The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29946.
Paul riffing on Cornwall. I found it easier than many of his offerings, with only the SW holding out to the end, but with so many delightful clues, who can cavil?
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | PANTHER |
Feline, wild being on the moor, only tail glimpsed (7)
|
| A charade of PAN (Greek god of nature, ‘wild being’) plus (‘on’) ‘the’ plus R (‘mooR, only tail glimpsed’). | ||
| 5 | PACIFIC |
Serene icon punched by a cleaner (7)
|
| An envelope (‘punched by’) of A CIF (‘a cleaner’, trade name) in PIC (‘icon’). | ||
| 9 | LOOSE |
Debauched son in Cornish town (5)
|
| An envelope (‘in’) of S (‘son’) in LOOE (‘Cornish town’). | ||
| 10 | BEATITUDE |
Joy sees what to do with 8 down, say, in Cornish town (9)
|
| An envlope (‘in’) of EAT IT (‘what to do with 8 down’ – CREAM TEA) in BUDE (‘Cornish town’). | ||
| 11 | SULTANSHIP |
Mischievous pals shut in leader’s office (10)
|
| An anagram (‘mischievous’) of ‘pals shut in’. | ||
| 12 | ATOM |
Tiny amount, nothing to plug hole in the wall (4)
|
| An envelope (‘to plug’) of O (‘nothing’) in ATM (automated teller machine, ‘hole in the wall’) | ||
| 14 | DESSERT WINE |
Gone west, westernised drink! (7,4)
|
| An anagram (‘gone west’) of ‘westernised’. | ||
| 18 | RHINOPLASTY |
Operation where end of scalpel slices through Afro/Cornish meat dish? (11)
|
| An envelope (‘slices through’) of L (‘end of scalpeL‘) in RHINO PASTY (‘Afro/Cornish meat dish?’). | ||
| 21 | GOON |
Gorilla somewhere in Cornwall, where hilly? (4)
|
| The ‘somewhere in Cornwall’ is Goonhilly Downs, the site of the Goonhillly Satellite Earth Station. GOON and ‘gorilla’ both refer to a thug. | ||
| 22 | DIGESTIVES |
What lover of Cornwall might do, scoffing English biscuits (10)
|
| An envelope (‘scoffing’) of E (‘English’) in DIG ST. IVES (‘what lover of Cornwall might do’; St.Ives being a Cornish town). | ||
| 25 | NOT NEARLY |
Less emphatically, train finally coming in late? (3,6)
|
| An envelope (‘coming in’) of N (the second one, ‘traiN finally’) in NOT EARLY (‘late’). ‘Emphatically’ as a stronger statement of ‘less’. | ||
| 26 | OUNCE |
Feline with shaved ball? (5)
|
| A subtraction: [b]OUNCE[r] (‘ball’) minus its outer letters (‘shaved’). | ||
| 27 | SET DOWN |
Group experiencing the blues record (3,4)
|
| A charade of SET (‘group’) plus DOWN (‘experiencing the blues’). | ||
| 28 | THEREIN |
Article with check so enclosed? (7)
|
| A charade of THE (definite ‘article’) plus REIN (‘check’). | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | POLISH |
Coming from Europe – like staff? (6)
|
| POLE-ISH | ||
| 2 | NOODLE |
Around Land’s End, lack of Spanish enthusiasm it seems for pasta (6)
|
| An envelope (‘around’) of D (‘lanD‘s end’) in NO OLÉ (‘lack of Spanish enthusiasm it seems’). | ||
| 3 | HEEL-AND-TOE |
Performance of the ode encapsulates style of fast-paced walk (4-3-3)
|
| An envelope (‘encapsulates’) of ELAN (‘style’) in HEDTOE, an anagram (‘performance of’) ‘the ode’. | ||
| 4 | REBUS |
Very uplifting southern puzzle (5)
|
| A charade of REBU, a reversal (‘uplifting’ in a down light) of UBER (‘very’); plus S (‘southern’). | ||
| 5 | PHARISEES |
Remarkably sharp jackets I detect for ancient sect (9)
|
| An envelope (‘jackets’) of I SEE (‘I detect’) in PHARS, an anagram (‘remarkably’) of ‘sharp’. | ||
| 6 | CAIN |
Murderer in good book residing in Jamaica Inn (4)
|
| A hidden answer (‘residing in’) in ‘JanaiCA INn’, with the ‘good book’ being the Bible, specifically Genesis. In the surface, the ‘good book’ is Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier, in which a murderous gang convenes at the Inn (a real one, which still exists on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall). | ||
| 7 | FOUNTAIN |
Nut and oaf dancing in spring (8)
|
| A charade of FOUNTA, an anagram (‘dancing’) of ‘nut’ plus ‘oaf’; plus ‘in’. | ||
| 8 | CREAM TEA |
Put together with jam ultimately covered, a Cornish treat (5,3)
|
| A charade of CREAMTE, an envelope (‘covered’) of M (‘jaM ultimately’) in CREATE (‘put together’); plus ‘a’. | ||
| 13 | STAY-AT-HOME |
So, may hate going out, time taken inside? (4-2-4)
|
| An envelope (‘take inside’) if T (‘time’) in STAYAHOME, an anagram (‘going out’) of ‘so may hate’, with an &lit definition. | ||
| 15 | SOLDIER ON |
Having bagged last of garbage, dumped metal stick with it (7,2)
|
| An envelope (‘having bagged’) of E (‘last of garbagE‘) in SOLD (‘dumped’) plus IRON (‘metal’). | ||
| 16 | BRIGANDS |
Robbers in briny leaving New York, Penzance pirates people? (8)
|
| A charade of ‘bri[ny]’ minus NY (‘leaving New York’) plus G AND S (Gilbert and Sullivan, creators of comic operas, including The Pirates of Penzance, ‘Penzance pirates people’). | ||
| 17 | HIT OUT AT |
Criticise one tipster dressed for Royal Ascot? (3,3,2)
|
| An implied envelope: I (‘one’) plus TOUT (‘tipster’) IN HAT (‘dressed for Royal Ascot’). | ||
| 19 | AVENUE |
‘arbour used regularly as street (6)
|
| A charade of ‘AVEN (‘ ‘arbour’, with the initial H dropped in both cases) plus UE (‘UsEd regularly’). | ||
| 20 | ASTERN |
Towards the back, seat adjusted before service (6)
|
| A charade of ASTE, an anagram (‘adjusted’) of ‘seat’; plus RN (‘Royal Navy, ‘service’). | ||
| 23 | EGYPT |
Country where Eden Project failed, say: ultimately foolhardy exercise (5)
|
| A charade of E.G. (exempli gratia, ‘say’) plus Y (‘ultimately foolhardY‘) plus PT (‘exercise’). The (extended) definition refers to the 1956 Suez Crisis, with UK involvement under the leadership of Prime Minister Anthony Eden. | ||
| 24 | MEMO |
Reminder, a few seconds for myself? (4)
|
| A charade of ME (‘myself’) plus MO (‘a few seconds’). |
Excellent, Paul, thanks.
I needed explanations for BOUNCER and BRIGANDS, thanks PeterO.
DIGESTIVES and then AVENUE LOIs. I thought I would never get the biscuits, but at my second sitting both popped out. DIGESTIVES my favourite clue
Nice puzzle, featuring a number of Paulisms.
Fave was BRIGANDS. I was a little unsure about equating bOUNCEr with ball, since the latter is defined more by shape than, well, springiness, but the question-mark can probably permit the LOOSEness.
I’m glad it’s you blogging PeterO, up before my bedtime, and an excellent explication, as always.
I didn’t get very far with this, and came here to see whether I could/should have persevered. But the GK was mostly beyond my ken, as I expect with a Paul, and for myself. Happy to let this one go through to the keeper and for others to enjoy.
Dr. WhatsOn @2. A bouncer in this case is a type of delivery, i.e. a ball, in cricket rather than the spherical object itself
Yep some dnks, like Cif the cleaner, Looe the town and the satellite place, but all gettable. St Ives is from childhood (As I was going to … etc), but biffed the biccies anyway. Here we used to call tea with scones, jam and cream a Devonshire tea — well it’s next door I guess. Nice cruisy job Paul, and ta PeterO.
Being a Westcountry boy, I thoroughly enjoyed this southern puzzle, and didn’t find it a Bodmin beast like some of Paul’s ones can be.
Faves were the brilliant EGYPT, the lovely constructions of HIT OUT AT and
BRIGANDS, the STAY-AT-HOME &lit, the fun NOODLE and “ME MO”, and the inevitably Pauline OUNCE.
Only POLISH let the side down slightly I thought, as our blogger’s terse elucidation intimates.
Thanks both!
I agree with PeterO that this was certainly one of his more straightforward offerings and I had a lot of fun with this last night. My favourites were BEATITUDE, DESSERT WINE, RHINOPLASTY, DIGESTIVES and BRIGANDS. I agree with Crispy @4 re OUNCE.
Ta Paul & PeterO.
Lovely stuff. A steady solve with interesting clues and lovely DIGESTIVES. Delicious. Thanks Paul and PeterO.
Thanks Paul and PeterO
“Wild being” for PAN was rather loose; also “ball” for bOUNCEr, though Crispy @4 makes this a bit closer.
Favourite BEATITUDE.
GinF @5 The St. Ives in the rhyme is the one near Huntingdon, not the Cornish one. Sorry!
When I glanced down and saw all the Cornish clues I immediately wondered whether CREAM TEA would feature, and there it was at 8d, and therefore my very first one in. This got my juices going and I managed to complete this Paul offering without too much bother. A minor triumph for me. Some of the parsing I found tricky – needed PeterO to explain REBUS, and last one in was GOON. Though I had to look up its connection with the Kernow theme. Many thanks P and P this morning…
Fab fun. Double-ticks for the RHINOPLASTY, DIGESTIVES & BRIGANDS
Who can cavil? It being Paul I’m sure we’ll find out as the day progresses 🙂
Cheers P&P
Eden Project is also referring to the Eco experiment in Saint Austell, Cornwall.
@grantinfo #5. Paul being very good with the cream tea clue. Ensuring that the jam is covered Cornish style (with cream being implied). A Devonshire cream tea is, of course, served correctly* with the jam covering the cream.
*SteveThePirate lives in deepest Devon.
Re 1ac – there have been many alleged sightings of ‘The Beast of Bodmin Moore, usually assumed to be a panther
Wasn’t sure if this was more straightforward or I was just enjoying it more. Paul at his best in my opinion and even my limited Cornwall knowledge didn’t ruin it.
Big tick for the Cornish clues of RHINOPLASTY, DIGESTIVES and BEATITUDE.
Took 5 minutes at the end to understand the gands in BRIGANDS otherwise fully parsed which is rare for a Paul puzzle.
Paul and PeterO
A REBUS for today (in a down clue). rEVOLution which I hope people will find uplifting
Fortunately, I know a bit about Cornwall – only GOONhilly (LoI) took some bringing to mind. DIGESTIVES was the real standout for me. Thanks, Paul and PeterO.
SteveThePirate @13
I’m originally from Devon, but I’ve never understood how it is possible to put the jam on the cream!
muffin @18 asking the important questions!
Just dollop it on with a spoon 🙂
It must have been easier than usual as I finished it with only slight assistance – a first for a Paul puzzle. I loved so many of the clues apart from POLISH which I thought weak.
Favourites BEATITUDE, DIGESTIVES, BRIGANDS.
Thanks PeterO for the excellent and timely blog.
Great fun. Aurigina is Cornish (her grandmother once lived in Jamaicky Inn) and we know Goonhilly.
As for the cream teas, I spread whichever component I judge on the day to have the higher viscosity first.
Thanks to Paul and PeterO.
A rare Paul finish.
The parsing of 21a defeated me, NHO Goonhilly Downs.
DIGESTIVES was first class and my COD/COW/COM…
I spent a holiday in St.Mawes many years ago, lovely part of the world. Must go back there again soon.
Lovely crossword, thanks both.
Ronald @ 10 – I associate CREAM TEA more with Devon, but heigh-ho…
Loved “Jamaica Inn” and spent some time looking for it.
Normally, I’m glad of a handful of solutions on first pass of a Paul but was delighted and surprised to get half completed with the rest falling in record quick time. So rare to be on the same wavelength! Like most, DIGESTIVES a real stand out followed for me by RHINOPLASTY. Thanks, Paul and Peter
Goonhilly Downs played a big role in the history of telecommunications. It was one of the very first places in the world to receive satellite signals (from the Telstar satellite) and was one of the few sites communicating with the Apollo moon missions. It will be fairly well known to people of a certain generation.
Bravo, Paul! Normally, these days, my heart sinks when it’s a Paul puzzle, because I’ve come to expect lots of tedious cross-references, clunky clues and off-the-wall definitions. But this was much more conventional and accessible. Thanks for that. Favourite clue: DIGESTIVES.
Thanks too, to PeterO. I needed your elucidation of PANTHER (‘Pan’ = ‘wild being’), POLISH (‘Pole-ish?’ Doh!) and EGYPT (I hadn’t appreciated that it’s an &lit – again, Bravo, Paul.)
Now for breakfast in a good mood!
Super fun crrossie, many thanks to Paul and PeterO 🙂
An absolute treat – a real breath of Cornish air on a lovely sunny morning.
So many references to that beautiful county, wrapped up in some cracking clues -10ac BEATITUDE, 18ac RHINOPLASTY, 22ac DIGESTIVES and EGYPT my top favourites but ticks too for 14ac DESSERT WINE, 16dn BRIGANDS, 17dn HIT OUT AT.
ginf @5 you’re right, Devon is also famed for its cream teas but there’s an age-old argument between the two counties as to how to eat scones – jam or cream first? – which Paul has demonstrated cleverly in 8dn: ‘jam ultimately covered’!
Here’s the royal verdict:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/queen-scones-jam-cream-what-goes-first-debate-cream-tea-outrage-a8260686.html
Many thanks to Paul for a brilliant start to the day and to PeterO for a brilliant blog.
As a frequent visitor to Cornwall the geography wasn’t too difficult. Loved some of the splendidly silly wordplay like the Rhino Pasty and the lack of Spanish enthusiasm. I like Paul in this mood.
(Anybody else muttering that the Garden of Eden wasn’t in EGYPT? I’d forgotten about Suez.)
I have said before that this is my favourite 15×15 grid, and gosh, we are seeing a lot of it these days, the most recent instance being only the day before yesterday courtesy of Philistine. Being of the ‘certain generation’ mentioned by Andy in Durham @25, I certainly knew of Goonhilly Downs, and concur with those who thought this to be at the more tractable end of Paul’s spectrum.
Worth the entrance fee for BRIGANDS, THEREIN, GOON – but especially for the brilliant DIGESTIVES (which I was dunking in my tea only half an hour ago).
As for the crucial jam/cream question: I’m with Auriga @21, every time!
Thank you PeterO and Paul
I gave up half way through the last offering from Paul, but thoroughly enjoyed this one. The fact that I was born in Cornwall and have always lived in the South West helped enormously! Favourite clue being Digestives. Thanks Peter and Paul.
Thank you Paul and PeterO.
There are so many clever references to England’s southernmost and westernmost county that I felt sure there must be a lizard in there somewhere. Perhaps there is?
Like many others, I loved the clues for DIGESTIVES and BRIGANDS, and the neat references to Jamaica Inn and the Eden Project, but my favourite clue was the quite brilliant Beast of Bodmin clue at 1 across, where only the tail was glimpsed …
[Eileen – lovely to see you back!]
Isn’t Paul brilliant that he can produce such a straightforward crossword today following the far less accessible puzzle published last Thursday? For myself, I like the puzzling level to be closer to last week’s offering though the variety, innovation and fun in today’s made it more enjoyable if less lasting
Many thanks both and all
I think Paul has been very neat by matching the wordplay for 8d carefully with his Cornish theme — “jam ultimately covered”. But, of course, tea with scones, jam and clotted cream is a Devon cream team. The cream goes on first, obviously, because it is the layer of fat which takes on the role of butter before the sugary layer topping: the gustatory effect is most effective and is cognate with aeons-established bread+butter+marmalade/jam.
The Cornish can have their pasty.
It’s mostly all been said by earlier posters, but I concur with the general pleasure in Paul’s offering today. For me, it was pitched just right: all doable and ultimately done in good time, with a bit of head-scratching but no outside help or checking needed; and some very neat constructions.
Top marks for RHINOPLASTY, DIGESTIVES and BEATITUDE.
I had heard of GOONhilly, as with Andy in Durham @25 and Balfour@30, being of a “certain generation”: it might well have been featured in Look and Learn, which I devoured weekly back in the 60s, as a Wonder of Modern Science.
I’m grateful to PeterO for the explanation of “Eden Project” – I had thought “maybe biblical, sort of, ?garden of Eden?, um Exodus, um…”, but it wasn’t satisfying (or, indeed, correct).
I’m visualising how you could cover a scone with jam on cream or cream on jam at will, using one or two of Wallace’s porridge splurt cannons; but it’s a long way from West Wallaby Street to Bude (now there’s a song title…).
Thank Paul and PeterO.
As I grew up in Cornwall this brought back many memories. I’m impressed by how many Cornish references Paul managed to include. Even for ATOM: the hole in the wall was a debtor’s prison in Bodmin, now a pub restaurant.
Enjoyable. All the more so for being a tad more straightforward than Paul often is, and not a homophone in sight. I was amused by BRIGANDS, once I teased out the parsing, and by the RHINO PASTY.
It’s hard to say anything original at this stage. I rarely do anyway.
For my thoughts, see bodycheetah @11
So happy to have helped stimulate such a rich cultural debate 😉
More easily approachable than a standard Paul, but with the usual high level of wit.
The whole puzzle was worth it just for DIGESTIVES. Brilliant!
Thanks Paul and PeterO
Corn-ish jokes instead of the usual Corn-y ones. Great stuff.
At last, a Paul puzzle that I could really enjoy (like Median @26). Of course, some knowledge of Cornwall required for the full appreciation. Lots of clues I liked. BEATITUDE where the CREAM TEA was eaten and Paul managed to avoid BE A TIT, the good anagram for DESSERT WINE, the Afro/Cornish PASTY in RHINOPLASTY, the ST IVES DIGESTIVES, the PHARISEES with their sharp jackets, SOLDIER ON to stick with it, and HIT OUT AT at Ascot.
Thanks Paul and PeterO (thanks for the G AND S that I had missed).
I’m not sure if Paul is using the device in POLISH more often or if I’m just noticing it more, but as soon as I see “like” in a Paul clue, and it ends with a question mark, I think “This’ll be something -ISH”.
I really enjoyed this — so many clever witty clues. It’s hard to single out favourites but I think DIGESTIVES and BRIGANDS were my top ticks, along with EGYPT for the brilliant play on “Eden Project”.
Many thanks Paul and PeterO.
PS Anyone else getting a lot of “Service unavailable” messages for the site today?
Yes, Lord Jim @45. It has taken three reloads of the page to get back in now.
Lord Jim @44
The “-ish” endings are very common in the Uxbridge English Dictionary, as heard on I’m sorry I haven’t a clue.
@45 – yes, it has just taken me several goes to refresh this thread. I’ve Emailed Admin.
I have to ask – are Paul’s crosswords the puzzle equivalent of Mornington Crescent? That is, an ‘in’ joke that outsiders think has real rules. I’m increasingly thinking that they must be.