Enigmatic Variations 1337 First Instalment by Ifor

A seriously long preamble  – extra letters and missing letters in alternating down clues. Something weird to happen to two across clues and 16 letters to find in a closed loop, inside which is a single cell with a clash to be enclosed. All quite nonsensical but will make sense as the clues are solved – or so I hope.

Nothing massively difficult in the clues and the alternation of the added and subtracted letters in the down clues did make life a lot easier

The removed letters from the down clues gave BREADCRUMBS – not much use to mark the way.

The added letters from the down clues gave WHITESTONES – more permanent markers

Neither 37ac nor 38ac fitted with the crossing answers – “Answers to two across clues separately wander about, revealing the FIRST INSTALMENT and his partner.” They can be rearranged to give HANSE(L)  and GRETEL.

Both 18ac and 16dn were longer than their allotted space in the grid, leaving HANSEL in one cell – “answers clash in one cell inside this location, which solvers must enclose with bars after, appropriately, releasing its contents.”

Then “16 cells forming a closed path showing a thematic location must be highlighted” – this being GINGERBREAD HOUSE in the appropriate shape.

The final step being to erase HANSEL and enclosing that cell inside the house with bars.

All in all a neat representation of a particularly unsavoury fairy tale. They certainly don’t write them like they used too. “The Gruffalo said no Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood” is much more my cup of tea I must admit.

Thanks Ifor – kids don’t have nightmares like they used to!

Key:

Rev. reverse; DD Double definition; * anagram; underline definition

ACROSS

1 First of all, child cared for present (5)

A (first of all) + ward (child cared for) = AWARD

5 Crudely stitching up isn’t unusual in casual claim (7)

Bag (casual claim) around (isn’t)* = BASTING

11 Had better alternative, taking off the scruffy old countryman’s overcoat (6)

(had better – the)* = TABERD

12 A number run towards the start in there (5)

There moving r (run) = THREE

14 Consider events without opening member, following support (6)

Events – vent (opening) + tee (support) + m (member) = ESTEEM

15 Cell absorbs a sodium salt (7)

Cyte (cell) around a + Na (sodium) = CYANATE

17 Social worker wanting to abandon rent side of organisation (3)

wanting – wing (side of organisation) = ANT

18 Indulge lenders, sometimes illicitly retaining right to be dealing below cost (10)

(indulge + lenders – lnes + r)* = UNDERSELLING

20 Reversing light at first allowed to pulse (4)

Rev. l (light at first + had (allowed)) = DAHL

21 Compound wicked crime, chasing former partner (7)

Ex (former partner) + (crime)* = EXCIMER

23 Speak up for employment after closure of branch leaves hopes dashed (7)

(hopes – h (closure ofbranch))* + use (employment) = ESPOUSE

27 Be dismayed before challenge (4)

DD DARE

28 Data damaged Tories with yen for kindness (10)

Gen (data) + (tories)* + y (yen) = GENEROSITY

31 Border condition less tense (3)

Trim (condition) – t (tense) = RIM

32 Presents for guests receiving cocaine line as drug (7)

Xenia (presents for guests) around c (cocaine) + l (line) = XENICAL

35 Unsophisticated innocent capturing heart of another (6)

Naïve(innocent) around t (heart of another) = NATIVE

37 Last bare layer’s very pale (5)

Last – lt (bare) + hen (layer) = ASHEN = HANSE(L)

38 Moulding alter ego closed up and endlessly fretting (6)

(alter ego – ao)* = REGLET + GRETEL

39 Stud strips off again, spinning round (7)

Rev. Repeels (strips off again) = SLEEPER

40 Climb in Cairngorms? The worst part’s returning while keeping positive (5)

P (positive) in Rev. lees (worst part) = SPEEL

DOWN