Sunday 11 March 2012

N0 2677, Sunday 11 Mar 12

ACROSS
1   - Soldier given order at start of operation (8) - COMMANDO {COMMAND}{O}
5   - Rise when clubs close (6) - ASCEND {AS}{C}{END}
9   - Dog, adult one about to be put on tight lead (8) - AIREDALE {A}{I}{RE}{LEAD*}
10 - Picture producer, one leaving America in disguise (6) - CAMERA AMERiCA*
12 - Rush round with enthusiasm (5) - GUSTO {GUST}{O}
13 - Verbal attack made by bishop on verge (9) - BROADSIDE {B}{ROADSIDE}
14 - Ride, a bit drunk, on bypass (5-2-5) - MERRY-GO-ROUND {MERRY}-{GO-ROUND}
18 - Novel metaphor Otto translated (4,2,3,3) - ROOM AT THE TOP*
21 - Old lady, right to attend county game with traveller (5,4) - MARCO POLO {MA}{R}{CO} {POLO}
23 - Measure mountain range (5) - CHAIN [DD]
24 - Unemotional, head of technology in firm (6) - STOLID {S{T}OLID}
25 - Emblem of Christ, possibly 500 guineas (5,3) - AGNUS DEI {D+GUINEAS}*
26 - Read my novel, it's wonderful (6) - DREAMY*
27 - Beer brewed by agreeable girl (8) - BERENICE {BEER}*{NICE}
DOWN
1   - Cleaner, for example, put up rate (6) - CHARGE {CHAR}{GE<-}
2   - Sullen and ill-tempered detective grabbing ring (6) - MOROSE {MOR{O}SE}
3   - Legendary beauty devilish man adored (9) - ANDROMEDA*
4   - Helping to support French composer? No second thought required (12) - DELIBERATION {DELIBEs}{RATION}
6   - Son, with difficulty, finds a broken piece of pottery (5) - SHARD {S}{HARD}
7   - Retired American after English warrant (8) - EMERITUS {E}{MERIT}{US}
8   - Unproductive results in blind alleys (4,4) - DEAD ENDS [DD]
11 - Go-go dancing with Bowie that is encapsulating old style of music (6-6) - BOOGIE-WOOGIE {GO-GO+BOWIE}*{IE} (Correction - {GO-GO+BOWIE+IE+O}* - See comments)
15 - The origin of a problem, so acute or otherwise (4,5) - ROOT CAUSE*
16 - Professional shot wide, we hear, and swore (8) - PROMISED {PRO}{MISED}(~missed)
17 - Golfing group, perhaps in favour of fee, by the sound of it (8) - FOURSOME (~for some) (Correction - (~for sum) - See comments)
19 - Three consecutive letters from a spiritual leader? (6) - GANDHI {G{AND}HI} Spiritual leader?
20 - Whole convent I renovated? Just a part (6) - ENTIRE [T]
22 - Hatred coming from platform lacking leadership (5) - ODIUM pODIUM

10 comments:

  1. Don't know why the comments box didn't show up previously. I had to delete that post and post fresh.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Psted below is Neyartha's response to our congratulatory messages. I found it lying in the spam folder, no idea why it went there

    Quote

    Neyartha Feb 29, 2012 09:44 PM

    Dear Solvers,

    Thank you very much for your kind words of encouragement.

    My first crossword for The Hindu appeared on Dec. 17, 2007 [ More details here: http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2011/02/interview-neyartha.html ].

    I completed 100 puzzles for The Hindu with THC No. 10376 on Feb 3rd, 2012. So, the puzzles published on Feb 29th and Mar 1st are actually Puzzle No. 101 and 102.

    I should also apologize to solvers for getting by with just 26 clues in Puzzle No. 101 (had to do it in order to accommodate the Nina). Rest assured, we will be back to 30 clues per puzzle in my future submissions.

    It has been a very interesting journey and I hope to do my best in the future to keep everyone entertained :)

    Best Regards
    Neyartha

    Unquote

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neyartha is in town on a brief holiday from California. He met me at my home the other day and we had a pleasant chat for a few minutes.

      Above he has apologised for having had only 26 clues in a recent puzzle. No setter need be sorry about fewer number of clues in a puzzle (when the grid is the standard 15x15). I think it happens especially in a grid with a particular pattern in disposition of blocks and blanks and also (as N has pointed out) when a Nina is worked into it. I think that even without a Nina a crossword may occasionally have only 26 clues if some long phrases are placed in different slots.

      Delete
    2. Neyartha.

      We love your puzzles.

      What is the problem having only 26 clues? Is there a standard prescribing a minimum number?

      I don't think so.

      Delete
  3. Col, don't mean to nitpick, but for 11D, there's a missing O in the anno. I had it as {GOGO + BOWIE}* + {IE} encapsulating {O} from old for boogie-woogie (def: style of music).

    ReplyDelete
  4. 17d - Golfing group, perhaps in favour of fee, by the sound of it (8) - FOURSOME (~for some)

    Presume the anno should be '~forsum'

    ReplyDelete
  5. What to do when something does not work?

    -If it is non-IT, hit it
    -If it is IT, do it again

    Deepak learnt this again lesson today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How do I do the last sentence again?

      Oh! forget it.

      Delete

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