By Edwin Korir. Eldoret, Kenya.
Across
1a Course created by a man from St Andrews? (5)
ASCOT: We begin with a nice simple charade (or Lego clue if you prefer): just the A from the clue and then someone hailing from the part of the world where St Andrew lies. The result is a racecourse oft seen in crosswords
ASCOT: We begin with a nice simple charade (or Lego clue if you prefer): just the A from the clue and then someone hailing from the part of the world where St Andrew lies. The result is a racecourse oft seen in crosswords
4a One’s time of arrival (8)
BIRTHDAY: The time of year – the exact date, in fact – when one arrived in the world
BIRTHDAY: The time of year – the exact date, in fact – when one arrived in the world
8a Burly Pat reformed in a very sudden way (8)
ABRUPTLY: Our first anagram of the day is of BURLY PAT, indicated in the clue by reformed
ABRUPTLY: Our first anagram of the day is of BURLY PAT, indicated in the clue by reformed
9a Team members’ weapons (8)
SIDEARMS: Another word for team or squad then some members, in this case limbs
SIDEARMS: Another word for team or squad then some members, in this case limbs
11a Soft-hearted moneylender who enters office uninvited (7)
USURPER: A niftily indicated insertion of P (soft-hearted) into a moneylender who would probably be charging excessive rates of 10d
USURPER: A niftily indicated insertion of P (soft-hearted) into a moneylender who would probably be charging excessive rates of 10d
13a Need month off, as recovering (2,3,4)
ON THE MEND: An anagram (off) of NEED MONTH. Fun though it was, I hope the revellers at Saturday’s celebration don’t need anywhere near this long to recover!
ON THE MEND: An anagram (off) of NEED MONTH. Fun though it was, I hope the revellers at Saturday’s celebration don’t need anywhere near this long to recover!
15a Fishmonger who has a monopoly? (4,11)
SOLE DISTRIBUTOR: Read one way, the answer means someone who deals with one particular type of fish; read another (s)he is the only fishmonger around. The first word went straight in but I needed a couple of checkers for the second
SOLE DISTRIBUTOR: Read one way, the answer means someone who deals with one particular type of fish; read another (s)he is the only fishmonger around. The first word went straight in but I needed a couple of checkers for the second
18a Ships in which sherry may be served (9)
SCHOONERS: A pair of definitions that are often seen next to each other in crossword clues. A sailing ship and a large sherry glass
SCHOONERS: A pair of definitions that are often seen next to each other in crossword clues. A sailing ship and a large sherry glass
21a Marks exercises during exam, causing uproar (7)
TEMPEST: Inside (during) an exam, insert the abbreviations for (Deutsche) Marks and some school exercises (not the type requiring an exercise book)
TEMPEST: Inside (during) an exam, insert the abbreviations for (Deutsche) Marks and some school exercises (not the type requiring an exercise book)
22a Courteous and kind? Goodness me! (8)
GRACIOUS: Another brace of definitions, the first having a royal flavour. The second one could loan its me to the answer without any meanings changing
GRACIOUS: Another brace of definitions, the first having a royal flavour. The second one could loan its me to the answer without any meanings changing
24a Boring task for the affluent (4-2-2)
WELL-TO-DO: The (de-hyphenated) answer could describe the situation if one had to bore a shaft for the purposes of obtaining water
WELL-TO-DO: The (de-hyphenated) answer could describe the situation if one had to bore a shaft for the purposes of obtaining water
25a A translation that creates antipathy (8)
AVERSION: The A from the clue and (a) translation or edition
AVERSION: The A from the clue and (a) translation or edition
26a Grounds which are worth seeing, one hears (5)
SITES: Another common homophone – a word which sounds like (one hears) nice views or tourist attractions
SITES: Another common homophone – a word which sounds like (one hears) nice views or tourist attractions
Down
1d Secretary uses name Susan, I fancy (10)
AMANUENSIS: A literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts. Constructed by taking the letters in NAME SUSAN I and rearranging them (fancy). A new word for me
AMANUENSIS: A literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts. Constructed by taking the letters in NAME SUSAN I and rearranging them (fancy). A new word for me
2d Musical baggage carrier (8)
CAROUSEL: This is a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, from which comes You’ll Never Walk Alone. It’s also something travellers spend ages watching in the hope that at some time their luggage will appear safe and sound and not turn out to have been send to Tibet. (Unless they’re in Tibet)
CAROUSEL: This is a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, from which comes You’ll Never Walk Alone. It’s also something travellers spend ages watching in the hope that at some time their luggage will appear safe and sound and not turn out to have been send to Tibet. (Unless they’re in Tibet)
3d Maximum rate for a spinner? (3,5)
TOP SPEED: This means the maximum velocity for anything, but could possibly indicate the rate of revolution of a spinning children’s toy
TOP SPEED: This means the maximum velocity for anything, but could possibly indicate the rate of revolution of a spinning children’s toy
4d Equine animals making canine sounds (4)
BAYS: Reddish-brown or chestnut horses with black points. Barks or howls
BAYS: Reddish-brown or chestnut horses with black points. Barks or howls
5d Take things the wrong way? (6)
THIEVE: The wrong way here means immorally and so the answer is a word meaning pilfer
THIEVE: The wrong way here means immorally and so the answer is a word meaning pilfer
6d Educational measure? (6)
DEGREE: An academic rank conferred by a college or university. Or a measure – for example, of temperature or angle
DEGREE: An academic rank conferred by a college or university. Or a measure – for example, of temperature or angle
7d Boys may turn into aggressive teenagers (4)
YOBS: It’s an anagram, indicated by may turn into
YOBS: It’s an anagram, indicated by may turn into
10d Return from the capital (8)
INTEREST: Monetary return on an investment
INTEREST: Monetary return on an investment
12d Philosopher offers wine and gold when entertaining us (8)
ROUSSEAU: The philosopher is Jean-Jacques, French writer, composer and political theorist of the Enlightenment. He is formed of a colour of wine into which is inserted (entertaining) the final word of the clue, all followed by the chemical symbol for gold. Readers of the comments section may recall that Hanni recently experimented with making this type of wine using an unorthodox but apparently valid method. The verdict: “awful”
ROUSSEAU: The philosopher is Jean-Jacques, French writer, composer and political theorist of the Enlightenment. He is formed of a colour of wine into which is inserted (entertaining) the final word of the clue, all followed by the chemical symbol for gold. Readers of the comments section may recall that Hanni recently experimented with making this type of wine using an unorthodox but apparently valid method. The verdict: “awful”
14d Misrepresented in edicts or orders (10)
DIRECTIONS: I had a momentary brain-fail here trying to work out how on earth the answer could mean misrepresented. That is of course actually the anagram indicator, and the definition is underlined. The rest of the clue gives the letters you need
DIRECTIONS: I had a momentary brain-fail here trying to work out how on earth the answer could mean misrepresented. That is of course actually the anagram indicator, and the definition is underlined. The rest of the clue gives the letters you need
16d Business leader takes a walk to see source of blackberries (8)
BRAMBLES: Take the first letter (leader) of Business and then add a verb meaning walks for pleasure
BRAMBLES: Take the first letter (leader) of Business and then add a verb meaning walks for pleasure
17d Become established down under? (4,4)
TAKE ROOT: Nothing to do with our antipodean friends – we are only penetrating a little way down here. The cryptic part of the clue refers to the underground part of a plant which keeps it embedded
TAKE ROOT: Nothing to do with our antipodean friends – we are only penetrating a little way down here. The cryptic part of the clue refers to the underground part of a plant which keeps it embedded
19d It gives one who is stiff a ride (6)
HEARSE: A particularly pleasing surface for those with a certain kind of mind, but with the chestnut flavour meaning of stiff, the answer is something of an anticlimax. This poor stiff is being transported to his or her final resting place
HEARSE: A particularly pleasing surface for those with a certain kind of mind, but with the chestnut flavour meaning of stiff, the answer is something of an anticlimax. This poor stiff is being transported to his or her final resting place
20d Experts know them to be edible bulbs (6)
ONIONS: Those who are skilled or knowledgeable are said to know their these They are edible bulbs, delicious in a multitude of preparations
ONIONS: Those who are skilled or knowledgeable are said to know their these They are edible bulbs, delicious in a multitude of preparations
22d Miss going to a festival (4)
GALA: A lass and then the A from the clue
GALA: A lass and then the A from the clue
23d Singer who is said never to give an encore (4)
SWAN: If the word song is affixed to the end of the answer there will be no further performance – not today, nor ever. That term comes from a classical legend that this creature sings at death
SWAN: If the word song is affixed to the end of the answer there will be no further performance – not today, nor ever. That term comes from a classical legend that this creature sings at death
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