◀  No. 65 Clue list 21 Dec 1947 Slip image No. 67  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 66

CHRISTMAS PIE or TURKEY CARPET

1.  Maj A. H. Giles (Leamington): After Christmas dinner I have a nap. If completely laid out I may be under the table! (2 cryptic defs.; nap2).

2.  A. C. Okell (Blackpool): Recipe for seasonable fare: ham, spice, stir. Served up by coloured pages with dates and chestnuts (anag. and title of periodical).

3.  F. Wallace-Hadrill (Bromsgrove): There’s my Christmas dinner on the floor and you’re treading on it. It’s a bit thick! (turkey + carpet).

H.C. (Christmas pie)

C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): Who would be an auctioneer, with only chopped spam for his Yuletide fare? (anag. in Christie; ref. Christie’s auction house).

G. E. Borman (Greenford): Had I permits and cash. I’d get something to eat (anag.; ref. rationing).

G. H. Clarke (S. Croydon): Recipe for a seasonable favourite—mince ham, add spice and stir (anag.).

J. H. Dingwall (N12): Seasonable mixture: mince ham with spice and stir (anag.).

L. E. Eyres (Bath): Various types of feast provide rich fare and equally rich pastimes (i.e. Christmas pie (= mixed types of); anag.).

Miss J. Fraser (EC4): Stir ham, well minced, in mixed spice, for a seasonable confection (anag.).

C. E. Gates (Kettering): Seasonable fare calculated to give a full Mr. Chips indigestion (anag. of a Mister Chips).

P. Irving (Edinburgh): Rich pastimes, perhaps, though in past times much richer than to-day (anag.; ref. food rationing).

Mrs D. M. Kissen (Lanark): The Murdered M.P.s, A. Christie—if you like to get your teeth into a good mystery, try this! (anag.; Agatha C.).

D. Marsh-Smith (Rainhill): Traditionally a puff pastry: take minced ham. add spice and stir (anag.).

H. J. Phillips (NW2): The crisis may involve a carving up of the map; a fine mix-up at this season! (anag. of the crisis map).

R. Postill (Jersey): Cornered—by relative of miners’ leader? Disorganised pits scare him (anag.; ref. Arthur Horner, first Gen. Sec. of NUM, 1946, and “Little Jack H. sat in a corner”).

W. O. Robertson (Marlow): Not intended as a juvenile publication, but well thumbed by one small boy (title of periodical; ref. “Little Jack Horner… put in his thumb…”).

T. E. Sanders (Walsall): Practises ringing changes with him in timely preparation for the festival (anag. of practises him).

E. C. Semmons (WC2): Young Miners’ Leader got £100,000 out of it: a profitable corner indeed, and he’s smug about it! (cryptic def.; ref. Arthur Horner, first Gen. Sec. of NUM, 1946, and “Little Jack H. sat in a corner… pulled out a plum… what a good boy am I”; plum = £100,000).

Miss A. C. Tatham (W14): Add spice to ham and stir, twice, for this seasonable dish (anag.; stir as both anag. material and indicator).

H.C. (Turkey carpet)

Mrs M. Kidner (Seaford): Its Eastern creator made a pile, but he blued a good part of it. The result of the scarcity of it is much felt (cryptic def.; blued = dyed, squandered; i.e. without carpet, felt underlay is seen).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): “Pretty flattening to the poor,” observed Dr. Spooner, who kept a first as second, preferring to see the WAACs eat with a bottle or two about (i.e. ‘patterning to the floor’; ‘back-seat with a wattle’, i.e. kept a turkey as car pet; turkeys have wattles).

D. W. Reed (Chesterfield): A source of delight, a favourite car, softly furnished, provides a basic luxury including a little petrol (Turkey car pet (= favourite); ends with pet(rol); Turkish delight).

A. H. Taylor (Peterborough): Having an after Christmas dinner nap? (cryptic def.; nap2).

 

Comments—Not a very large entry, though allowance was made for postal difficulties and Monday morning’s arrivals were accepted. 155 correct—and nearly as many incorrect, thanks to PAD-NAG—why must solvers write BAD NAG and accuse us of omitting the indication “2 words”?—and REPP—there is nothing in the clue to justify the plural REPS, and “pp.” is the normal abbreviation. Christmas pie was the more popular subject for clues and won most of the H.C.s. but the Turkey carpeters carried off two of the three prizes. Some runners-up:—F. A. Clark, J. Duffill, S. B. Green, D. Hawson, S. Holgate, F. P. Hussey, J. P. Lloyd, A. McIntyre, D. P. M. Michael, W. A. Nicholls, J. D. P. O’Leary, Rev E. B. Peel, E. J. F. Primrose, C. M. Tatham, Capt C. Tyers, Capt R. F. Tyers.
 
Ximenes offers New Year’s greetings, hopes solvers have made as many good “resolutions” as he has, and thanks the many senders of Christmas cards and good wishes.
 

 
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