Tuesday, February 9, 2010 (DT 26066)

This puzzle was originally published Thursday, October 22, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

A fairly easy, but nonetheless enjoyable, puzzle today. I was able to complete it correctly without needing to crack open my Tool Chest.

Today's Glossary

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

chuffed - adjective Brit. informal delighted.

RE - abbreviation Royal Engineers (this abbreviation is often seen in puzzles, although the proper term is apparently REME, for Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)

RM - abbreviation (in the UK) Royal Marines.

Today's Links
Libellule's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 26066].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

12a Topping characteristic Australian dish with curry (5)

When I saw this clue, I wondered if maybe the Post had misprinted it. However, a check with Libellule's review shows that it is worded the same as it was in the Telegraph. My concern centres on the use of A meaning Australian, which I think perhaps should have been Austrian (as A is the International Vehicle Registration code for Austria - the IVR code for Australia being AUS). Nevertheless, I seem to stand virtually alone, as the only comment about this on Big Dave's site was from Franny who said "as an Aussie, couldn’t think what it had to do with Australia".

23a Ways of getting round heart bypasses? (4,5)

The solution is RING ROADS, with my interpretation being that this clue is a double definition with one of the definitions being cryptic. As I see it, the non-cryptic definition is "bypasses" and the cryptic definition is "ways of getting round heart", in which "heart" implies the heart (i.e., core) of a city, for example. On Big Dave's site, the setter of the puzzle (Jay), comments "23ac was intended to be a cryptic definition, and the the round for RING and ways for ROADS is pure serendipity!". Although a strict reading of this comment might lead one to the conclusion that the entire clue was intended to be a cryptic definition, I don't believe a careful analysis of the clue supports such a notion. Therefore, I can only assume that the setter may have been referring to the clue in a rather loose fashion meaning that "(the first part of) 23ac was intended to be a cryptic definition".

7d Planner's diplomacy before ruling on one article (9)

I missed the fact that "ruling" might mean in command. I had surmised that IC came from 1C, a graduation (ruling) on a thermometer indicating 1 degree Celsius (or centigrade). Interestingly, I had great difficulty finding any dictionary that contained a listing supporting this sense of the word ruling. I finally found one on Infoplease (ruling - noun 3. ruled lines).

Signing off for today - Falcon