Happy new year – well it’s a new one anyway and hopefully we will make it happy. And a treat from Tyrus today. My luck is certainly in – rota wise.
Not sure if I am just refreshed for the new year, but this proved to be a nice gentle introduction to my blogging year. And nice that Tyrus left the remains of a Christmas cracker type joke? around the perimeter…
B and Q YOB ASKED DID I WANT DECKING?
Or was it a political jibe, as there are a number of people in power in this country who need decking and some simple maths lessons!
As to the clues, exactly what I would expect, if not an even better bunch than usual. 27dn is sublime and in my opinion obliquely sums up the difficulty of the puzzle, like the prince – ‘No sweat’. And 21ac was one for the solver with more years behind them than ahead, but described the quality of the soap admirably.
So many other clues of note to be honest, with ultra smooth surfaces and interesting cryptic devices (e.g. 8ac, 19ac, 31ac, 1dn, 13dn, 16dn, 24dn – many really simple, but so elegant)
Thanks Tyrus – amusing and fun as always. Also nice to see the picturesque town of Yarm getting a mention. Please save any visits till after September, though – you can also take in Barnard Castle as it’s only 25 miles or so away (great opticians there for those who need them). The castle is very much a fixer upper.
Key: * anagram; DD Double definition; Rev. reversed; Underline Definition
Across
8 Partly swapped permanently bleating female, we hear – well done! (4,3,3)
For Good (permanently) swapped parts + Homonym of ewe (bleating female) = GOOD FOR YOU
9 Mount, in turn, but a little awkwardly (4)
Rev. bar a (but a little) = ARAB
10 Let out to catch bug (6)
Net (catch) + (let)* = NETTLE
11 Flipping idiots! Man U player’s unexplained marks on body (8)
Rev. gits (idiots) + Mata (Man U Player) = STIGMATA
12 One’s book a little bit of poetry (4)
I am B(book) one’s book = IAMB
14 They hate spending money abroad – this grates (5-5)
(this grates)* = TIGHT ARSES
17 Old horny creature rolling round floor (4)
Rev. o (old) + Yak (horny creature) = KAYO
19 Michael gutted to stop doing jobs round the house? Clearly not (5)
ml (Michael gutted) in DIY (jobs around the house) = DIMLY
20 Start to dredge North Yorkshire river – you may have to work at it (4)
d (start to dredge) + Esk (North Yorkshire river) = DESK
21 Dross! Oscar unlikely for creaking old British drama (10)
(dross oscar)* = CROSSROADS
23 Soldiers going round at speed (4)
re (soldier) around at = RATE
25 Accompanied earl ordered guards around (8)
e (earl) + sorted (ordered) around c (around) = ESCORTED
28 Doris’s daughter dressed in red cuddling sweetheart (6)
(in red)* around e (sweet heart) = NEREID
30 Confuse extremists in Delaware (4)
De (Delaware) around AZ (extremists) = DAZE
31 Fair happening shortly – he’s outside with dodgems at first (4-6)
event (happening) – t + h and e (he) + d (dodgems at first) = EVEN HANDED
Down
1 Cycling home, finally stopping where they sell wine (6)
abode (home) + g (finally stopping) = BODEGA
2 A time to seal off copper mine entrance (4)
a + t (time) around DI (copper) = ADIT
3 No change in Washington – rarely guilty (6)
no + cent (change in Washington) = NOCENT
4 Colours ultimately faded of course (4)
d (ultimately faded) + yes (of course) = DYES
5 Ian still occasionally appearing in dock, curiously (8)
quay(dock) around IaN sTiLl (occasionally) = QUAINTLY
6 Runs into old PM around Teesside town (4)
Rev. May (Old PM) around r (runs) = YARM
7 Stoke are playing – the epitome of Englishness? (3,5)
(Stoke are)* = OAK TREES
13 Violently assaults in Chelsea store? (5)
Triple Definition BOOTS (violently assaults, Chelsea (boots), Boots the chemist)
15 School getting parent’s letter (5)
gam (school) + ma (parent) = GAMMA
16 Attacker not a motorcyclist? (5)
raider (attacker) -a = RIDER
18 Tots are busy with a balloon, perhaps (8)
(tots are a)* = AEROSTAT
19 Party rubbish? He gets a woman (8)
Do (party) + rot (rubbish) + he + a = DOROTHEA
22 Mess in dish – language! (6)
(in dish)* = SINDHI
24 What can I earn in Bangkok? Say, that’s capital (6)
Homonym of Thai pay (what can I earn in Bangkok) = TAIPEI
26 Have to defend English poet (4)
own (have) around e (English) = OWEN
27 Attracted Prince – one extradited? (4)
Andrew (prince) – an (one) = DREW
29 Tough outside but somewhat easier indoors (4)
Hidden easieR INDoors = RIND
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