While Neyartha may have some 7a / 26a, others might have got stuck in the quagm17 of these wet environs
Across
7 Drool on Spanish article returned to the island by Virginia with a note (8) SALIVATE (LA in IS. VA TE)
9 Grant immunity to the old partner and alien abducting a politician (6) EXEMPT (EX, ET abducting MP)
10 iPad seller's comical footwear (10) ESPADRILLE (IPAD SELLER)*
11 Vehicle heard in the fen woodland (4) CARR (~CAR)
12 Cross the bridge (4) SPAN (2)
13 The gentry and the celebrity dismissed the volunteers (8) NOBILITY (NOTABILITY - TA)
16 Retreating policeman meets sailor in a poorly drained high ground (7) POCOSIN (COP< OS IN)
New word for me
18 Prod the brain of an intellectual (7) EGGHEAD (EGG HEAD)
20 Forgive and bring back model dismissed by the Portuguese leader (8) REPRIEVE (RETRIEVE - T + P)
21 Bet on a certainty? (4) SURE (CD)
23 Small Turkish coin hidden in the apparatus (4) PARA (T)
Did Begum Para have Turkish roots? I don't know! Read this article on her. It describes, among other things, her 6D experiences in Pakistan!
24 Baggage car (7,3) LUGGAGE VAN (E)
25 Sent back article about a kitchen appliance with a prayer (6) NOVENA (AN< about OVEN)
26 Discarded new pineapple preparation with the pastry (5,3) APPLE PIE (PINEAPPLE - N)*
Down
1 Law officer letting criminal go to the fenland (5) MARSH (MARSHAL - AL) Nice story here
2 Import appraised terribly was stolen (15) MISAPPROPRIATED (IMPORT APPRAISED)*
3 Strangely wanted to surround lake with water-saturated soil (7) WETLAND (WANTED* around L)
4 Surrender at the beginning, reportedly (4) CEDE (~SEED)
5 It might help one get to the point (6-9) PENCIL SHARPENER (CD)
Mine usually broke the graphite. It usually turned out to be a pointless exercise
6 Religious Greek character participating in crazy rituals (9) SPIRITUAL (PI in RITUALS*)
8 Part of a theatre stage in the airplane loading bay (5) APRON (2)
14 Standard that is completely ordinary? (3) BOG (CD)
15 Style of an informant or a go-between (9) MODERATOR (MODE RAT OR)
17 Sign up after commencement in anger (3) IRE (hIRE)
19 Second letter to the German government misplaced by a Swedish actress (7) BERGMAN (B GERMAN with G misplaced)
21 Flood making hands from the south go around Malta (5) SWAMP (PAWS< around M)
22 One coming in for the Oriental forger is a mendicant ascetic (5) FAKIR (FAKER - E + 1)
24 Idle buffalo affected to some extent (4) LOAF (T)
Across
7 Drool on Spanish article returned to the island by Virginia with a note (8) SALIVATE (LA in IS. VA TE)
Cartoon by Rishi
9 Grant immunity to the old partner and alien abducting a politician (6) EXEMPT (EX, ET abducting MP)
10 iPad seller's comical footwear (10) ESPADRILLE (IPAD SELLER)*
11 Vehicle heard in the fen woodland (4) CARR (~CAR)
12 Cross the bridge (4) SPAN (2)
13 The gentry and the celebrity dismissed the volunteers (8) NOBILITY (NOTABILITY - TA)
16 Retreating policeman meets sailor in a poorly drained high ground (7) POCOSIN (COP< OS IN)
New word for me
18 Prod the brain of an intellectual (7) EGGHEAD (EGG HEAD)
20 Forgive and bring back model dismissed by the Portuguese leader (8) REPRIEVE (RETRIEVE - T + P)
21 Bet on a certainty? (4) SURE (CD)
23 Small Turkish coin hidden in the apparatus (4) PARA (T)
Did Begum Para have Turkish roots? I don't know! Read this article on her. It describes, among other things, her 6D experiences in Pakistan!
24 Baggage car (7,3) LUGGAGE VAN (E)
25 Sent back article about a kitchen appliance with a prayer (6) NOVENA (AN< about OVEN)
26 Discarded new pineapple preparation with the pastry (5,3) APPLE PIE (PINEAPPLE - N)*
Down
1 Law officer letting criminal go to the fenland (5) MARSH (MARSHAL - AL) Nice story here
2 Import appraised terribly was stolen (15) MISAPPROPRIATED (IMPORT APPRAISED)*
3 Strangely wanted to surround lake with water-saturated soil (7) WETLAND (WANTED* around L)
4 Surrender at the beginning, reportedly (4) CEDE (~SEED)
5 It might help one get to the point (6-9) PENCIL SHARPENER (CD)
Mine usually broke the graphite. It usually turned out to be a pointless exercise
Cartoon by Rishi
6 Religious Greek character participating in crazy rituals (9) SPIRITUAL (PI in RITUALS*)
8 Part of a theatre stage in the airplane loading bay (5) APRON (2)
14 Standard that is completely ordinary? (3) BOG (CD)
15 Style of an informant or a go-between (9) MODERATOR (MODE RAT OR)
17 Sign up after commencement in anger (3) IRE (
19 Second letter to the German government misplaced by a Swedish actress (7) BERGMAN (B GERMAN with G misplaced)
21 Flood making hands from the south go around Malta (5) SWAMP (PAWS< around M)
22 One coming in for the Oriental forger is a mendicant ascetic (5) FAKIR (FAKER - E + 1)
24 Idle buffalo affected to some extent (4) LOAF (T)
Report on the inaugural function for launch of IXL-2014 is available in the THCC Families blog at the following link IXL-2014 LAUNCH
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Colonel, for the honour! Happy to see NJ!
DeleteFrom the first one of my puzzles until recently I was binding the newspaper clippings of every bunch of 48 crosswords (every eight cycles of six puzzles a month). Just a hobby! Not that I want to boast to my grandchildren of some tangible work (they already have something to boast, so I have to just lsiten!).
ReplyDeleteNow I have stopped doing so!
This is because the position where the crossword is placed leaves little space at left for the binding stiches.
Also, if the crossword is placed in an odd space as it is done today, cutting it out is not a happy experience.
That Limca book record holder of the largest collection of solved, unsolved and yet-to-be solved crosswords from around the world must be a man of infinite patience!
Why don't you just keep the whole page on which the CW is, it would take up more space though
DeleteCV, I thought Jimmy was her son or husband till I read the fine print
ReplyDeleteTaking both toons together, I am reminded of the times whem some kids salivate over the non operating end of pencils
ReplyDeleteK- I am happy that your colour blindness does not bar you from reading the real fine print which I had missed- meaning, missing the joke! Thank you. Nice one CV.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was progressing well considering it is a Neyartha CW until he led me to a quagmire! (Strangely enjoyable experience) Still happy that I was not totally drowned in the quicksand!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link Col. Wish you all the very best for this year's version. Met NJ?! You are one of her best solvers and she must have been happy about it.
ReplyDeleteMe her best solver!! You must be joking
Delete@Colonel: It must have been an unusual experience, first face-to-face encounter of Artist and Fiercest Critic :-)
DeleteThanks for sharing the event info and pics.
Shuchi has probably put it in the right perspective. But still I would say you had the patience to research and solve most of her offerings with very few exceptions, where many of us did not have a clue as to what was happening.
DeleteYes, there was a moment of awkward silence when she introduced herself. Later when I introduced Shachi to her, she first thought it was you as your names are almost similar. It later turned out that NJ has turned to education after her BEd and visits/works at the school where Shachi's children are studying. Most definitely a small world!
DeleteKishore, NJ enquired about you and wanted to know if you had joined the band of THC setters?
Wonder if she is teaching them Greek numerals.:-))
DeleteShe can think of more complicated things!
DeleteSent a message to NJ on FB
DeleteManaged to avoid the quagmire despite entering its edges a couple of times. Thank you for a fun crossword, Neyartha. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why you chose to go with Swedish "actress" rather than "director" as the definition for 19. The actress, being more famous for her Hollywood roles, surely doesn't need the qualifier! Smooth surface there (as in almost all the clues).
Thanks to Kishore and CV for blog and cartoons.
Am I getting to know Neyartha's style, or was it an easier CW today?
ReplyDeleteDidn't get 16A, it was a new word for me.
Good morning all.
Nice one from Neyartha. A bit on the easier side, for a change! Took Net help for 10A 'ESPADRILLE' and failed to get16A. On the whole enjoyed the puzzle. Thank you Neyartha.
ReplyDeleteI was reminded of John Dickinson CARR, the American author of detective fiction. Had some paperbacks of his.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dickson Carr had created some well known detectives, Dr. Fell and Sir Henry Merrivale, besides Henri Bencolin and Col March. His contemporary from UK, John Creasy, is remembered for The Toff, Commander George Gideon, Inspector West, The Baron, Dr Cellini and Dr Palfrey.
DeleteAn article in THE OPEN MGAZINE on crossword solvers THE HIGH OF HIDDEN WORDS
ReplyDeleteNicely written
DeleteThanks, Colonel, for sharing the article. It is elaborate, enlightening, informative and interesting!
ReplyDeleteHello! Feeling extremely honoured to have met you, Colonel.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it was quite an experience witnessing the "encounter", @Shuchi!
She happens to be a special educator at my kids' school... and I'm already hearing a lot of stories from some unfortunate parents.
I'm starting to be more regular at this crossword now, so hopefully will interact more.
Shachii
Nice meeting you as well Shachii, I'm glad you were there else I would have been like a fish out of water in that gathering and my apologies for spelling your name incorrectly
Delete