Clues by Amoeba and Grid by Mang & Komorník
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The background for this puzzle is an Ian Livesey photo of a cow in close-up among a herd of similar animals.
This puzzle by Amoeba uses a conventional 7x7x5 grid by Mang & Komorník and incorporates elements of three themes which combine to point to a bicentenary. The grid itself, thematic entries and part-entries should assist solvers to identify firstly a general setting, secondly an activity and thirdly a list of “wonders”. A key location in the list of wonders is missing from the grid, although its paradoxical partner is present. This location, the venue of an event shown in shaded cells, will identify the bicentenarian (5,4). Solvers must include both the bicentenarian and the general location (4,2,5) with their entries. Clues for days 4, 5, 9 and 18 have in the wordplay items too recent for the latest printed edition of Chambers, though they are easily checked online. Clues are numbered in alphabetical order of their solutions.
The themes are all connected with the general location (4,2,5) and the entries include some place names and some dialect words associated with this location, which may not appear in Chambers, but can be checked online. Some of the other entries are related to an activity. The shaded cells give an anagram of an organised event (7) in this activity. The bicentenarian (5,4) is a specific example of this event, taking place in and around the thematic location.
Amoeba has constructed a wonderful puzzle from Mang & Komorník’s grid. If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the thematic location, then you will learn about the apparently contradictory places in this isolated area, which doubled its number of MPs at the most recent general election.
Day 5
Goethe’s book inspired by youngster’s darling slipper (7)
Nothing Faustian about this, Goethe is there to indicate the language for the word for book. Inspired indicates that a modern short word that young people use for darling should go round the word for book to give you a type of slipper. [JP]
Day 7
British fight back, capturing large vessels (7)
One letter for British followed by fight spelt backwards (indicator back). But here’s the rub, the synonym is not one word but two (3,2) (naughty clue setter). And now include a letter L. Where are we? At sea preserving national honour? Far from it, more like in the kitchen or the cocktail cabinet. [GS]
Day 11
Islander cooked duck à la Russe through, in the end (9)
Cooked suggests an anagram, of duck à la, together with the final letters (in the end) of Russe and through. The answer means islander, being a dialect word for an inhabitant of the thematic location (you won’t find this in Chambers, but it can be confirmed at OneLook). [NI]
Day 17
Old King worried about waste (7)
Not necessarily an old King, but a short prefix meaning old followed by a King’s official initials then a short word for ‘worried’ going backwards (about) will result in a word for waste. [JP]
Day 19
First-years endlessly worry that woman, correct? (8)
Endlessly indicates deleting the last letters of words for worry, that woman, and correct. This is the plural of the older, sexist term for first-year students. [NI]
Day 23
Scarecrows upset Billy Bragg, alleges striking account (6-7)
Upset is another anagram indicator, but the next three words have a total of seventeen letters, so you first have to delete (striking) a 4-letter word for account (to be paid). The answer is a dialect word for scarecrows (in the thematic location) and you won’t find it in Chambers (though a variant with a shorter first word is there) or even in OneLook, but it can be confirmed online. Fortunately the first word is given by the answer to Day 22. [NI]
Day 25
During festival, Suggs picked up instrument (5)
If you have the solutions for Days 24 & 26 then at least you have the first letter. The solution is buried in “festival Suggs” (indicator During) and more, spelt backwards (indicator picked up) and there, yes, indeed, you have a musical instrument! [GS]
Day 36
You might see this in Rugby play area after drinking second drink (7)
Think of a short word for play area and put it around (drinking) an abbreviation for second. Follow this with a drink to get something you might see in Rugby. [JP]
Day 41
Special climbing flower produces drug (5)
Here’s an old favourite. It depends on how you pronounce “flower” In this clue not so much tulip – rose but more Cam – Thames! [GS]
Day 44
Leaves detective to collect personnel’s clothes (7)
You need a short word for (drinkable) leaves followed by an abbreviation for a detective rank. These should contain (collect) an abbreviation for the personnel department of an organisation. The answer is a slang term for clothes. [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)
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