Solution to 15D 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
11 Animal waste observed to move westward between harbours (7) HOGWASH {SAW}{GO}<= in {H}{H}
12 Hide as wife visits short function with family (7) COWSKIN {CO{W}S}{KIN}
13 Break in rush at terminal (7) SHATTER [T]
14 Superfast Buick with loud rear engine repaired to transport Queen (6-5) DOUBLE-QUICK {BUICK+LOUD+e...nE}* over {Q}
19 Pieces of music about soft love — they are usually of poor quality (3-4) RIP-OFFS {RI{P}{0}FFS}
21 Delete old joke generalizing ethnicities, basically (7) EXPUNGE {EX}{PUN}{Ge...g}{Et...s}
25 Pharmacist, removes covers, takes out two articles, mixes with sulphur to make ointments (7) CHRISMS {pHaRMaCISt}*{S}
26 Jack-of-all-trades husband burns USB with many networks (8) HANDYMAN {HusbAND}{MANY*}
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| By Bhargav |
DOWN
1 Empty ring swapped for article that’s sacred (8) HALLOWED H(-o+a)ALLOWED
2 European state’s capital has oval-shaped kitchen (6) SLOVAK {St..e}{OVAL*}{K} K for Kitchen?
4 Impress female coming out of pick-up (4) ETCH fETCH
6 Coup at places near Switzerland (6) PUTSCH {PUTS}{CH}
8 Air Force soldier captured Chinese national (7) AFGHANI {AF}{G{HAN}I}
9 Wife and husband with a third horny female... that could get salty! (5) WHARF {W}{H}{A}{hoRny}{F}
13 Ordering Southern-style wings and dousing in water to remove heat at the top (10) SEQUENCING {So...lE}{QUENChING}
15 Prideful corner-back refused to dribble to the other end of pitch (7) U?F?E?D (Addendum - UPFIELD PrIDEFUL* - See omments)
16 Large family company in America infiltrated by unknown terrorist outfit from the South (4-4) KING-SIZE {KIN}{G{Z}{IS}<=E}
17 Boy has to study to make money (5) BREAD {B}{READ}
18 A type of lower shirt (6) JERSEY [DD]
20 Service run by government peons, it fails regularly (6) POSTAL {PeOnS+iT+fAiLs}
22 City in Odisha — extremely filthy or clean? (6) PURIFY {PURI}{Fi..hY}
24 Well... time wasted in puzzle (4) SUMP StUMP
Reference List
Gravity = G, Harbour = H, Wife = W, Short function = COS, Queen = Q, Soft = P, Old = EX, Nonsense = BS(Bullshit), Unknowns = Y,Z, Female = F, American = A, Husband = H, Switzerland = CH, Boy = B, Time = T
MOTHER'S DAY!
ReplyDeleteJohn BEATNIK lived with his wife & 2 sons in Queensland, Australia. A full time Real ESTATE AGENT, his job took a nose dive, when the SAVANNAS near their town had one of the largest wild fires earlier this year. The environmental impact was so bad, that virtually half the town's population had moved elsewhere.
Doing odd jobs for survival, John often felt like one of the NAVVIES. His life had not always been so difficult. Though his wealth had never been of EPIC proportions, he had managed to earn sufficiently to buy a semi DETACHED Condo in a middle class neighbourhood. Both his sons had been attending private schools & his wife had regular house help. In COMPARISON, his life seemed really dismal now.
John's wife Martha worked from morning to night cooking, washing & cleaning. She had a permanent droop to her shoulders. How John wished he could bring to life, the LEPRECHAUNS he saw in his dreams to help her with her housework. The meagre jewellery she owned had been sold off long back. Even the lone ORCHID, that she always wore in her hair, making her EVOLVE into a magical beauty, was not affordable now.
His eldest son Bob was all of ELEVEN PLUS years & already worked part time in their town zoo. Managing the family of ONAGERS there, John often worried that Bob was growing up too fast. Fortunately Rick, the younger one was still a baby.
Rick's dream in life was to visit all the grasslands in the world, before he turned 15. He actually had an elaborate scrap book with separate sections for STEPPES, PRAIRIES, LLANOS, PAMPAS & of course their own SAVANNAS.
Their local librarian had somehow been really fascinated with Rick's scrap book & asked him repeatedly to keep it in the Library where other children could also read it. But Rick refused to part with his treasure.
As he woke up today, John realised MOTHER'S DAY was next Sunday. PSST!!! They couldn't afford any gifts for Martha, he thought sadly. But both Bob & Rick had other ideas.
Bob had been saving up regularly from his job at the zoo & had all of 30 dollars, which he hid carefully in a small tin in the APSE over the fireplace in their parlour.
On Monday, taking Rick along with him, Bob visited their local mall, to look for a gift for their mother. Rick was really attracted by all the jewellery displayed in the windows. He tried to imagine his mother wearing all these fancy ear rings & flamboyant bracelets. But Bob made a beeline for the Home Appliances section. There, after carefully looking at the prices, he picked a basic Vaccum Cleaner! Rick was dismayed! Such an unattractive gift!!! When he tried to voice his opinion, Bob explained - Mom works so hard from morning to night dusting, sweeping & mopping - especially after the fires, which have polluted the air so much. There is soot, dust & fine ash everywhere. This vacuum cleaner will really help to ease up her job!
However the cleaner cost 33 dollars & Bob had only 30. They decided to return the next day. On Tuesday, Rick went to the local library with his scrap book. After LAPPING UP, all the praise of the Librarian, he timidly told him, he wanted to sell the book. To the Library. Imagine his surprise, when the Librarian whipped out his wallet & paid him 5 dollars for the book.
ReplyDeleteThat evening Rick reached the mall first. He could not resist the jewellery section & hesitantly asked the sales girl - what he could get for 2 dollars. He was shocked to find that the cheapest brooch in the store made of FOOLS GOLD costed no less than 5 dollars. The shining brooch looked so attractive, that he forgot all about Bob. Paying for the brooch, with his precious money, he got it packed & hid it in his backpack.
Thank God, Bob was late & had taken an advance of 5 dollars on his next week wages. They quickly bought the cleaner, got it gift wrapped & rushed home. Once there, Bob carefully hid it in their garden shed.
On Friday, when Martha was out grocery shopping leaving John & the kids alone, Bob told his Dad about the gift. John was really happy & proud of his son & gave him a big hug! Not wanting to be left out. Rick blurted - I too have bought a gift for Mom. Something she will love much more, than this drab cleaner! 'Oh My! Who did this GOOD TURN to you?', asked John. He was really surprised & overwhelmed to learn about the scrapbook. With tears in his eyes, he kissed his son. But Rick could not show them his gift, as it was already wrapped in beautiful silver foil with a red bow. He declared confidently - Mom will love this!
Mother's day dawned on the 2nd Sunday of May & typically the children slept in. When they entered the parlour, their mother was cleaning. Bob rushed out & got his gift. Hugging her, he shouted - Happy MOTHER'S DAY!!! & pushed his gift into her hand.
Opening the clumsy packing, his mother was dismayed at the gift. She could not hide her disappointment & gave a weak smile! God only knows what she had expected, but Bob was crestfallen & close to tears. John stepped in & said 'Oh My! What a thoughtful gift! It will really ease your burden of house work!' But Martha was distracted & said a half hearted Thank you.
Rick, watching the whole scene, pushed his gift back into his pajama pocket. Moving forward, he hugged her & kissing both her cheeks said - This is my gift Mama!!! Bob didn't understand, but John did.
He knew, sometimes women can be foolish, valuing shiny baubles more than things of real value, at the spur of the moment. He also knew, Martha would genuinely appreciate Bob's gift soon & then every day, for a long time!
More than that, he realised he had 2 beautiful sons, who would grow up to be gentle, thoughtful men, who not only knew how to love, but also respect the feelings of those they loved.
- Adapted from 'HALF A GIFT' by Robert Zacks.
Nice adaptation. I particularly liked the idea of sweeping in all grasslands in one scrap book! Worth much more than $5!!
Delete15d. UPFIELD..prideful * minus (corne)R
ReplyDelete2d IMU, K comes from Kapital. Kitchen is to indicate the name in local language (in English it's Slovakia).
ReplyDeleteKitchen
(of a language) in an uneducated or domestic form
Where did you get Kapital from? It's nowhere in the clue
DeleteK is for kitchen in building parlance (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/K).
DeleteNice grid Bruno! Liked SUMP, ETCH, PUTSCH, PURIFY, BREAD and many others. Have the same doubt about K = kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThank you Champ...
Delete:-)
DeleteCompliment from higher echelons!
Delete2d K as in 3BHK ?
ReplyDeleteYes. In Builder parlance. Globally accepted.
Delete2d K as in 3BHK ?
ReplyDeleteNice well equipped Handyman,CGB.
ReplyDelete