Thanks to Pradeep Raghunathan, I am posting the THC of 03 Jan 2000, he gave me the Across Lite file for the same. I think those were the days when the setters name was not given in the byline. So let us see who can identify the setter. after all the answers come in.
Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please submit all your answers in one comment.
Please submit all your answers in one comment.
(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELTED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)
5ac COGENT : convincing
ReplyDeleteCO(company) GENT; man)
11A VI(B)ES
ReplyDelete15A DUTY DD
9D A V O(CAD)O
4d: ETHICS {THE+ICS}*
ReplyDelete14A: SITAR {ART+IS}*
8D: THEORY {THE}{OR}{Y}
1dn - LIBRA (cd?)
ReplyDelete6d OVERSTEP/ go beyond the limits
ReplyDeleteOn the cricket ground it will result in a no ball for the bowler
14ac SITAR..ART IS *
ReplyDelete27AC. MESH.. TELESCOPIC
26AC. AISLE A ( isle ) an is a ..Isle is island
Replacement:
ReplyDelete13A Classical CD
1ac - CLEANER - more pure
ReplyDeleteC - century + leaner - more slim
15A: DUTY DD
ReplyDelete16D: TREASURER RATE*+SURER
27A: TRAPEZIUM A PRIZE MUT(-t)*
Repl for 15A already solved. 30A: ERASED hidden letters or T
DeleteERASE from undER A SEcond
Delete9d - AVOCADO - fruit
ReplyDeleteA + v + o (cad)o
14ac SITAR ..art is *
ReplyDelete22ac. MESH.. telescopic
26ac. AISLE .a is an ..Isle is island
5A- CO GENT- Convincing
ReplyDelete7D- Existence- Being- (Excise net)*
8D- Theory- The OR Y- Hypothesis
3dn - ASSIST - help
ReplyDeleteAss (beast) + ist (leader)
Replacement
29a MERCENARY (MER(CANE*)RY)
ReplyDelete23d TARMAC (TAR)(MAC)
18d ETHEREAL (Telescopic)
12a HOUSEWIFE: sewing kit, one who looks after home double definition
ReplyDelete26a aisle.a. isle
ReplyDelete11a vibes vi(b)es
13 a classical cd
Finished under 25 min. Given the timeframe i can guess there is only one.
ReplyDeleteOh, I did this during lockdown!
Delete7d EXISTENCE (excise net)*
ReplyDeletecompensating for26a
ReplyDelete31 a circ(l)e.
Finished in 10 mins. Not Incognito. Is it Gridman?
ReplyDeleteWOW! that is really very good
DeleteYet to be solved
ReplyDeleteAcross : 17, 21, 32
Down : 10, 24, 25, 28
Replacement for sitar
ReplyDelete28d. . IMAGE. REVERSE T
24d LA(W)YER
ReplyDelete25d BERE(F)T
17a codeine= drug; CODE IN E
ReplyDelete5a - (CO)(GENT) ; Company - CO ; Man - GENT
ReplyDelete14a - SITAR* - anag. of art is
15a - DUTY - DD
MURDER AT ST.MEAD
ReplyDeleteMr. Rochester's sudden death created quite a sensation in St.Mead. Only last Friday, he had celebrated his 90th birthday with a special CREAM TEA for his family & a few close friends.
On Sunday, a special IFTAR had been arranged by his only son Toby, who had just returned from ACCRA. It had been a sensation when Toby flew in from London in his own GUNSHIP, although no one quite knew what Toby's profession was. Toby had arranged the catering & personally supervised the menu.
Miss. Marple was invited to join. Apart from Toby & his Muslim wife Rehana, both George & Georgina were also there. They were Mr.Rochester's late valet's children & he was their GODPARENT. At the dinner table, amidst the REDOLENCE of traditional Islamic food, the tension was palpable as Toby continued to glare & scowl OBTUSELY, at his father.
George was a quiet man, who SLOGged all day to maintain Mr. Rochester's large estate. His routine included daily sessions of YOGA & weekly HIKING trips across the St. Mead hillock to inspect their stable farm on the other side. Georgina managed the ALPHA to DELTA of the Estate. Her SPEAK EASY nature helped in keeping their accounts & business up to date & profitable.
It was she, who ensured that they had the necessary LICENCE to sell their horses at the Derby next month, in the annual auction. The Government had ENACTED this law only recently about requiring a pre permit.
After the main meal & before the dessert, Mr. Rochester called Miss Marple aside & whispered to her. The FIRE ALARM in her brain sounded & she turned around, just in time, to see Toby eavesdropping. Subsequently, in the POWDER ROOM, Regina also tried to ingratiate herself, but Miss. Marple kept a tight lip.
Imagine every one's surprise, when Mr. Rochester did not wake up from his sleep on Monday. Mr. Darmouth, the local GP was sent for, who decared the death as natural heart failure & issued the death certificate.
The FUNERAL was arranged for late Tuesday. The family planned for a wake on Monday evening. Mr. Rochester's casket was arranged in the TABERNACLE next to the village cathedral & almost everyone came to pay their last respects
Sankalak?
ReplyDeleteSankalak?
ReplyDeleteIf he had run of three in a row!
Delete🤔???
DeleteWe did his first two on Jan 1 and Jan 2 on this blog as Sunday special
DeleteOh! I didnt know. Well it did prove to be 3 in a row. 😊
DeleteUp for grabs!
ReplyDeleteAcross : 32
It is done. By Gemini @ 10.38
ReplyDeleteIt is done by Gemini. @10.38
ReplyDeleteIt is done. By Gemini. @10.38.
ReplyDeleteThat was deleted as there 2as no annotation
DeleteNo annotation given
ReplyDeleteIt seems Colonel Sir has deleted his comment for want of proper anno!
ReplyDeleteAbove post relates to Gowri's comment at 11:52
Deletehttps://gowrihstories.blogspot.com/2022/06/murder-at-stmead.html
ReplyDeleteDear all - Link to my story on yesterday's (KKR's) CW.
ReplyDeleteKindly read it.
Thanx.
https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/5288363232098926355
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehttps://gowrihstories.blogspot.com/2022/06/murder-at-stmead.html
DeleteDear all - The above link has my story using yesterday's CW by KKR. Kindly read it. Thanx.
DeleteMet Miss.Marple and enjoyed her piece of detective work. Thank you.
Delete+1...Well done!
DeleteThe above link to my story on yesterday's CW (by KKR). Kindly read it. Thanx
ReplyDeleteColonel - Thanx. For everything!!! 😊
ReplyDeleteYes, even i'm curious to know the anno for brother(sibling in church)
ReplyDeleteIt is a D&CD
DeleteDouble definition with the second having a cryptic hint ( in church)
DeleteOr you can even consider it a CD
Deleteit is a DD. one meaning is sibling and the other refers to the position in church part of the clergy
DeleteDD?
ReplyDeleteDD?
ReplyDeleteDD. Sibling/ Church dignitary
ReplyDelete@ Vasant - Kindly read my Sholay tale yesterday. Refurbished from the original - written for ur puzzle in 2021.
ReplyDelete😊
Enjoyed the crossword. Very elegant clues. Old is gold. Curious to know setter's name.
ReplyDelete@ Vasant - Kindly read my Sholay tale yesterday. Refurbished from the original - written for ur puzzle in 2021.
ReplyDelete😊
Setter?
ReplyDeleteTHC difficulty level seems to have gone up over the years or is it due to the setter?
ReplyDeleteNow that all answers have come in, my guess...the cw was set by Mr. katari the first Naval Chief.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember to have solved his CW's,but as Col. said there was no indication about the setter. Any particular clue to his setting?
DeleteOf course I had heard a lot about him here trough Gridman and others. He was the first setter of TH.
DeleteCame to know through this blog that he had initially set CWs for TH. Moreover terms like Housewife, Tarmac, Beret (bereft), are often heard in Armed Forces. Hence thought it could be Katari. 🙂
DeleteWhile in Service ( in Bombay posting) started solving TOI crosswords and they were set by Adml. Katari. Found it very interesting .
DeleteHad met h
Had met him in
Glad you were able to meet him.
DeleteOh yes, have solved Adml 's crosswords in TOI, while serving in Bombay and that's where I started the hobby.
DeleteIhave met him a few times
and used to feel proudthat a S Indian go be in the high post!
@ Vasant - Kindly read my Sholay tale yesterday. Refurbished from the original - written for ur puzzle in 2021.
ReplyDelete😊
Wonderfully written, Gowri
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy cent p.c soln! Very nice easy clues!
ReplyDeleteThe setter is Sankalak
ReplyDeleteThanks Col.sir for Sunday special.
DeleteYay!!!! Thank u Colonel!!!!
ReplyDeleteSolving a Sankalak CW is always a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteyes. during free time I used to review SANKALAK's grid.
DeleteBtw - Sankalak's son was my classmate. Realised it only 4-5 years back, when he passed away. His son had posted it in our class group.
ReplyDeleteHey Gowri! Good to catch up. It's been only 45 years!
DeleteSankalak had said once that his wife writes the words and he writes the clues!
ReplyDeleteMy mother would help, yes
ReplyDeleteJust asked my mother - of the 10 or so grids my father used, she could help with only some of them, with shorter words, apparently
ReplyDelete