Financial Times 18,231 by XELA

12 comments on “Financial Times 18,231 by XELA”

1. 

   Geoff Down Under

   #1 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 05:35

   
   

   A pity about the typo in 28a.

   As always, the UK-specific clues held me up. Is three a telco? Never heard of the Lionesses. I eventually found BOTHY — Scottish?

   Due/appointed was a head scratcher.

   New to me KLEFTIKO. The clue for YODEL elicited a smile.

2. 

   James P

   #2 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 05:36

   
   

   Another more straightforward but entertaining puzzle rewarding us for surviving the rigours earlier in the week.

   Liked maple syrup and tennis pro a lot.

   I wonder if Sinner realises he is a star of both crossword puzzles and centre court.

3. 

   grantinfreo

   #3 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 06:08

   
   

   A local place does a great shakshuka, but the Greek lamb was a ‘nho, so just follow the recipe’. Tasty little puzzle, ta X and T.

4. 

   KVa

   #4 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 07:37

   
   

   YODEL
   ‘high range’ also refers to YODELling being originally alpine?

5. 

   Geoff Down Under

   #5 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 07:42

   
   

   Yes, KVa, that’s why I enjoyed it. Not “also” but “only”, I thought. I didn’t see that Turbolegs had missed it.

6. 

   KVa

   #6 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 08:20

   
   

   🙂

7. 

   Autistic Trier

   #7 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 11:03

   
   

   Lots of fun, I only missed out on Endear and Entourage – not sure why since I managed to parse Kleftiko even though it was a NHO.

   I kicked myself when I twigged Distillery, I was convinced Maple Syrup was going to be Apple something or other but when I got Maine it leapt out at me.

   @Geoff Down Under a Bothy is a small hut, not just in Scotland but on the railways for use by Permanent Way gangs. Telco relates to Three which runs a mobile network in the UK.

8. 

   Pelham Barton

   #8 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 11:45

   
   

   Thanks Xela and Turbolegs

   28ac: Could there be a typo in the clue here? The definition would be better as “trickier to manage”.

   22dn: Thanks AT@7 for the full explanation here. I think the definition has to be “Three, maybe”.

9. 

   Jack Of Few Trades

   #9 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 12:59

   
   

   Autistic Trier@7: I also tried “apple…” and then played around with the 5 remaining letters in my head when “syrup” came to me, so it was a useful mistake to make.

   Had the feeling that it was going to be a pangram with all those Ks and an X popping up but actually a long way short, though the idea stopped me seeing “entourage” until the end as I was trying to put the Q in with the U from “syrup”. Trying to be too clever!

   Thanks turbolegs and to Xela for a smoothly put together puzzle which I was glad to be doing after lunch as otherwise I’d be getting peckish with talk of shakshuka, kleftiko, tomato, maple syrup and a trip to the distillery…

10. 

    Petert

    #10 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 13:28

    
    

    I liked DISTILLERY for that “Oh, no not an obscure plant… Oh, that kind of plant” moment.

11. 

    Babbler

    #11 - Fri 5th Dec 25, 17:30

    
    

    Interesting that there were three words in the SW corner ending in O. Couldn’t get any of them, but then I’d never heard of KLEFTIKO or TELCO, nor for that matter Shakshuka. I assume Xela is a foodie who favours exotic recipes.
    Didn’t get OUTLAWED either, but I very much enjoyed today’s puzzle, for which thanks as usual.

12. 

    Theydonboyi

    #12 - Sun 7th Dec 25, 09:10

    
    

    Huge fun. Telco floored us until we read above.

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