I don’t often attempt Anax puzzles because I find them a little too time-consuming and usually end up with three or four clues that I can’t complete. However, as I was blogging this one, I felt obliged to give it a good try and did eventually manage to finish unaided after several hours of struggle. There were plenty of clues I liked such as 13 across and a few I wasn’t keen on like 27 and 8,10 where the same square was used by both words in the answer.
I can’t see any obvious reason why this was published on a Monday – there doesn’t seem to be a nina or theme but I might have missed it.
| Across | |||
| 1. | Unable to stop notice passed around court(8) | ||
| Addicted | Ad + died arount ct. | ||
| 5. | Black convict’s problem after long-distance transfer(3,3) | ||
| Jet lag | Jet(=black) + lag(=convict) | ||
| 9. | He (or she) keeps date with comic(3,5) | ||
| The Dandy | They around (d(ate) + and) | ||
| 12. | Born through love, you would like Cyclops(3-4) | ||
| One-eyed | Nee in (O + ye’d) | ||
| 13. | Using club, short hit to where hole is?(4-2) | ||
| Chip-in | &lit = c(lub) + hi[t] + pin | ||
| 14. | Leaderless team affected?(4) | ||
| Arty | [P]arty | ||
| 15. | As a big group, rent things out(2,8) | ||
| In strength | (Rent things)* | ||
| 18. | Nothing connected in the car but new rev counter(10) | ||
| Tachometer | O met in (the car)* | ||
| 20. | Crash barrier(4) | ||
| Boom | DD | ||
| 22. | Would one count as peak period?(6) | ||
| Summer | DD | ||
| 23. | Queen will eat fish too(7) | ||
| Besides | Bess around ide | ||
| 26. | Can it give info about some Africans?(4,2) | ||
| Shut up | SP around Hutu | ||
| 27. | Nirvana single’s featured in show(8) | ||
| Paradise | I’s in parade – not sure the Buddhist idea of Nirvana is precisely the same as paradise, although it has a similar function in being the ultimate goal. | ||
| 28. | To grow, comedian has to write(6) | ||
| Deepen | (Jack) Dee + pen | ||
| 29. | One out of time ruled a commoner(8) | ||
| Untitled | Unit around t + led | ||
Down |
|||
| 1. | A supporter rounds on a spaceman(9) | ||
| Astronaut | A strut around (on a) | ||
| 2. | Point to powder coating sheep(3,4) | ||
| Due West | Dust around ewe | ||
| 3. | Out to lunch, map makers taking shelter from squall(5) | ||
| Crazy | A-Z in cry. I was a bit unsure about A-Z as map-makers but apparently the London A-Zs are published by the A-Z map company. However, I struggle a bit to see why take shelter from would indicate containment. | ||
| 4. | Woeful serenade about depression finished thus?(5,2,5) | ||
| Ended in tears | Serenade* around dint | ||
| 6. | Newspaper article occupies retired collier(8) | ||
| Examiner | A in ex-miner | ||
| 7. | Lost expression “going into retreat“(7) | ||
| Lairing | L(ost) + airing | ||
| 8/10. | Great one in 3 age group(10) | ||
| Generation | (Great one in)* | ||
| 11. | I’ll forget stupid racist banter(12) | ||
| Scatterbrain | (Racist banter)* | ||
| 16. | House of station manager receives recycled books(9) | ||
| Homestead | Head around tomes with t moved to the end | ||
| 17. | Rodent‘s sleeping place on river(8) | ||
| Dormouse | Dorm + Ouse | ||
| 19. | Father’s old hat in fashion(7) | ||
| Couture | Cure around out | ||
| 21. | Cops see daring crook’s heading to centre(3,4) | ||
| Old Bill | Bold ill with B moved | ||
| 24. | Teacher bathed one(5) | ||
| Swami | Swam + I | ||
| 25. | In cowhouse, dairymaid was milking(4) | ||
| Used | Hidden in “cowhoUSE, Dairymaid” | ||
26 was fantastic
Awful. Vague (at best) definitions. Only kept going out of cussedness.
Me, too: I found this hard for a Monday. No, very hard full stop. But some great stuff in there: the anag in 11 is a little belter and even apparent write-ins like ASTRONAUT & ONE-EYED needed some serious parsing before they got the nod. Bit worried about the grammar in COUTURE: presumably ‘father’s’ = ‘cure has’ which is somewhat of a reach. Fun though and suitably puffed cheeks on completion.
Thanks to Anax & Neal.
Not as hard as some of Anax’s recent offerings, both here and elsewhere (for 24, I bathed ergo I was giddy), for which I was grateful. Didn’t know and missed the comic at 9, which was gettable though from the wordplay, or the comedian at 28 and hadn’t come across LAIR(ING) as a verb before. Particularly liked SUMMER, UNTITLED and like copmus @1 thought SHUT UP, with its almost hidden def, was a stand out and my COD.
Thanks to Anax and NealH
Thanks, Neal. Indeed, Anax on a Monday – has been known to happen before, but seldom.
I managed all of this except LAIRING and GENERATION. If I’d got GENERATION (which, frankly, I should have done, although like you I don’t much care for clues like this that intersect), then I might have had a stab at LAIRING, although it’s not a usage that I know.
Anax is usually beyond my comfort zone, so pleased to get so much of this today. Thank you to Anax – look forward to seeing you (and others) in Macclesfield on Saturday.
Oh, hullo. What’s happening in Macc in Saturday? I’m only 10 miles away… Is it an open thing…?
A lovely surprise for a Monday. Thanks Anax.
I’d like to add my applause for 26a, although the rest of the puzzle was of course top class too. Thanks to Anax and NealH
Thanks Neal.
I agree with K’s D re LAIRING.
Anax must have been really pleased to spot the anagram for SCATTERBRAIN – my favourite clue in another super puzzle. I liked ENDED IN TEARS, too.
Many thanks, Anax – see you on Saturday.
Grant Baynham @6 see here: http://www.fifteensquared.net/2016/01/05/sloggers-betters-macclesfield-friday-18th-saturday-19th-march-2016/
I forgot to ask: I expect I’ll kick myself but would someone please explain the SP in 26ac? – I got the great definition!
@Eileen
I used to hear people say “what’s the SP?” as in “what’s going on?” which was derived from the racing abbr. for Starting Price (there might well be another explanation though!)
Thanks for the prompt reply, baerchen. I did wonder about ‘starting price’ but couldn’t really make it fit. Your suggestion makes sense, though.
@Eileen…
Thanks so much for the link. I’ve posted my enthusiasm for this – right up my street – but no response from Anax so far… Is there a more direct link? I’d hate to miss the fun!
Gx
Hi Grant Baynham @13
The link is under Announcements on the top left of this page! [There’s another for a Derby Day in May. 😉 ]
You don’t have to do anything more – just turn up! [Sorry you’re missing Saturday.]
baerchen @11- ere Arthur whats the sp on this ice-cream- and you never told me e was an iron.
Hi all – thanks for the excellent blog Neal.
The Monday slot is unusual, but with print editions nearing the end I think Eimi is just trying to make sure everyone gets a final slot so there’s a fair bit of shuffling around to make that work.
Today’s puzzle is in fact themed, dedicated to the awesome Simple Plan; just over a week until I take my daughter, her friend, and my mum to see them in Manchester – three generations at one gig must be rare. Plus we also have VIP backstage passes for pizza and selfies! Can’t wait.
@Grant – Sloggers & Betters events are very informal and everyone is welcome. We don’t have speeches/lectures or anything like that (although we do have a couple of crosswords). It’s just an excuse fort solvers, setters, and the occasional editor to meet and chat… sometimes about crozzers but just as likely not.
anax@16 I’m not up on modern bands (apart from Knifeworld and Shapeshifter) so was completely unaware of theme. I n respect to aforementioned excellent puzzle i dutifully investigated what themesters I could make out (I found 7) and aFter You Tube blasts concluded they were Canadians with youthful energy and some talent but they sounded like they brushed their teeth six times a day if you get my drift.Are Black Motorcycle whatever still going?
There are 9, Copmus, accounting for 11 lights in total.
I’m now going to brush my teeth six times a day and check the vocal results.
Thanks Anax & NealH.
I missed the theme of course but it was still a satisfying solve.
Good spot for SCATTERBRAIN anagram.
Thanks for the blog, NealH and to Anax for addling my brain.
Anax is usually too difficult for me so I was rather chuffed to complete as much as I did – failing on 8/10 & 7d. Whilst I don’t think I’d ever have got LAIRING I’m kicking myself over GENERATION as I’d recognised it was an anagram but made an error in my workings 🙁 I particularly liked ADDICTED, CHIP-IN and the excellent (IMHO) SHUT UP.
Definitely not an easy Monday this time. What have you got lined up for us on Saturday, Anax?.
Much too difficult for me. The top left corner went in quickly on my first pass but then I got stuck and only got a few clues more all day. Just glad one of the clues I got was 17dn. It would have been embarrassing otherwise.
Nice one Dormouse!
Tough start to the week and the beginning of the countdown to the final print editions of the Indy. We’ve noticed that the app had the correct crossword this week and did not have any reveal buttons – a good sign for the future!
Thanks Anax for the fun – sorry we won’t see you in Macc.
Thanks to Neal as well for the parsing of 29ac.