Sunday 6 March 2011

No 2624, Sunday 06 Mar 11

ACROSS
1   - Fancy cigars, ale and port (9) - ALGECIRAS*
6   - Tighten one's belt in spring, saving bit of money (5) - {SKI{M}P}
9   - Evergreen delivered by singer, half cut, during a party (7) - {A}{VOCAlist}{DO}
10 - Constant source of exasperation, rental arrangement (7) - {E}{TERNAL*}
11 - What's surprisingly great as a lachrymator? (4,3) - TEAR GAS*
12 - Dreadful emails about son at a loose end (7) - {AIMLE{S}S*}
13 - Wrote, as agreed (12) - CORRESPONDED [DD]
16 - Sending coaches, all but one, on expedition (12) - {TRAiNS}{MISSION}
19 - A grant secured by the Olympian (7) - {A}{TH{LET}E}
20 - Pick out one very much behindhand (7) - {I}{SO}{LATE}
21 - Everyone taking part in trial? Most unlikely (7) - {T{ALL}EST}
23 - A series under discussion (2,5) - {A}{T ISSUE}
24 - Remain right inside, or wander off (5) - {ST{R}AY}
25 - Sample tea, perhaps, a little at a time (9) - {PIECE}{MEAL}

DOWN
1   - Film vehicle entering at one (6) - {A{VAN}T}{I}
2   - Girl must catch high ball in international (6) - {G{LOB}AL}
3   - What there's likely to be in a theatre in new surroundings? (6,2,7) - CHANGE OF SCENERY [DD]
4   - Hotel facility may give one opportunity to go over (4,7) - ROOM SERVICE [CD]
5   - Novel, second by ambassador (3) - {S}{HE}
6   - Railway engine crew's crazy thinking following onset of storm (5,10) - {S}{TEAM} {LOCO}{MOTIVE}
7   - Insinuation made by union worried about closure (8) - {INNU{END}O*}


8   - China developed ideas for a means of defence (8) - {PAL*}{ISADE*} (Addendum - {PAL}{ISADE*} - See comments)
12 - Two fools in centre of Ostend committing a murder (11) - {ASS}{ASS}{IN}{A}{osTEnd}
14 - Salt ain't mistaken, it's that lost island (8) - ATLANTIS*
15 - Single man, composer, put up part (8) - {BACH}{ELOR<-}
17 - Film dog finding dope in railway siding (6) - {L{ASS}IE}
18 - Uncover most of red meat (6) - {REd}{VEAL}
22 - Spinner's cap and sweater (3) - TOP [DD]



18 comments:

  1. 4 - Hotel facility may give one opportunity to go over (4,7) - ROOM SERVICE [CD]

    I took this as a CD,DD & &lit.
    1.Hotel facility
    2.Opportunity=room, go over (a machine)= service

    The waiter has an opportunity to go over to the room.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Apropos the cartoon,

    Too many dates can lead to a bloated tummy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. On the same topic, some parts of the world seem to have discovered the ultimate contraceptive.

    They are happy and gay.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 8 - China developed ideas for a means of defence (8) - {PAL*}{ISADE*}

    Though I penned in the same answer, could not quite get the China connection.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 8 - China developed ideas for a means of defence (8) - {PAL*}{ISADE*}

    A clue that did not make sense to me until I thought of Cockney slang - a pal or a mate is China Plate in Cockney rhyming slang. Not sure how the Col. annotated PAL in the clue.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just my 2 cents: I seriously doubt if Everyman would create an indirect anagram which would be the case if China = PLA is the intended anno...

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  7. China means pal from cockney slang. That is the meaning I got.

    I always thought PLA was Personal Ledger Account. That is the usage I am most familiar with. Ho hum

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  8. Cockney slang it is, I stand corrected.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Agree with Veer. I had thought on the PLA motif too but was not convinced, hence raised my eyebrow.

    ReplyDelete
  10. 4 - Hotel facility may give one opportunity to go over (4,7) - ROOM SERVICE [CD]

    {ROOM=opportunity}{SERVICE=go over} seems to be the more appropriate anno.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonder if anyone remembers he movie Avanti. Hilarious it was

    ReplyDelete
  12. Need help with Anno for the following clues:
    The legless hero goes all out to grow one (5)
    Tie it for the bookie and gain lasting ill-will (5)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tie it for the bookie and gain lasting ill-will (5)SP IT E. ?
    SPE for speculator/bookie

    ReplyDelete
  14. BEARD (Anagram of Bader, Douglas, a legless hero), to grow a beard. Goes all out=anagrind

    ReplyDelete
  15. on second thought it is SP ITE* ,where
    SP :Bookie

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dr Pankajam & Kishore,
    Thanks. Annos are perfect - (SP)(ITE*) & BEARD*.
    These are from a CW in Mail Today - a daily tabloid published by the India Today Group (Living Media).

    I remember a daily of the same name from Chennai edited by TSR in the seventies and early eighties. Its office used to adjoin The Hindu's. CV may recall this paper.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I should have said 'similar' not 'same'.

    The name of the eveninger, that TR Ramaswami founded in 1982, is News Today. It still continues to be published from Lotus Towers and has an online edition too at http://newstodaynet.com/

    ReplyDelete

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