Solution to 8D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
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| Rangoli by Gowri |
ACROSS
1 Immoral scoundrel facing divorce, finally overwhelmed by depression (8) DECADENT {DE{CAD}{d...cE}NT}
5 Tot is possibly having bit of inner ear infection (6) OTITIS {TOT+IS}* over {In..r}
10 Latest stuff in alcoholic drinks (5) FINAL [T]
11 Fairly good programme about role models (9) TOLERABLE {T{ROLE*}ABLE}
12 It’s analysed in a trial to tackle Covid essentially (9) ANTIVIRAL {IN+A+TRIAL+coVid}* &lit
13 Clay sculpture stolen by man brought back (5) EARTH {E{ART}H<=}
14 Rotten president primarily undone by scandal on reflection (6) PUTRID {P}{Un...e}{DIRT<=}
15 Fellow crushing citizenry ultimately by force around Asian country (7) MYANMAR {M{c...rY}AN}{MAR<=}
20 Smooth iron bar (6) FELINE {FE}{LINE}
22 Rearrange equipment around base with Jack (5) REJIG {R{E}{J}IG}
24 Cavorted in a suite, cuddling maiden finally to get intimate (9) INSINUATE {IN+A+SUITE}* over {m...eN}
25 Deputy decided to tackle leader of bandits pulling out rifle and gun (9) SURROGATE {SUR{ROb}{GAT}E}
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28 Becomes more inclined to compose, enthralled by small pegs (8) STEEPENS {S}{TEE{PEN}S}
DOWN
1 Expert checking each puzzle (6) DEFEAT {DEF{EA}T}
2 Found criminal with cocaine in bar (9) CONSTRUCT {CON}{STRU{C}T}
3 What couriers do to perform up to expectations (7,3,5) DELIVER THE GOODS [DD]
4 Having a certain temper, associate turned angry (7) NATURED {A+TURNED}*
6 Ignored entirely nude drunk outside lousy retreat (6,1,5,3) TURNED A BLIND EYE {ENTIRELY+NUDE}* over {BAD<=}
7 Underground stem of beet, regularly found in ascending track (5) TUBER {TU{BeEt}R<=}
8 Escort, funky and hot in backless outfit, coming up (8) S?E?H?R? (Addendum -SHEPHERD {HEP}{H} in {DRESs<=} - See comments)
16 Mistreat new employee in Asian capital (9) MANHANDLE {MA{N}{HAND}LE}
17 Informs when programme begins (8) APPRISES {APP}{RISES}
19 Vertebral pains, possibly onset of lumbago (6) SPINAL {PAINS*}{Lu...o}
20 Chance to have SA’s captain stumped most quickly (7) FASTEST {FA{Sa}TE}{ST}
21 Guide briskly picks up litter (6) DEBRIS [T]
23 American comedian starting to joke, leaving many cheerful (5) JERRY {Joke}{mERRY} I loved his movies
Reference List
President = P, Prince = P, Base = E, Jack = J, Gun = GAT, Wicket = W, Small = S, Each = EA, Cocaine = C, Associate = A, Hot = H, Many = L, New = N, Stumped = ST, Many = M
THE GREEK ROMANCE!!!
ReplyDeleteAs already mentioned in one of my earlier pieces, History was anathema to me, in school & I have always SIDE STEPPED historical novels. So I was really AMAZED by this detailed dream, I had yesterday.
A luncheon date had been fixed with 2 of our clients, nothing short of absolute DULLARDS. But surprisingly, their boss also joined us. An EPICURE, to the core, he took us to the finest restaurant in town. The prelunch APERITIF of Campari, accompanied by NOISETTES, really dulled my senses. INURED by their ROUTINE INANE shop talk, I over ate & was soon on PINS & NEEDLES, as I could hardly keep my eyes open.
As soon as we were back in office, I excused myself & went to the staff lounge, for 2 minutes of freshening up. Before I knew it, I was napping, on the sofa there & had this vivid dream. Believe me, how much ever I REFRESH THE PAGE, it STILL beats me, why my dream chose this particular TOPIC!!
Athena was a priestess of Apollo, the God of healing. It was ALLUDED that she was forbidden to have affairs with men. There was a curse that, if a man ever set eyes on her, with a view to marrying her, he would lose his sight & live a blind man's life. She lived in a tower built in the Eighteen NINETIES, resembling a modern day SATELLITE tower. Needless to say she was a real show STOPPER, with her sizzling looks & ARTISTIC talents.
She lived on the Greek side of the narrow Hellespont straits. Damocles was a young man from Abydos, living on the other side of the Hellespont. A handsome man, he suffered from LEUCOMA in both his eyes. To compensate for his partial vision, he always carried a TRUNCHEON around. This helped him to navigate the rough grounds of the straits, as well as scare away the unwanted elements from troubling him.
Since Romance was the flavour of the SEASON, as soon as Athena saw Damocles, forgetting her curse, she fell in love with him. Wearing her HEART on her sleeve, she approached him with a declaration of her love. The near blind Damocles, could hardly make out her silhouette. After hearing her long wound ORATION, he DECIPHERED that, being a priestess of Apollo, she might help cure his blindness.
So, he agreed to accompany her to her tower & ask her mother for her hand in marriage. But first she would have to cure him of his blindness. She took him to the temple of Apollo, on top of a hill. Acting as his PILOT, she held his hand & guided him along. There, after offering several rounds of prayers, she closed her eyes & meditated.
Voila!!!! She had a vision & realised his blindness was caused by the ACIDOSIS in his blood & can be cured with a medication prepared from the flowers of the CHICA plant.
Damocles got his eye sight back. Took one look at the stunning beauty & promptly lost his sight again, due to the curse. PEAKIER, though he was, after this experience, Athena was determined to marry him. After all, he had always been a blind man. Now he will be a blind man with an all seeing wife!
No.... Athena was no Gandhari. In fact in their post wedding procession, it was she who navigated the decorated SLEIGH, carrying the bride & the groom from the temple down, accompanied by the musical band & procession of her family & friends.
Just as I was admiring the beauty of the scene, so colourful & festive, I heard a loud noise. Standing before me was my Boss beside himself with utter shock & spluttering anger. Is this the EXAMPLE, I was setting my team, as a Senior Manager - making my clients wait in the Conference Room while I nap in the lounge??
Blah Blah!!! He went on & on. But for him, I might have written an entire Greek novel, inspired by my dream. Now I had to make do with just this Tale piece, before getting back to my work!!
What an imaginative tale piece!
DeleteTale piece with a vision!
DeletePaddy - u can also get a similar vision. All u need to do is to have an Aperitif for lunch & nap on ur office sofa. 😊
DeleteNo office - no aperitif at home- no vision!
DeleteWow what an imagination! Kudos Gowri!
DeleteFirst I thought it was Dr RKE's tale began like his style. Then turned Gowri style excellent one. You should pen novels
Delete23D- I am with Col.cheering for Jerry Lewis. The Nutty Professor with shoes fitted with flubber making them literally fly on the basketball court stands out among many that I enjoyed during my college days and some time later also.
ReplyDeleteAbsent minded Professor was the title of the movie.
Delete8 d Escort = shepherd
ReplyDeleteDress back less or dres turned
Funky = hep
H(ot)
Dream some more till he gets his eyes back!
ReplyDelete8D SHEPHERD - escort
ReplyDeleteBackless outfit = dress -s
coming up <=dres
funky = hep
hot - h
{s(hep+h)erd}
15AC Needs reversal indicator for MAR
ReplyDeleteAround
DeleteCorrected
DeleteDoc.starts off with a smooth flowing one- except the debris & Steepens. Happy to get the long ones with a smile on my face- happy both for getting them and for the humour in the clues. Thank you Doc.
ReplyDelete+1 sir, esp to the humour- seems in short supply these days :-)
DeleteThanks Paddy and CPC! The job of a setter is (to borrow a pithy phrase by PGW) to interest, elevate and amuse 😀
DeleteDoc returns in two weeks!
ReplyDeleteI think it is a no longer a set pattern.
DeleteI am surprised as well :)
Delete8D SHEPHERD - escort
ReplyDeleteBackless outfit = dress -s
Coming up <=dres
Funky = hep
Hot = h
{s(hep+h)erd}
Doc returning in 2 weeks was unexpected. Wonder what he would say if he read my piece where Leucoma is caused by acidodis & cured by chica flowers. Might want to surrender his degree or atleast snatch my pen aka keyboard permanently. 😊
ReplyDelete
DeleteIn fiction and esp in dreams, one is expected to let the imagination run wild! Very nice tale piece Gowri. Thanks.
Doc- comments please!!!
ReplyDeleteSHEPHERD=Escort,
ReplyDeletefunky (HEP) and hot(H)
in
backless outfit (DRESS -S ),
coming up (SERD )
S(HEP)(H)ERD
8 D
ReplyDeleteESCORT = SHEPHERD
Funky = HEP
Hot == H
Outfit = DRESS, backless (DRES)
Coming up = S.... ERD
Now insert HEP + H, in S.... ERD
= SHEPHERD
JERRY the FASTEST bowler had an issue SPINAL,
ReplyDeleteAnd his team had to win the match FINAL,
He PITCHES short,
A TOLERABLE shot,
Batsman caught and victory unintentional!
CGB - u r really tempting (inspiring) me to try out verse next. 😊
DeleteCG sir...nicely phrased this cricket theme in just 4 lines
DeleteBig fan of your puzzles Dr.! Especially the surfaces and long ones. So happy to see you back quicker than usual :-) if anything reversals abound but today only 6 partial reversals - coincidentally all in order 13,14, 15 Across and 6, 7 and 8 Down clues. And they fit in so well. Great fun. Thanks Drji.
ReplyDelete+1
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot CPC. Very gratified to hear this 😀
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Sathiya. Yes, it is essential that the annotation leads naturally to the solution.
ReplyDelete8D SHEPHERD = Escort,
ReplyDeleteS(HEP)(H)ERD <-
(DRESS - S <- )contains HEP and H
8D
ReplyDeleteESCORT = SHEPHERD
Funky = HEP
Hot = H
Backless outfit = DRES(S)
Coming up S.... ERD
Now insert HEP+H, ie SHEPHERD
Almost lunchtime and the laddu at 8D remains uneaten?
ReplyDeleteS(HEP)(H)ERD<- corrected annotation
ReplyDeleteSHEPHERD - Escort
ReplyDeleteH -hot
HEP - funky
DRES(S) - backless outfit
Coming up - reversal indicator
Col - i posted so many times. 8dn - but not able to c
ReplyDeleteBut in many cases HEP is spelt as HIP. In case anyone has noticed.
ReplyDeleteAgain not seeing. Give up. ☹️
ReplyDeleteMaybe some CHICO will do the trick
DeleteI also posted twice
ReplyDeleteI have got email on intimations about the submissions for 8D, surprisingly they ard not showing up on the blog
ReplyDeleteI think most have now been repeated. Refresh or close and open,then you see it.
ReplyDeleteI tried all that. It still did t show. Some glitch.
DeleteNo Paddy, these ddint show up even for us(i also haven't seen them till 1pm.
DeleteSo it's either a back-end server update issue.
Mostly third party template issue.
A very nice grid by Dr.X today.
ReplyDeleteGowri - Very vice tale piece. Enjoy yours as well as Dr. RKE's.
Your Rangolis are excellent. Have become a huge fan of your art. Unbelievable precision and perfection! Today's Krishna is very unique. Thank you for the visual treat.
Thanks Veena 🙏
Delete13A 26A and 2D my favourites!
ReplyDeleteThanks 👍
DeleteJust looked up your favourites. Surface stories make them stand apart. IMO,we can just read the clues and enjoy even without solving.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you, Dr. X. I enjoyed today's puzzle.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know that. Thanks Amita😀
DeleteWas quite easy. Very unsatyen like!
ReplyDeleteAh well! As long as it was entertaining I hope VRS.
DeleteThank you Dr for quiet easy Grid. can able to solve many. Esp. enjoyed with OTITIS , FINAL, EIDER & APPRISES. very interestedly solved the substitutes . anticipating many more like this. as a Dr. got to know about ear infection in 5A.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Rao!
DeleteGreek novel always interesting. nicely inserted Gandhari. Dr Puzzles and your tale perfectly made the story theme. greek romance.
ReplyDelete@ Gowri......Hearty congratulations for your your Rangoli. No words. Hats off to your skills.
Lovely puzzle and a good challenge on "crossword puzzle day". Quickly filled in first 15 clues then got stuck and took long to figure out the intricate word play. Every clue tells a story! Nice. Ski race couldn't figure out, as usual this blog is always the savior!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Ramesh!
Delete