AZED CROSSWORD 2586

BALDERDASH

1.  E. Dawid: In clueing, R. Heald’s bad? Nonsense! (anag.; ref. leading AZ competitor).

2.  Mrs A. M. Walden: Cook dhal-based recipe for gammon or tripe (anag. incl. r).

3.  R. J. Whale: Old-fashioned tinctures and blunt eccentricity: character that sums up Dexter to a T, seen in Morse (bald e, r + dash; T in Morse code; dexter = right).

VHC

T. Anderson: Jazz beat, with Adler blowing and Duke jamming (anag. + d in bash; ref. Larry A. & D. Ellington).

M. Barley: ‘B—’ comprises a colourful bit of language proffered up for ‘nonsense!’ (a + red l (rev.) in B + dash).

T. C. Borland: Bunk bed’s head has ladder fixed (b + anag.).

A. Brash: Topless streak leads to Erika Roe being held in pants (first letters in bald dash; ref. Twickenham streaker).

P. Cargill: Bladder has ruined pants (anag.).

M. Coates: Dimension Lear’s book had, possibly (anag. incl. D, b, & lit.).

Dr I. S. Fletcher: Embodying Edward Lear primarily, rising poet has composed nonsense (Ed L (rev.) in bard + anag.).

H. Freeman: Junk leads to Harold Steptoe and dad Albert endlessly bickering (anag. incl. H S less t; bicker = quiver).

S. D. Griew: Worn down by maddening charades, casting about for alternative amusement (bald + anag. less ca; ref. parlour games).

R. J. Heald: Bunk bed had rails fitted, infant originally having fallen out (anag. less i).

M. Hodgkin: Expression of disgust about liberal articles seen in Bild-Zeitung – smut, in places (L der, das in bah).

J. Hood: Stocking ladder – stupidly try cobblers (anag. in bash).

D. F. Manley: Bunk bed’s rail had broken, making one fall out (anag. less I).

P. W. Marlow: Christian, perhaps, after embracing God, starts to reckon diehard atheists spout hostile claptrap (D in Bale + first letters; ref. Christian B., actor).

Rev Prebendary M. R. Metcalf: Jumble sale had ends of drab old gear put out (anag. incl. b, d, r).

J. R. C. Michie: Rhubarb salad with a pinch of dried herb dressing (anag. incl. d).

T. J. Moorey: Bunk beds hardly work when one’s set for the ultimate in intimacy (anag. with a for y).

C. Ogilvie: One should steer clear of drab ladies parading about with hot pants (anag. less I + H).

J. Pearce: Runny bladder leads to having special absorbent elastic pants (anag. + anag. of first letters).

Dr S. J. Shaw: Form of address lacking sense primarily, covered by ‘blah’ possibly (anag. less s in anag., & lit.).

P. A. Stephenson: Bunk has ladder fixed below uppermost of beds (b + anag.).

J. R. Tozer: Hedda Gabler’s play free of e.g. waffle (anag. less e.g.).

J. Vincent & Ms R. Porter: Sailor climbing rickety ladder heads for starboard hold in bilge (AB (rev.) + anag. + first letters).

Ms S. Wallace: Add herbs mixed with bits of liver and stewed tripe (anag. incl. l, a).

G. H. Willett: Malfunctioning bladder has splashed my foot! (anag. + anag.).

HC

P. B. Alldred, D. & N. Aspland, C. J. Barker, M. J. Barker, J. M. Brown, Mrs S. Brown, Dr J. Burscough, H. Casson (USA), A. G. Chamberlain, C. A. Clarke, T. Clement, P. Coles (Ireland), J. Doylend, W. Drever, C. M. Edmunds, J. Fairclough, P. Finan, A. Gerrard, R. Gilbert, G. I. L. Grafton, J. Grimes, E. Hall, C. & S. Hosker, P. Jenkinson (Switzerland), M. Jordan, J. C. Leyland, M. Lloyd-Jones, P. McKenna, C. G. Millin, D. Ogilvie (USA), R. Perry, S. Randall, C. Reed, Dr J. B. Reid, T. Rudd, A. D. Scott, D. P. Shenkin, A. J. Shields, P. L. Stone, R. C. Teuton, A. J. Varney, L. Ward (USA), A. J. Wardrop, A. Whittaker, D. Whyte (Ireland), K. & J. Wolff, A. J. Young.
 

Comments
A more encouraging postbag to start the new year: 174 entries, no mistakes, and by general consent a puzzle that posed few special problems. 16 clues received mention as your favourite, most votes going to ‘Prince maybe with bird, English, on deck, relaxing, not plunging?’ for HALTER-NECKED. The clue word was also popular, suggesting various different approaches as it clearly did, not least its many possible synonyms, each of which suggested further synonyms of their own to beguile the solver. Variations on the ‘tree rot’ idea proved understandably popular, but not distinctive enough to raise them above the ‘good but not very good’ level. Bed bunks were a better bet. The top three winners achieved their position at least in part by their originality. Mr Dawid’s exploitation of RJH’s name I found irresistible and, I felt, quite acceptable within the context of the AZ competition (though whether the man himself would have got away with it I doubt!). Over all, anagrams proved almost impossible to resist. After a quick check JRT found a number of words with similar meaning that had been used in earlier Azed and Ximenes competitions: NONSENSE, BARAGOUIN, FIDDLESTICKS and GALIMATIAS, and there may have been others.
 
And now the good news. The lunch originally planned to mark Azed No. 2,500 has been rescheduled for Saturday 28 May this year. Once again, Will Drever and Richard Heald have kindly undertaken to handle the admin involved. More details will be forthcoming. General enquiries may be addressed by email to heald.richard@googlemail.com. Enquirers are asked to be patient. If you are writing by post, Richard’s home address is 13 Eshton Court, Mapplewell, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S75 5QG. Please enclose an SAE. And keep your fingers crossed.