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1. Anyone
who’s aw/aking too little of his life. ASTERISM (...
a waster is making ...) Watson’s
thoughts on solving this clue turned to Aristotle and his most famous pupil
who was a ‘waster’ on the grandest scale. Our solution refers to the appearance
of stars in gemstones by reflected light. How very apt.
6. Some
early Huguenot insurgents were known as c/ards. AMIS
(... Camisards) The solution is listed as
Edmund Spenser’s spelling of amice1 which may mean ‘a cloak or wrap’.
Any connection with persecuted protestants in catholic
France is not clear.
10. In
such, a new develop/ed
building cannot be modified. MENTALIST (In such a new development a listed ...)
Our solution refers to any philosophy of idealism, thus pointing
towards the fixed view of how a building should be preserved in the ‘listed
buildings’ regulations.
11. Did
guilt-ridden Paris cry, ‘Please forgive, he/reat’?
LENIENT (... forgive Helen, I entreat’?)
For those who have a few hours to kill, The Trojan Wars.
13. I
always enjoy my m/ating heartily. EALE (... meal,
eating ...) Chambers lists our solution
as one of many spurious words found in Shakespeare and supposed to mean ‘evil’.
It is found in Hamlet’s speech in Act I, scene 4 immediately before the entry
of the ghost of his father: ...
So, oft it chances in particular
men,
That for some vicious mole of nature
in them,
… From that particular fault:
the dram of eale
Doth all the noble substance of a doubt
To his own scandal.
... from the
Globe Edition (1864). In modern editions it is usually rendered as ‘e’il’.
14. CHARET
(The Competition word, another from Spenser)
15. As
soon as the teacher’s go/on is finished. NETHELESS (... gone, the lesson ...) That’s enough Edmund Spenser (Ed).
16. Devoted
to the cap he wears? His be/ll weathers. RETINA (... wears,
his beret in all ...) Azed has managed to find an
appropriate connection between clue and solution in a very high proportion of
clues in this puzzle. The pleasing effect of that quality must always be
regarded as a bonus, however, and when it is absent,
one must grin and bear it.
18. A
well-known li/king? Few for a ride. ARISTA (... liar
is taking few ...) The second sentence was
misprinted in Dr Watson’s copy - printer’s devilry, no doubt. Our solution is
the Latin word for ‘awn’, an ear of barley.
20. He
likes to think he is a good saxophonist but he isn/’t.
OBECHE (... he is no Bechet.) The
reference here is to Sidney
Bechet.
22. After
a rough voyage there’s many a bo/nking
in the quayside inn! SUNDRI (... bosun drinking ...) Nice ‘n’ dry, then?
25. There
are many for who/le fireplace - really sets off a cosy
room. MANEATING (... whom a neat ingle fireplace really ...) Goodness, is
that the time?
28. A
skilful drover’s soon coaxed into r/ating flock.
UNABLE (... run a bleating ...) US solvers will note the quaint Brit
spelling of ‘skillful’ in what is one of the few
unconvincing clues in this puzzle. Azed comes clean
about it.
29. Increased
taxation, wa/iting for
businesses eager to grow. SLIM (... taxation was limiting ...) Anything
on the News, dear?
30. ‘I
really fancy a soldier,’ she said, ‘It’s N/ed!’ OTARINE (... , ‘It’s no tar I need!’) Any of the long-eared seals may be assumed to
prefer eating a ‘red or armoured fish’ (soldier) to any tar.
31. A
Tri/este don? His ability to survive alone in the
jungle! BALLADIST (A tribal lad is tested on his
ability to survive alone in the jungle.) The context of this clue may be
known to those closer to Azed than is the average
solver.
32. Single
scroungers are perhaps forced to b/one. EGAL (... beg alone.) Another Shakespearian word, listed in
Chambers as meaning ‘equal’ It survives in some modern
editions in Titus Andronicus, Act IV,
Scene 4, in the opening speech of Saturninus.
33. Venues
like this? P/op shows for months on end. LACERANT (... this place ran top ...) A rending of one’s eardrums, perhaps.
1. The
new mini model is too small to give my lanky P/om. ALLEGRO (... lanky pal leg-room.) Those were the days - proper
cars made in Blighty.
2. We
should make lots in ren/ting our second property.
TONLET (... rent on letting ...) In the
explanation we have a witty play on words, related to strips of amour let into
a protective skirt.
3. Bare
hillsides are not t/ough to prevent soil erosion.
REEDEN (... not treed enough ...) Another topical
clue, the subject having been aired in connection with the rapid run-off of
rain water from higher ground into the flooded plain.
4. Mums
will take drastic action if their kids ga/s at
school. INNIT (... gain nits ...) It’s all a lot of words, Miss, innit?
5. The
main character in the fil/e portrayed differs a lot
from the book. MASHER (... film, as here portrayed, ... ) A flashy, showy sort.
6. Cruise
passengers often like tow/er’s decks. ALKALIN (... to
walk a liner’s ...) Azed’s
note that ‘Every answer is in The Chambers Dictionary (2011)’ appears not to
apply in this case. At least, there is no mention of it at the entry for ‘alkali’.
Their on-line search engine has it as a valid Scrabble word (US), but Webster’s
Dictionary does not list it. It is listed in the (full) Oxford English
Dictionary as a variant of ‘alkaline’, but that word’s entry in the (2-volume)
Shorter Oxford English Dictionary does not mention it.
7. Was
your entry per/ceived in time to ensure access. MITRE
(... permit received ...) Azed ex cathedra, perhaps.
8. Not
many points were scored - ju/ry
unconverted. STAT (... just a try ...) Seemingly,
Azed has correctly anticipated a current news story here, that of a high-profile
failed prosecution. However, the same might have been said of a failed defence.
9. Police
announcing new anti-crime drive - won’t p/its?
LEASE-BAND (... drive won’t please bandits.) Our solution relates to weaving, ref. lease3.
12. In
the fo/re, espied wagtails (rarely spotted).
RESTRAINT (... forest rain trees, pied ...) Watson reserves comment on the
retention of the parentheses in the undevilled
version.
17. Pearl
fishers may be fine for some but I prefer a n/et.
ICEBALL (Pearl Fishers may be fine
for some but I prefer a nice ballet.) Our
solution is netball played on ice which must be quite a caper. The reference is
to Bizet’s opera: The Pearl Fishers.
19. Will
the efforts of ACAS prevent the r/aking action?
AILMENT (... railmen taking ...) Yet another highly topical news
story.
21. He’s
the man, she swears - she s/ways love. HALLAL (... man she swears she shall always ...) Note the italics.
23. Over
Ad/a, Holly grows wild. UNEASE (... a dune a sea holly ...)
24. Despite
commendation for my race performance, it wasn’t ame/nded. DALILA (... a medal I landed!) Our solution is listed as an alternative
spelling of ‘Delilah’, but is shown to have a bizarre connection with something
called F1 in this variety
of tomato. Perhaps Azed’s entry in the flower show was overlooked by the
judges.
26. Noble
bearing ensures Ama/zon. NABLA (... a man a blazon.) Our solution is another name
for ‘del’, the inverted ‘delta’ symbol used in maths.
27. Bas/ket prices won’t get you into the deluxe areas. ICTIC (Basic ticket ...) Not in Sochi, certainly.
‘Not so cheap?’ - i.e.
with the stress on the second syllable, as opposed to ‘Sochi’, ref. ‘ictus’.
28. Park
rangers tagging wildlife only aim to st/ars. UNBE (... stun bears.) A
suitable way for Azed to switch off ‘P.D. mode’ for a
while. It was great fun while it lasted.