Median’s crossword for the Nottingham S&B can be found HERE
Median has given us a themed puzzle, with a rubric pointing us to 12 across as the basis of the theme, with 11 other entries connected to it.
We enjoyed solving the puzzle – it’s a solver-friendly grid with no unusual words, and smooth surfaces throughout. The eleven themed entries are synonyms for 12across, or can be preceded or followed by 12 across – an impressive grid-fill.
We did wonder whether 24across might also be considered to be thematic, as in the Periodic 12across, but decided that was a step too far.
ACROSS
1. Religious group put iron in drink (6)
COFFEE
C OF E (Church of England – ‘religious group’) with FE (iron) inside
4. Big surplus, one within range (8)
MOUNTAIN
Double definition
10. Agreement about number one instrument (9)
ACCORDION
ACCORD (agreement) + a reversal (‘about’) of NO 1 (number ne)
11. Gossip surrounding first recommendation in sailor’s guide (5)
CHART
CHAT (gossip) ‘surrounding’ R (first letter of recommendation)
12. Propose leader of firm is removed (5)
TABLE
13. Coinage to go no miles travelling (9)
NEOLOGISM
An anagram (‘travelling’) of GO NO MILES
14. Difficult position where breaks in play are counted (7)
SNOOKER
Double / cryptic definition
16. Register officer to take lives (4)
LIST
LT (lieutenant – ‘officer’) round or ‘taking’ IS (lives)
19. Foremost hedonists in genial haze are stoned (4)
HIGH
First or ‘foremost’ letters of Hedonists In Genial Gaze
21. Scornful, agitated, clinically ill characters removed (7)
CYNICAL
An anagram (‘agitated’) of CLINiCAllY missing the letters or characters of ‘ill’
24. Basic airline carries headless setter (9)
ELEMENTAL
EL AL (airline) round or ‘carrying’ cEMENT (‘setter’) missing the first letter or ‘headless’
25. Question about location of reported place in Hertfordshire (5)
WHERE
A homophone (‘reported’) of WARE (place in Hertfordshire)
26. Depending on a diagnosis, sample could be an ovary (5)
GONAD
Hidden (‘sample’) in dependinG ON A Diagnosis
27. With blues and twos this can get rid of traffic (4,5)
FIRE TRUCK
A clue-as-definition: FIRE (get rid of) TRUCK (traffic)
28. Wind caused by Pacific island, lovely on vacation … (8)
EASTERLY
EASTER (Pacific island) L Y (‘lovely’ without the middle letters or ‘on vacation’)
29. … perhaps what it’s like to be carefree (6)
BREEZY
A reference to the ‘wind’ in the previous clue
DOWN
1. Correct this case? Correct (8)
CHASTISE
An anagram (‘correct’) of THIS CASE
2. Social medium featuring dignity and reserve (8)
FACEBOOK
FACE (dignity) BOOK (reserve)
3. Observer takes in theology lesson that’s for the birds (5)
EYRIE
EYE (‘observer’) round or ‘taking in’ RI (Religious Instruction- ‘theology lessons’)
5. Mistake to have object (3,4)
OWN GOAL
OWN (have) GOAL (object)
6. Jack listened to metal star (9)
NICHOLSON
A homophone (‘listened to’) of NICKEL (metal) SUN (star)
7. Plant‘s current account with Iowa banks (6)
ACACIA
AC (current) AC (account) I A (first and last letters or ‘banks’ of Iowa)
8. Instant denial of guilt by two setters (2,4)
NO TIME
NOT I / ME (‘denial of guilt’ by two ways of referring to setters)
9. Batman song repeatedly mentions this meal (6)
DINNER
This raised a smile, bringing back memories of the ‘Batman ‘ series on tv – when attempting to emulate the theme tune, we all sang ‘DINNER, DINNER, DINNER, DINNER, Batman’
15. Delicate position for cutting (5,4)
KNIFE EDGE
Double definition
17. List when to do things (8)
SCHEDULE
Double definition
18. An el of a tool! (5,3)
ALLEN KEY
An ALLEN KEY is an L-shaped tool
20. Detestable extreme stench on a broken flute (7)
HATEFUL
H (last or ‘extreme’ letter of stench) A + an anagram (‘broken’) of FLUTE
21. Sticky salad ingredient? (6)
CELERY
Cryptic definition – a whimsical description of CELERY sticks
22. Capital changes voting system for the French class (6)
LEAGUE
23. Essential item on news is a game (6)
TENNIS
TE (middle or ‘essential’ letters of item) N N (‘news’) IS
25. Regularly tweak the URL to get 24 stuff(5)
WATER
Alternate or ‘regular’ letters of tWeAk ThE uRl – ‘elemental stuff’
I was unfortunately unable to attend the event for which this puzzle was written, but I remember meeting Median at a previous S&B event some years ago, also in Nottingham. (If I remember right, a puzzle by Egbert was circulated at that event!)
I would like to thank Median for producing this thematic crossword, which I enjoyed and completed, except for BREEZY. (That word for ‘carefree’ just would not come to me.) I saw all the synonyms and two-word ‘table’ phrases except HIGH (just a lapse – the phrase obviously exists). ELEMENTAL does not belong, whereas PERIODIC (if it was there) would be valid.
Thanks to Bertandjoyce for the blog.