AZED CROSSWORD 2218

FOREIGNER

1.  C. M. Edmunds: Wanting a faringee or migrant? That’s me (anag. less a & lit.).

2.  R. C. Teuton: Sort originally from region round here? Not he ((he)re in anag. incl. f, & lit.).

3.  P. L. Stone: Being from Nigeria a migrant could be this in Gambia (comp. anag. & lit.).

VHC

G. Anderson: Not very English, rioting over freeing an immigrant (anag. less v, E).

T. Anderson: Onset of Great Fire linked with Nero playing fiddle on the side? (anag. incl. G).

D. Appleton: After break-up ‘good German friend’ could become ‘goddamn ——’ (comp. anag. & lit.).

M. Barley: Watch out! – erring shot slicing right finds one in unfamiliar territory (fore + anag. less r; ref. golf).

J. G. Booth: Frog Irène’s unsettled – she’s unlikely to be welcomed by Ukip (anag.).

T. C. Borland: Is it referring to migrant, having forsaken origins? (anag. less r, t, & lit.).

D. Carter: Farage’s first golden rule: European right (one of them) to end for him? (F or reign E, with one ‘r’ moved to last).

J. & B. Chennells: One such with a flag waving is upsetting for Nigel Farage! (comp. anag. & lit.).

C. Daffern: Fire gone out with the last of the coke, can this be done by moonlight? (anag. incl. e [anag. appears faulty]).

G. I. L. Grafton: Fine bit of oratorio ‘half German’ composed – start of Record One from Israel in Egypt? (anag. incl. o, Ger., r; ref. G. F. Handel).

P. Halse: French? German? One I worked out must come from abroad (anag. incl. Fr., Ger., & lit.).

M. A. Macdonald-Cooper: ——, think again when migrating: hint – one irking Farage inordinately? (comp. anag. & lit.).

D. F. Manley: —— caught out as benefit scrounger? Bet Sun would go spare! (comp. anag. & lit.; c = caught).

P. W. Marlow: Training in Greek for those finishing elite college – subject that’s unfamiliar? (anag. incl. Gr., e, e).

C. Ogilvie: Migrant in e.g. France or Spain? (anag. incl. Fr, E, & lit.).

J. R. Tozer: Stranger or, if green, alien? (anag.).

A. J. Wardrop: Job that involves screwing bosses or freeing nuts (anag.; boss^1,2).

R. J. Whale: Despite Nige’s blustering, this fellow should be missed around here (for + anag. + (h)er(e), & lit.).

K. J. Williams: Portrayal of Greek or Finn when each is docked here? (anag. less k, n, & lit.).

Dr E. Young: Jumbly, if green, or alien? (anag. & lit.; ref. E. Lear).

R. Zara: Sea-beat —— might constitute Farage’s bête noire (comp. anag. & lit.).

HC

D. K. Arnott, D. & N. Aspland, M. Barker, Rev Canon C. M. Broun, Dr J. Burscough, J. A. Butler, P. Cargill, A. G. Chamberlain, P. D. Chamberlain, B. Cheesman, C. A. Clarke, M. Coates, N. Curwen, V. Dixon (Ireland), W. Drever, I. & C. Fearon, Dr I. S. Fletcher, Dr H. Gilmore, Dr C. P. Hales, R. B. Harling, D. V. Harry, R. Hawtry, R. J. Heald, R. Hesketh, J. Hoggart, L. M. Inman, Mrs D. B. Jenkinson, G. Johnstone, D. Kortlandt, E. Lance, J. P. Lester, M. Lunan, Rev Prebendary M. R. Metcalf, C. G. Millin, T. J. Moorey, C. J. Morse, D. J. R. Ogilvie (USA), Ms F. Pearson, A. Plumb, Dr T. G. Powell, A. M. Price, S. Randall, G. Raven, N. Roper, I. Simpson, P. A. Stephenson, M. Taylor, P. Taylor, M. Wainwright, Mrs A. M. Walden, Ms S. Wallace, D. Whisstock (Italy), G. H. Willett, A. J. Young.
 

Comments
236 entries, almost no mistakes spotted. Favourite clues, with 14 mentioned at least once: ‘Dido, see, on a pyre lit with toyboy finally leaving?’ (CAPER) and ‘E.g. mistletoe, making naughty pastime arise’ (SEMIPARASITE), receiving the same number of votes, one ahead of ‘Barking shins, dad restrained language’ (SPANISH). And yes, I accept that ‘toyboy’ is a bit disrespectful as a description of the legendary founder of Rome, but I couldn’t think of another word for ‘lover’ ending in ‘y’ (and his treatment of the Carthaginian queen was distinctly shabby, regardless of his lofty destiny). I do plead guilty to a trio of inaccuracies in other clues: ‘chaw’ is not US usage, as my clue to CASHAW implied; ‘gauging extent’ (i.e. of a book) is inadequate as a definition of PAGING; and Chambers does not allow ‘r = rules’, only ‘rule’.
 
By general consent, this was a plain competition of below-average difficulty – and perhaps none the worse for that in the run-up to Christmas. Unsurprisingly, in the context of foreigners and their constituent letters, Nigel Farage was much in evidence in clues submitted, often involving composite anagrams with an & lit. element. (One regular expressed unhappiness about the prevalence of composite anagrams in highly rated competition entries, even suggesting a moratorium on their acceptability for a spell. I accept that some competitors perhaps resort to them rather too readily, but I am not prepared to disallow them automatically. Cleverly and precisely handled, especially in & lit. clues, they can be extremely effective and witty.)
 
I have been thinking quite a lot recently about my attitude to the use in clues (mine as well as yours) of abbreviations. As I think many of you know, I have long opposed the use of certain abbreviations, such as F = Fellow (the capital is important), on the grounds that though they are listed in Chambers in isolation, they only really occur as part of longer abbreviations, e.g. FRS, FRCP, etc. But I am uncomfortably aware that in allowing other comparable abbreviations I am guilty of inconsistency, and am resolved (not without some trepidation, admittedly) to accept in clues submitted any abbreviation given in C, or indeed in any reputable dictionary – Chambers is oddly selective at times. Your views, as always, are welcomed. As they are on an unrelated issue. One regular (a different one this time) suggests that my use of ‘Mrs’ or ‘Ms’ when listing lady competitors, but not ‘Mr’ for the gents, ‘looks a bit dated’. Is this a widely-held view? If no one is seriously offended I shall probably continue as now. I’m beginning to feel a bit dated myself these days! A happy new year to you all.