AZED CROSSWORD 2584

GIFT-WRAPPED (Cut & Paste)

1.  G. I. L. Grafton: I censured government about sources for flat that was decorated by donor (IFTWRAPPEDG; f, t, w in I rapped + g, ref. No. 10 flat refurbishment).

2.  J. C. Leyland: Smacks of donor’s generosity, infamous flat having interior finished off with fancy paper? Exactly that (DGIFTWRAPPE; first letters + f(la)t + w +anag.; ref. Downing St flat).

3.  G. H. Willett: Attractively well-covered widow finally starts to get into finery thus captivating artist Johnny, possibly, in retirement (WRAPPEDGIFT; RA + Depp (rev.) in w + first letters).

VHC (extra prizes)

C. A. Clarke: Castigated government assuming that it was primarily how donation was elaborately covered up (RAPPEDGIFTW; rapped g, if, ’t, w(as); ref. Downing St).

A. S. Everest: Splendidly clad figure set out westward bearing the crowns of weary potentates (TWRAPPEDGIF; fig depart (rev.) incl. w, p).

P. Finan: Beautifully presented with shredded paper, wrapped in pink paper I’d flipped to secure end of string (FTWRAPPEDGI; w + anag. in FT + g in I’d (rev.)).

R. J. Heald: Such is toy received by little lad, one covered all over with fancy paper (DGIFTWRAPPE; fig in t(a)d (all rev.) + w + anag., & lit.; toy, fig = inconsequential thing).

P. F. Henderson (New Zealand): Wife, in richly-decorated dress, twirling, looking ready for Christmas party? (TWRAPPEDGIF; w in trapped + fig (rev.)).

J. Hood: Decoratively given, I’m festively treated – initially with fancy paper (DGIFTWRAPPE; first letters + w + anag., & lit.).

M. Jordan: Packaged with ornate paper, decorating at the edges if time (WRAPPEDGIFT; w + anag. + d, g + if t).

D. F. Manley: Fidget around with fancy paper, wanting prezzie finally —— (EDGIFTWRAPP; anag. + w + anag. less e, & lit.).

C. G. Millin: Like a Christmas present, e.g., one covered by Director General of Fair Trading with fancy paper (DGIFTWRAPPE; I in DGFT w + anag.).

S. J. O’Boyle: Having edge trimmed in pink paper maybe, with a bit of ribbon applied (EDGIFTWRAPP; edg(e) + i’  FT + w + r + app., & lit.).

Dr S. J. Shaw: If initially thus disguised, garment’s covered with fancy paper (IFTWRAPPEDG; if + first letters incl. w + anag., & lit.).

C. Short: Appropriately covered for the present, provided they wear rubber aprons for starters, and maybe masks – doctoring at its limits (IFTWRAPPEDG; if + first letters + PPE + d, g).

R. C. Teuton: Provided finishing touch to present with fancy paper (bow for decoration’s good too) (IFTWRAPPEDG; if + t + w + anag. + d + g, & lit.).

A. Vick: Dapper wig clumsily packed in backing paper (pink) – so attractively presented! (TWRAPPEDGIF; anag. in FT (rev.)).

Mrs A. M. Walden: Fidget restlessly, grab first of presents – what might it be? (EDGIFTWRAPP; anag. + wrap² + p, & lit.).

HC

D. Appleton, D. & N. Aspland, P. Bartlam, Ms K. Bolton, A. & J. Calder, D. Carter, A. Chamberlain, M. Davies, H. Freeman, A. Gerrard, J. Grimes, A. H. Harker, S. Hicks, G. Johnstone, M. Lunan, P. W. Marlow, K. Milan, W. Ransome, S. Saunders, P. L. Stone, K. Thomas, J. R. Tozer, A. J. Wardrop, R. J. Whale.
 

Comments
128 entries, a couple with GIFT-WRAPPER, despite my specifying that a verb form was required (is it ever used in any other form?). Despite the postal problems which necessitated another regrettable delay in the announcement of the results, this was a disappointingly low entry for a Christmas special. What may have looked at first sight a trickier theme than average, I don’t think it can have proved too challenging, and the job of constructing the grid was likewise not all that daunting, given that its constituent words could be entered in a variety of different forms. Thinking up new ideas each Christmas gets ever more testing. This time inspiration came from computer-speak, of course, followed by the brainwave suggesting the appropriate GIFT-WRAPPED. I didn’t keep a note of the different break-points you chose for the clue word. Having thought at first that WRAPPEDGIFT was a little uninspired, I decided that there was no good reason for marking it down. What I did find less acceptable was the inclusion in cryptic parts of reference to the literal meanings of ‘gift’ and/or ‘wrap’. Some of the clues submitted were unduly complex, taking me some time to unravel. Ingenuity of construction is fine as long as it doesn’t demand too much working out by the solver. That said, I could see that the clue-writing task was not easy, and I was impressed by how well you coped. Recent scandals involving the PM and his cohorts proved a popular theme.
 
I still have BALDERDASH to deal with, so I won’t go on, except to thank you all again for your seasonal good wishes and press on with the new year. A footnote to what I wrote last time about Bradford’s Crossword Solver’s Dictionary: the publishers HarperCollins have, I’m told, issued a press release to announce that Anne’s daughter Gillian will be keeping it up to date.