To improve Swindon(*) there needs to be a regeneration of the town centre, enhanced infrastructure, new homes, businesses, and public spaces to promote a vibrant and sustainable community, while also addressing issues like active travel and climate change.
But we’ve got a crossword to blog first …
I felt this Eye crossie was on the easier side to solve but I didn’t get near the fabled 1-pass solve, having what’s becoming the usual half dozen to tidy up after reading all the clues. None of those presented too much difficulty given the available crossing letters, not even the last one in 22d.
I particularly liked the clue for 6d for its surface reading.
(*) Insert name of the town of your choice
| Across | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | EARL | Peer‘s organ’s getting large (4) EAR (organ) L[arge] First one in. |
| 3 | OVER THE TOP | On display, male chest – too much! (4,3,3) OVERT (On display) HE (male) TOP (chest) |
| 9 | PROSPECTS | Bent coppers at back street openings (9) (COPPERS)* AInd: bent, ST< (street, back) |
| 11 | NERVE | Rayner vetoed (full of cheek) (5) Hidden in: RayNER VEtoed, Hidden indicator: Full of |
| 12/13 | A PAIN IN THE ARSE | “Bugger hen parties!” Ian snapped, following one (1,4,2,3,4) A (one), (HEN PARTIES IAN)* AInd: snapped |
| 14 | IMPROVE | Brief act of spontaneity, taking drug – do better! (7) IMPROV (brief act of spontaneity) E (drug) |
| 16 | EGGCUP | Say doctor swallowed copper breakfast container (6) EG (Say) GP (doctor) around (swallowed) CU (copper) |
| 19 | GONADS | Vitality associated with sand-blasted balls (6) GO (vitality) SAND* AInd: blasted. |
| 21 | SWINDON | Southern town has issue about flatulence (7) SON (issue) about WIND (flatulence) |
| 23 | EYES FRONT | Organ bust – sergeant-major’s order? (4,5) EYES (organ) FRONT (bust) Clue should have plural ‘organs’ surely? |
| 25/30 | POWER GRID | What Putin revels in – grating, but it electrifies many (5,4) POWER (What Putin revels in) GRID (grating) |
| 27 | TESLA | States lawmakers protecting Musk’s business (5) Hidden in: staTES LAwmakers, Hidden ind: protecting |
| 28 | GENDER GAP | Peg rang Ed about what makes her unequal (6,3) (PEG RANG ED)* AInd: about. |
| 29 | PARTY TRICK | Labour dodge that’s amusing socially? (5,5) PARTY (Labour) TRICK (dodge) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | EMPHATIC | Forceful manipulation of the PM – CIA? (8) (THE PM CIA)* AInd: manipulation. |
| 2 | RIOJA | OJ in broadcast comeback, seeing red (5) OJ in AIR< (broadcast, comeback) Red wine, that is |
| 4 | VACCINE | Clean, awfully nice response to Covid? (7) VAC[uum] (clean) (NICE)* AInd: awfully. |
| 5 | ROSETTE | Vote-seeking politician’s bloomer? (7) Cryptic Def. |
| 6 | HINGE | The bloke’s drinking gin, maybe it facilitates swinging (5) HE (the bloke) around (drinking) (GIN)* AInd: maybe. |
| 7 | TURNROUND | Twist ball to make a sudden improvement (9) TURN (twist) ROUND (ball) |
| 8 | PREFER | Like more pressure to be put on official about to get a raise (6) P[ressure] REF (official) RE< (about, getting a raise) |
| 10 | PANDORA | OAP, darn awkward, who lifted the lid (7) (OAP DARN)* AInd: awkward. |
| 15 | PROFESSOR | Don‘s alternative for posers (9) (FOR POSERS)* AInd: alternative. |
| 17 | GLIMPSE | Look – good walks oddly having sex in the middle (7) G[ood] LIMPS (walks oddly) [s]E[x] |
| 18 | INTREPID | Popular right taken in by half-arsed stalwart (8) IN (popular) R[ight] taken in by TEPID (half-arsed) |
| 20 | SPONGER | The Mail’s idea of benefit claimant who cleans up? (7) Double Def, |
| 21 | SATANIC | Just like Nick acts in a play (7) (ACTS IN A)* AInd: play. |
| 22 | BEAT UP | Ramshackle boozer turned up scoffing snack (4-2) PUB< (boozer, turned up) around EAT (snack) LOI |
| 24 | FLAKY | Inept as a king getting into trouser opening (5) A K[ing] inside FLY (trouser opening) |
| 26 | WAGER | Flutter and carry on with Republican (5) WAGE (carry on) R[epublican] |
Due to an unfortunate spacing error, this year I am looking forward to a week on the Norfolk B roads.
Thanks for the blog beernagnet, I found your joke broadly humourous. This one was fairly gentle but fun all the same. Favourite was 3d which made me smile out loud. Thanks also to Cyclops for the enjoyment.
Thanks for the blog , a bit light on the politics and difficulty and smut this week but still pretty good . HINGE has a very neat definition , I much preferred the original , more innocent meaning of swinging . GLIMPSE is clever , almost reminded me of golf .
For VACCINE , your VAC has lost its charm .
I have fixed the VAC
Amusing as always.
COF (clue of the fortnight) 12/13a A Pain In The Arse for the surface reading.
Thank you beermagnet for the excellent blog, and Cyclops too of course. Keep up the good work!