Thursday, December 17, 2009 (DT 26018)

This puzzle was originally published Thursday, August 27, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

Although it was far from being a difficult puzzle, there were a number of rather tricky clues where I first found the solution and then reverse engineered the wordplay.

Today's Glossary

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

bags (or bags I) - Brit. informal a child’s expression used to make a claim to something (therefore, to reserve something)

grass - noun 4 Brit. informal a police informer

GT - noun a name given to certain fast but comfortable sports cars (abbreviation of Italian gran turismo grand touring)

prom - noun, colloq 1 a walkway or promenade

RE - abbreviation Royal Engineer (sapper) : 2 Brit. a soldier in the Corps of Royal Engineers

shufti - noun Brit. informal a quick look or reconnoitre

Today's Links

Libellule's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 26018].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

10a Where to write for job requiring wit (8)

Libellule wonders, "... how does the answer accurately fit the definition? Would “What to write” be better?" However, I see no reason why one cannot write on a postcard.

11a Soldiers capture unknown informer and producer of grain (3,5)

Botany would not appear to be the forte of this setter, who appears to have confused rye grass with rye. Rye grass is any of nine species of tufted grasses of the genus lolium, while rye (the grain) , is secale cereale - a totally separate species of grass altogether.

13a Fit to be included in Civil Service, having strong links (6)

I seriously questioned whether cables have links, as I have always thought of them as being like wire ropes rather than being chains. However, Oxford defines cable as "noun 4 the chain of a ship’s anchor".

6d Eggs on reserve in handy container (6,3)

My interpretation of the solution is as follows:

CLUTCH (eggs) before (on, it being a down clue) BAG (reserve) /in\ CLUTCH BAG (handy container)

I am guessing that bag (meaning reserve) may relate to "Bags", an expression used by British children to lay claim to (i.e., reserve) something (ref: Chambers and Oxford), although neither dictionary lists either an actual noun or a verb having this meaning.

However, Libellule may (or, then again, may not) offer a different interpretation of the wordplay. It is hard to know, as I find his explanation to be a bit vague (speaking from the perspective of a North American, of course).

Signing off for today - Falcon