I really enjoyed this offering from Hamilton, even though it wasn’t the tightest or most tidily-clued puzzle I’ve ever seen (it had a sort of slightly sloppy, demob-happy, mid-December feel to it (or maybe that’s just me)). A very likeable crossword, with some interesting vocab and some expert misdirection. Thank-you, Hamilton.
(Apologies if the changes to my usual formatting style leave anyone disconcerted or fearful. Splendid new blogging software, you see.)
Across
1 Hall sees through Senna triumph (6)
ATRIUM
Hidden in sennA TRIUMph
4 Unearth old girlfriend’s warning: “make the earth move” (8)
EXCAVATE
Ex [old girlfriend] caveat [warning] with the E [earth] transposed
9 Skilled workers endlessly designing (5)
CRAFT
Craft(y) [designing]
10 Principal’s floozie has the advantage (4,5)
HEAD START
Head’s [principal’s] tart [floozie]
11 Soldiers retreat, holding backward party (7)
SHINDIG
Hind [backward] within reversal of GIs [soldiers]
12 Look back to public bar (4,3)
KEEP OUT
Reversal of peek [look] out [public]
13 Saying there’s no prime market for fragrant oil (4)
OTTO
Motto [saying] minus m(arket)
14 Compliments for treat arranged during take-off (8)
FLATTERY
Anagram of treat within fly [take off]
17 Vessel may pass over mountain range if its end is altered (8)
COLANDER
Col [pass] Andes [mountain range] with the final letter changed
19 Man could be found in Paisley (4)
ISLE
Hidden in PaISLEy
22 Very much anything except 50% (3,4)
NOT HALF
Double definition
24 It’s hanging in the study in the top floor flat (7)
PENDENT
Den [study] within pent [top-floor flat, penthouse]
25 Stupidly, all I spent was to be part of a game show (9)
PANELLIST
Anagram of all I spent
26 Jockey in the dressing room before the show? (5)
RIDER
Double definition
27 Standing relaxing without first nipping in the gym (8)
PRESTIGE
Resting [relaxing] minus n(ipping) within PE [Physical Education, gym]
28 The horse to back in the long run (6)
STAYER
Cryptic definition
Down
1 Adapt to current business (8)
ACCUSTOM
AC [Alternating Current] custom [business]
2 Article is unusually true-to-life (9)
REALISTIC
Anagram of article is
3 How is nudity disorderly? (6)
UNTIDY
Anagram of nudity
5 Show me exactly where I kissed you! (1,5,3,4)
X MARKS THE SPOT
Double definition (sort of)
6 Severe south wind approaching Spain (7)
AUSTERE
Auster [south wind] E [Espana, Spain]
7 Texan mission to Alabama starts another military operation (5)
ALAMO
Al [Alabama] initial letters of Another Military Operation
8 Condition of property (6)
ESTATE
Double definition
10 Dance that leads to a Scottish affair? (8,5)
HIGHLAND FLING
Highland [Scottish] fling [affair]
15 Not right, starry-eyed version of a Beatles song (9)
YESTERDAY
Anagram of starry eyed minus R [right]
16 Tutor with a penchant for haranguing? (8)
LECTURER
Double definition
18 Bill records obstruction on a sheet of paper (7)
LEAFLET
Leaf [sheet of paper] let [obstruction]
20 Partners seek a young animal to buy with haste (4,2)
SNAP UP
S N [South and North, partners in bridge] a pup [a young animal]
21 Untrained, no end in sight, confused and bored (2,1,3)
IN A RUT
Anagram of untrained minus the letters of end
23 Trace metal to General Electric (5)
TINGE
Tin [metal] GE [General Electric]
Nicely straightforward so perfect for the pre-Christmas brain cell meltdown – I read through the blog introduction quite quickly and had to re-read to make sure that the puzzle wasn’t tiddly-clued!
Thanks to Hamilton and Ringo too.
Hi Ringo, it’s been a while since we last met but as ever you do me more than justice. Strangely enough, in the light of your preamble, this one was set in mid July when temperatures were in the mid 20s!
I think that’s probably my lot for 2013, so thanks for all the blogs, and I’m sure its not too early to wish a Happy Christmas to you and yours.
Hello, Hamilton! Ha, so much for my intuition. Thanks again for an excellent crossword – and a very merry Christmas to you and yours, too.
No problem with puzzle thanks Hamilton or the blog, it looks great on mobile too unlike mine this week, I’ll have to try a different setting next time.
No doubt I’m being dumb, but could somebody explain 26a?
I get that jockey = RIDER, but how does the rest of the clue work?
Hi Tom_I
From Chambers under ‘rider’ – “a list of specific personal requirements, such as food and drink, included in the contract of a performing artist”.
Thanks. That’s not in the edition of Chambers I have. Perhaps I need a new one for Christmas!