Clues by Raich and Grid by Calluna
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The background for this puzzle is a Matt Hecht photo of a female footballer performing an athletic kick.
This puzzle by Raich uses a conventional 7x5x5 grid by Calluna and one entry is the centenarian theme, while another is the theme’s father. Two aliases (4,6,7) and (6,4) can be found jumbled in the green and yellow cells respectively and solvers should submit both of these with their entries. Clues are numbered in alphabetical order of their solutions.
In keeping with the theme, two of the cells contain symbols other than letters. Note that in this alphabetical order digits precede letters.
Raich has used Calluna’s grid to take us on an iconic continental journey. If you have difficulty finding your way, rest assured that you will not be taking the road less travelled.
Day 1
Henry VIII’s wives pay for yards repeatedly? (1-4)
You might expect the first answer to begin with A, but instead it starts with a symbol. You need a single digit for Henry VIII’s wives followed by a word meaning “pay for”. The answer represents yards repeatedly in the sense of measuring a fathom. [NI]
Day 4
In course of final on grass, most outsiders leaving (5)
One of those most annoying clues where the solution is written out inside the clue itself! Help: consider the words “most outsiders leaving”. [GS]
Day 13
Stockier guy, Kelvin, at sea to find pleasure (3,4,5)
The abbreviation for Kelvin gives the twelve letters needed for the anagram (indicator – at sea). Help: the plural of the action shown in this month’s photo provides the last word of the solution. [GS]
Day 14
Novel graph software developed (6,2,5)
A nice clue around travellers on the theme. Novel suggests you should make something new out of graph software as well as one particular one being the answer you’re looking for. [JP]
Day 15
In Aberdeen enclosed by one unusual thin wall at the outset (6)
Not in prison in NE Scotland, but leading you to that area. One gives you an I, unusual suggests an anagram of thin. Combine this with ‘wall’ at the outset and you have a Scots word meaning enclosed. [JP]
Day 21
Poles welcoming area highways (5)
Like me, did you immediately think N & S, as in north and south? Wrong. Simply a synonym for the object pole (in the plural). And to include the abbreviation for area (indicator welcoming) giving the five letters needed. Clue: hundreds of these found in cities and urban areas. [GS]
Day 26
Instinctively see South American turn to buy drinks, not hard! (4,3)
To find out the answer you need to start with an abbreviation for South American (think about it!). Then you need to add another word for your turn to buy drinks (it’s your …..) without (not) h for hard. [JP]
Day 29
Muslim scholars you listened to with the French parent (5)
“Listened to” suggests a homophone of you, which gives a single letter. Follow this with a French definite article and a short word for a parent, to give a word meaning a body of Muslim scholars. [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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