Thursday, January 7, 2010 (DT 26039)

This puzzle was originally published Monday, September 21, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

The National Post has skipped DT 26038 published Saturday, September 19, 2009 in the Daily Telegraph

Introduction

I rather enjoyed today's puzzle. While relatively easy, I found it had lots of quite clever clues. I was a bit uncertain about a couple of solutions, but they turned out to be correct. I was also in the dark on the wordplay for a couple of clues - but, then again, so were some of the Brits.

Today's Glossary

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

investment - noun 10. a siege or blockade; the surrounding of a place with military forces or works, as in besieging

Nelson's Column - a monument located in Trafalgar Square, London, England

pie² or pi - noun 1 printing confusedly mixed type

Today's Links

Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 26039].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

14a Their occupants make a make a row in church (4)

At first, I thought there might there be a logical inconsistency in this clue. Surely, the occupants of a single pew would form a row, and the occupants of several pews would form multiple rows. However, if one considered two adjacent pews on opposite sides of an aisle, the occupants of the two pews would form a single row.

1d Reduce length of one spade, for example (8)

In contract bridge, as Big Dave states, "one spade is a bid" - and, as he might have added, should it be the winning bid, it would become a contract.

7d End of investment that helps the poor (6)

Having absolutely no idea that investment could mean a military siege, I was at a loss to explain the wordplay in this clue - which left me feeling somewhat uncertain about my solution. However, I had a feeling of RELIEF when Big Dave's blog confirmed it as correct. This meaning for investment is not even a uniquely British expression, as I found it in several American dictionaries. In fact, the only British Dictionary in which I found it was Collins, which denotes it as a rare usage ("noun 7. (Military) Rare the act of besieging with military forces, works, etc.).

21d Dull-witted type taken in by boss (6)

I felt a bit STUPID at not being able to fully understand the wordplay in this clue - the printing term pi being totally new to me.

Signing off for today - Falcon