Clues by Enigmatist and Grid by Calluna
Enter the prize draw by 31 March.
The background for this puzzle is an Angeles Balaguer photo of a black cat.
This puzzle by Enigmatist uses a conventional 9x7x5 grid by Calluna and does not celebrate an anniversary, but instead has a mysterious theme jumbled in the red cells (8). A related condition is jumbled in the yellow cells (17). This condition may make it a difficult year (and a difficult month) for some. A number of days are specified as thematic. The remaining clues are in alphabetical order of their solutions. Solvers should submit the condition jumbled in the yellow cells (17) with their entries.
Additional thematic clues are given on the grid page in alphabetical order of the first words of the clues. Clues for these lack definition, but each contains a superfluous word. Solutions to the thematic clues may be slotted into their places among the normally numbered clues, so that all clues are in alphabetical order of their solutions, except for one, which is a red herring and not to be entered in the grid. Once in order, a thematic phrase may be spelt by taking either the first or the last letter of each superfluous word; a second phrase may be spelt by taking each unused choice.
The theme is numerical. The solutions to the thematic clues relate to: an age (the thematic number of years — one solution being a description of people reaching that age, and another a ceremony on reaching that age); an agent of death (superstitiously associated with a thematic number of turns or steps); two calendars (one with the days in groups of the thematic number, and one where there are the thematic number of months); a clubhouse (of a thematic club); a fallible prediction method (the thematic number of the solution [to a prized location] being a political prediction method that failed in 2024); a female group (a thematic number of enchanting women); a legal change (the solution being an institution that was banned by the thematic change to a foundational legal document); a road (the solution being a capital city lying on the thematic route — the most important road in that country); a role (the surname of the actor playing the thematic incarnation of this role); a state (the thematic one to ratify a foundational legal document); and a vocational number (a paraphrase of a colloquial vocational expression for the theme — the paraphrase is presumably to give the solution the thematic number of letters). No letter counts are given for the thematic solutions, but some of them are composed of more than one word: (3,8), (5,3,5), (5,6) and (13,7).
One of the thematic phrases spelt by taking the first or last letter of each superfluous word in order (of the Days to which they are finally assigned) gives a biblical event, depicted in a famous art work, where a thematic number were present, possibly leading to the superstitious associations of the theme. The second phrase so derived is the name of a character appearing with horrifying regularity on the thematic date (not Halloween).
The additional thematic clues may prove tricky, since the superfluous word may not be obvious, and there is no alphabetical order or letter count to assist solvers. Once most of the normal clues have been solved, it may be possible to guess at solutions that could fit some of the descriptions above, and then identify the thematic clue and superfluous word from these. Solvers are cautioned not to expect any obvious link between the thematic solutions.
The red herring is the vocational number. It is not to be entered in the grid or in the entry form, so it is not really necessary to solve this. Nonetheless there is a space on the entry form for all 46 days. If you type anything in the space for the red herring then the message Bad luck! will appear when you move to the next entry. You really have to leave this space blank. The red herring appears at the thematic day, which is considered inauspicious given the day of the week on which it occurs (this also happens in two other months this year).
The yellow cells are a jumble of the seventeen letters of a word describing an irrational dread of the theme. This possibly unfamiliar word appears in Chambers, but there are two spellings, only one of which fits the letters in the yellow cells.
Enigmatist has conjured up a tough examination from Calluna’s unsettling grid. The numerical theme may seem unpropitious, but touch wood, cross your fingers and avoid walking under any ladders and there’s every chance of a successful result.
Day 5
In here’s a blackguard, backsliding, plumbing new depths? (5)
Once you are familiar with the trick, this type of clue is so annoying because the solution is written within the clue itself. However one newer twist is the word you are looking for is written backwards! From the above, the two indicators given are “In” and “backsliding”. [GS]
Day 6
Pub receives TV uniform flier (8)
Short word for a pub inside which (receiving) you’ll find a common abbreviation for a TV (non standard spelling) and uniform to give you an African flier. [JP]
Day 23
Down jar after spinning bottles of the Black Stuff (7)
You need a word for down (as a verb, applied to ships or pints) and a word for jar. Then spin this so that the first letter moves round to the end. The result should be bottles of the Black stuff. [NI]
Day 26
Expanse of water split kiln leaving one aghast (5)
A word meaning a kiln (to dry hops or malt) can be found split round the outside of the final two words. If you remove these letters then what remains is an expanse of water (the largest in the British Isles). [NI]
Day 27
Reportedly takes a job in Kerry? (5)
It’s the way you tell them! Think of another way of saying ‘takes a’ rather than ‘takes a job’ and you’ll get a common expression in Ireland for an ‘off the books’ job. [JP]
Day 29
Forerunner of column, Thunderer has original chapter included in #500 (9)
For Thunderer, take a god of thunder, and include abbreviations for original and chapter. This should all be contained in #500, where # is interpreted as an abbreviation for number and 500 as a roman numeral. The answer is an unfamiliar zoological term, a precursor of an anatomical column. [NI]
Day 33
Acid-sweet mixture? Lab’s rating down after head of Operations axes me (6)
This one takes a bit of working out! Take away (down) a ‘rating’ from Lab and put this after head of Operation and axes (but not choppers) to give you the acid-sweet mixture, a historical remedy apparently having a bit of a resurgence. [JP]
Thematic Clues
“Counter”, set by Mass for the Listener: although it’s very hard, answer’s clocked
Take a short word for counter and the usual abbreviation for mass. For the Listener indicates a homophone, in this case of it’s (although is superfluous), though this homophone is not a word. Finally we have short abbreviations for very, hard and answer, the last of which is contained (clocked) by the other two. The whole thing is a two-word ceremony on attaining the thematic age. [NI]
Like judgement announced by PI
Announced indicates a homophone, in this case of like (judgement is superfluous). Follow this with a short, somewhat dated, slang term for a PI to give an adjective for a former empire and its calendar, where the days are in groups of the thematic number. [NI]
Prudish Serbian perhaps finally fully extended
Look for a short word for a Serbian or a member of several neighbouring states, speaking a language in the same family. This should end in a v, which can be fully extended to a word whose abbreviation is v. The result is a loathsome institution, banned by the thematic alteration to a foundational document. [NI]
Things carried by effective climber
Start with a Latin philosophical term for things (as opposed to attributes) and let this be carried by a botanical climber. You should now have an Asian capital city, lying on Route theme – the most important road in that country. [NI]
I am grateful to the other members of the Hints & Tips team: Garry Stripling (Gin) and Jim Pennington (Philostrate).
Happy solving!
Nick Inglis (etc)
Subscribe to receive Hints & Tips by email.