Monday 9 May 2016

No 11695, Monday 09 May 2016, xChequer


Today's blog looks like 8A with some holes.

ACROSS
7   Introverted, embarrassed couples — married, working and progressive (6) MODERN {M{O{DER<=}N}
8   King on firm ground, being one used to strain (8) COLANDER {CO}{LAND}{ER}
9   Small tunnel, originally ventilation passage, with room for steps (8) STAIRWAY {S}{Tu...l}{AIRWAY}
10 Submits returns (6) YIELDS [DD]
11 Flaking arch about to break (5) (Addendum - SCALY - {S{CA}LY} - See comments)
12 Wing lost in roll, plane circling in parade (6) FLAUNT Anno pending (Addendum - {FLA{bUN}T - See comments)
14 Problem those nearby crisply solved — rest to gain inspiration? (5,4,6) CATCH ONE"S BREATH  {CATCH} {THOSE+NEARBy}*
17 Stain on currency down under in sack (6) MARAUD {MAR}{AU}{D}
18 Home and a promise (5) ABODE {A}{BODE}
22 Brash youngsters with Aids (6) CHILLS {CH{ILL}S} (Addendum - WHELPS {W}{HELPS} - See comments)
23 Empty grid goes interactive (8) DISGORGE*
24 Active one taking stock of bully (8) DOMINEER {DO{MINE}ER}
25 Orange wild ass (6) ONAGER*

DOWN
1   Professional in undertaking cutting back additional money to save the Company (9) (Addendum - MORTICIAN {MORe{TI{CIA}N} - See comments)
2   Friendly and popular, say, looking up almost everyone (6) GENIAL {GE}{NI}<={ALl}
3   Understands bouquet should be delivered (5) KNOWS (~ nose)
4   Fake innocence in probe, gaining another day (4,4) PLAY DUMB {PL{AY D}*UMB}
5   Jolt from world body wanting a place in Washington (8) UNSETTLE {UN}{SEaTTLE}
6   Grassland against delta besides predominantly alluvial fans (5) VELDT {V}{DELTa}*
8   Kick up a fuss about line bowled to entice, seeing runs scored with dispatch (3,4,6) CRY BLUE MURDER {C}{RY} {B}{LUrE} {MURDER}
13 Bias in gender, the maximum (3,6)  NTH DEGREE*
15 Invent holder for lamp, fancy object (8) COMPLAIN {CO{LAMP}*IN}
16 Cruel monsters seem gross, millions left shocked (8) OGRESSES {SEEm+GROSS}*
19 Grog briefly transported during Prohibition in boot (6) BROGAN {B{GROg}*AN}
20 Beat sleuth, robbing banks (5) THROB [T]
21 Bar in East End (5) ESTOP {E}{STOP}

GRID

89 comments:

  1. I felt today's was a bit easier compared to Saturday. The same challenging and satisfying puzzle nevertheless one expects from xChequer

    11 Flaking arch about to break (5) S[CA]LY
    12 Wing lost in roll, plane circling in parade (6) FLA[(b-)UN]T
    22 Brash youngsters with Aids (6) W + HELPS

    1 Professional in undertaking cutting back additional money to save the Company (9) MOR(-e) + TI[CIA]N

    ReplyDelete
  2. 12 Wing lost in roll, plane circling in parade (6) FLAUNT Anno pending

    FLA{{(-b)UN}T

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy Anniversary and Many Happy Returns to Gita and Deepak

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  4. Many Happy Returns of the Day to Mrs & Col Deepak on the Anniversary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rajan you have kept your identity and location a very closely guarded secret despite all of us asking you!!

      Delete
    2. +1 to DG's observation

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  5. Missed out on Mortician, scaly & modern...woke up early to tackle the toughie but found it a lot easier than saturday's offering...

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  6. Happy anniversary..Mr & Mrs. Col Deepak...

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  7. Happy Anniversary Col & Gita!

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  8. Happy Anniversary to Gita and Kishore it's your anniversary as well

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  9. Ah, what a great coincidence!
    Happy anniversary to both of you!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, KKR. Please also note that the wife's share the same name and spelling

      Delete
  10. Happy Anniversary Kishore & Gita!

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  11. Failed to understand Mortician with the presence of back in the clue.
    Overall, very satisfying on comparison.

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  12. Happy anniversary Mr. & Mrs.Kishore

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  13. Doubt on 7A introverted or inverted?

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  14. How's V derived in Veldt? 6D
    TIA

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  15. Happy anniversary to Gita's & their spouses. Rare coincidence indeed.
    Col.'s anniversary vacation arranged in advance?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gita's - Position of ' is correct?

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    2. Thanks, Paddy. It would be Gitas' I think, but open to correction

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    3. You are always correct, Kishore. My mistake.

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  16. Happy Anniversary to Col, Kishore and Gitas

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  17. Happy anniversary, Gita and Deepak & Kishore and Gita.

    Many happy snruter of this day and may God Bless You both pairs for very many hyears of togetherness.

    Same years too ?

    Raju & Sapna.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Raju. Not same years... Different in-laws too ...

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    2. well, could it not be possible if you had both married to two sisters with common in-laws ? That could have been a formidable in-laws to deal with? But this is far fetched. A riddle - go figure it out !

      Delete
  18. Easier than Saturday (Or may be it is always easier when you are not blogging with a 8:30 deadline hovering over your head).
    Lots of lovely clues to savour

    Happy Anniversary Col.
    Happy Anniversary Kishore

    On the day you got married was it sweltering hot? Or was it a pleasant day in May, like many days in May this year (at least in Hyd, where it has been raining on & off)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy Anniversary to
    Col & Gita Ma'am
    &
    Kishore & Gita Ma'am !

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy wedding anniversary to the Mrs & Mr. Gopinath and Mrs and Mr Kishore

    ReplyDelete
  21. Happy wedding anniversary
    to
    Col. Deepak and Smt. Gita and Sri Kishore and Smt. Gita
    from
    Rishikesh and Gita

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Easier for the three to say.."mein gita par haath rakkar kasam khata hun ki jo bhi kahoonga sach kahoonga"

      Delete
  22. Hum sub milke machayenge shor,
    Happy anniversary col. and Kishore

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Humara thanks, aur

      Aapke muh mein ghee shakker, kheer aur poppadum,
      Colonel sahib biwi ke saath dekhne gaye hein phillum

      Delete
  23. Happy Anniversary Colonel Sir & Gita!

    Happy anniversary Mr. & Mrs.Kishore!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy Anniversary
    Gita Ma'am and Col
    &
    Gita Ma'am and Kishore Sir!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kishore@ 9.29- on apostrophes
    On checking again, I find none is needed since it is just plural.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are absolutely correct! The apostrophe is required only if it is in the possessive case as in Gitas' anniversaries (or should it be anniversary, since it it is the same date ;) )

      Delete
  26. Anniversary wishes to Col. & Mrs. Gopinath and Mrs & Mr. Kishore !

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  27. Having lowered a son cooked meal into our interiors, we are off to see Jungle Book

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  28. No use ranting against contrived clues of xChequer. Not wanting to be a wet blanket when couples in this group are celebrating anniversary. I wish them many years of togetherness in good health and lots of Happiness.
    B

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  29. Happy Anniversary Col Gopinath and Gita and also to Mr Kishore and Gita

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  30. MY RIDDLE'S ANSWER: Deepak & Kishore couldn't have the same in-laws as two sisters in the same family couldn't have had the same name ? unless one is Gitanjali and another just Gita. Odds are against such common name for two sisters. or if thoe sisters are twins and named Gita(1) and Gita (2) Here again, the chances are more for Sita and Gita or Nita and Mita !

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    Replies
    1. Why not Gita Sr and Gita Jr ?

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    2. Unless their father was, say, a smoker, who used to order the daughters: Git a pipe, Git a box of tobacco and Git a light

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    3. If they go missing? or irritate him? gitalost?

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  31. Many happy returns of the Day to both the couples!

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  32. happy anniversary Colonel and Gita Maam.. wish u many more years of blissful wedded life :) oh dear ! could not hit this xword till fag end of the day and well it is something i would have struggled with even when fully there-- so missed a couple.. kicking myself for scaly.. had arch as coy and forgot sly .. coz of which mortician of course missed. 1d is a superlative clue i must say.. could not parse cry blue murder fully - tks for that. but modern and flaunt both i find em a bit over cut up and hence a lil inelegant. enjoyed 13d nth degree a lot .. overall a scorcher from xchequer :)

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