Tuesday, January 5, 2010 (DT 26036)

This puzzle was originally published Thursday, September 17, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

It was a fairly straightforward puzzle today which I was able to complete without the use of any external aids, although my solving time of well over an hour would be, I am sure, tortoise-like when compared to the Brits. However, I was a bit surprised to see this puzzle rated on Big Dave's site as more difficult than the one yesterday. Perhaps the absence of cricket terms and references to British geography today has some bearing on our relative perspectives.

Today's Glossary

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

CID - abbreviation (in the UK) Criminal Investigation Department

Today's Links

Libellule's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 26036].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

2a Weapon used to dump the girlfriend? (5-7)

I made a careless mistake here. Having initially guessed that the second part of the solution might be SHOOTER, when I finally figured out the first part, I neglected to verify the overall answer. Although it fits the checking letters, FLAME-SHOOTER is not in the dictionary; but FLAME-THROWER is.

14d The wheels of justice? (6,3)

Jumping in the wrong vehicle here hampered my progress in the southeast quadrant. I first test drove a PRISON VAN, switching later to a POLICE CAR, before ending up in a PATROL CAR.

19d Arts programme on Italian channel (6)

There is a fair bit of discussion on Big Dave's blog regarding the use of "programme" as an anagram indicator. However, Oxford defines programme as "verb 3 arrange according to a plan or schedule" which I think should qualify it for the role.

Signing off for today - Falcon