it were) of ‘boks’, so no need for Duncan’s ingenious double homophone.
I enjoy Serpent’s puzzles and am – rather selfishly – hoping that the nina is a personal farewell to someone, in which case all due sympathy but do keep entertaining us, old thing.
Correction, ‘westward ‘, of course. Bloomin’ artists, can’t tell right from left. Even the ‘captcha’ is struggle some days.
In recent years, The Independent has welcomed a host of new setters, all good and many of them operating in, what I call, Dac territory.
The ones that stand out for me or are, at least, really ‘different’ are Hoskins – kind of the Indy’s Paul (despite that there is already Punk)), Knut and Serpent.
Serpent is the one that makes me work hardest, something that I quite like.
His cluing is precise, grid filling inventive and the surfaces are consistently good.
Serpent has become better and better – well, that’s what I think.
So, I do not hope that the nina marks the end of all this.
Probably not.
I missed all the BOs but I am very good at missing these kind of things.
I couldn’t fully explain 6d’s KEBAB but it is obvious now – so, thanks Duncan!
Another excellent crossword, Jason!
Many thanks to Duncan for the excellent blog and the appreciative comments. Grant @4 has identified the intended parsing of ICEBOX.
The puzzle is indeed a farewell – to my beloved dog Bo (and not a farewell from me). I hope to be returning with another puzzle soon.
Cheers
Jason
If I’d spotted some of the BO’s a bit earlier I might have finished without recourse to e-help. As it was, I found it quite a challenge and only managed about a quarter unaided. But a lot to like and several “doh!” or “aha!” moments. ORATORIO was very good; 8dn misled me into thinking about snooker and it was nice to see “East London” indicating something other than a dropped H.
Sorry to hear about BO, but pleased ‘goodbye’ doesn’t mean no more Serpent puzzles.
Thanks, Serpent and Duncan.
Really nice tribute to a four-legged friend and very clever grid fillage. I got beat by the puzzle itself – getting around half in before knowing I was bested – but enjoyed what I did and, as ever, there was a lot of nice stuff in there. Fave clues were 12d & 15d so thanks to the snake for the puzzle and to DS for blog.
Very touching (and clever) Nina and a great puzzle.
I particularly liked 13a (filled separately), 4d (combination of drugs), 5d ( smooth for an even letters clue), 15d (cute), 18d (an excellent hidden – took me ages), 24d (funny and clever), but there was lots more that was good.
Thank you serpent and Duncan
Totally defeated by this. Got less than half, and I don’t think it was entirely due to having to set up a new computer this afternoon.