Wednesday, November 25, 2009 (DT 25997)

This puzzle was originally published Monday, August 3, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

The National Post today continues its recent practice of skipping the puzzle published in the UK on Saturday. Thus, we leap over DT 25996 which appeared in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday, August 1, 2009.

Compared to yesterday's puzzle, I must say that the one today was certainly less difficult. Although the Brits seem to have rated today's puzzle as easy, I thought it was still difficult enough to provide an interesting challenge and it did contain some excellent wordplay. And what's not to like about a puzzle that gives us a model, a tart, a pair of tits and some hugging and kissing!

Some Thoughts on Blogging

In writing this blog, I often compose parts of it as I solve the puzzle - and while the ideas are still fresh in my mind. I usually don't visit Big Dave's site until I have completed the puzzle (other than on the occasional instance where if I have reached a complete impasse, I may peek at one or two hints to get me past the roadblock). Thus, I sometimes find myself in a situation where my comments seem to echo those expressed either in the review or in the comments at Big Dave's site. While I could wait until after reading Big Dave's blog to compose my own, I fear that by that time some of the thoughts would have escaped me. If I find that the comments are too similar, I will often delete mine. However, at other times, I will retain them if I think that they elaborate on or emphasize a point that may be unfamiliar to North American readers.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

ancient - (noun, defn. 1) people who lived in ancient times, especially the Greeks, Romans and Hebrews

Sir Charles Blyth - known as Chay Blyth; a Scottish yachtsman and rower, the first person to sail non-stop westwards around the world (1971)

pyjamas - Brit. spelling of pajamas

tanner - Brit. a sixpence (a coin formerly used in Britain)

Today's Links

Tilsit's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25997].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

10a Rendered a tune in return for a drink in Spain (7)

Should you think that rendered might be an anagram indicator and that the tune in question might be an ARIA, you need to back up and take another look.

15a PM comes out of No Ten for a break (9)

I enjoyed this clue with its surface reading that mischievously misdirects us to No. 10 Downing Street, the residence and office of the British Prime Minister.

While Tilsit expresses some dissatisfaction with this clue ("'PM comes out' is the definition, although it is a bit contrived, but we’ll allow it as it’s Monday!"), I interpreted the clue a bit differently and had no issue with it. I thought that "PM" was the definition which "comes out of" (equivalent to saying "is contained in" or "is produced by") an anagram (break) of NO TEN FOR A.

Postscript: I note that a couple of similar comments have been left at Big Dave's site.

28a Statesmen may wear them with black ties (7)

In Britain, tuxedos are known as dinner jackets. Thus, in this clue, "statesmen" refers to "men from the United States" who wear TUXEDOS with black ties, whereas in Britain one wears a dinner jacket with a black tie.

24d Join a girl and kiss (5)

I must say that I am not sure that I understand (or agree) with Tilsit's comment "The whole word [ANNEX] can mean to join or separate." The only explanation that I can think of is that he may be considering that territory that is annexed to one country may have been separated from another country (assuming that the totality of the latter country is not annexed to the former country). However, to my way of looking at things, the term annexation (in a linguistic sense) would apply only to the joining of the territory to the conquering country and would have nothing to do with the preceding (or coincidental) separation of the territory from its previous owner.

Signing off for today - Falcon