Thursday, Janurary 5, 2012 - DT 26686

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26686
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26686]
Big Dave's Review Written By Gazza
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★★	Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog

Introduction

My performance would tend to support Gazza's rating of two stars for difficulty. However, a goodly number of those leaving comments at Big Dave's site expressed the opinion that the puzzle was much harder than this. By the way, should you happen to read through the comments, you will find (at comment #18) Derek saying "Chicken & chips tonight on my Jim Jones as my son is down in the Midi and my daughter &co. are in Spain." I interpret "on my Jim Jones" to be Cockney rhyming slang for "on my own" or "being alone", although any references that I found on-line used "Jack Jones" rather than "Jim Jones".

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

10a   Prize in harbour recalled happily after vacation (6)

I thought that the setter might have 'invented' a new meaning (a ploy one often encounters in cryptic crosswords) for vacation^[5], but it seems that this word really can mean the action of leaving something one previously occupied • his marriage was the reason for the vacation of his fellowship. [I suppose, if a priest were to marry, one might say it was the reason for the vacation of his vocation.] The American Heritage Dictionary characterises this usage as archaic^[3].

11a   Companion with primate by Latin place of worship (6)

A Companion of Honour (abbreviation CH)^[5], is a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour^[7], an order of the Commonwealth realms^[7] (the United Kingdom together with the other members of the Commonwealth of Nations which have Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state). It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion. Even the Oxford Dictionary of English appears to overlook the fact that this is an award of the Commonwealth realms and not of the United Kingdom.

13a   Noisy bird restrained by family before start of drinks? There’s wishful thinking (5,6,4)

Cloud cuckoo land^[5] is a state of absurdly over-optimistic fantasy • anyone who believes that the Bill will be effective is living in cloud cuckoo land. The term comes from the translation of Greek Nephelokokkugia, the name of the city built by the birds in Aristophanes' comedy Birds, from nephelē 'cloud' + kokkux 'cuckoo'. While this term is to be found in all my usual British dictionaries, I did not find it in either of the two American dictionaries that I consulted (American Heritage Dictionary and Random House Unabridged Dictionary). Note that the numeration (5,6,4) appearing in the National Post matches that used by the Oxford Dictionary of English. Judging by the entry at Big Dave's Blog, the numeration in the UK was (5-6-4) which corresponds to the spelling in The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition and the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary^[5] as well as Collins English Dictionary^[4].

15a   Authority in school prepared listening device (7)

I was misled (by the "in") into thinking that this must be a containment type clue. Once I get an idea into my head, it is sometimes virtually impossible to get it out. As this transpired before visiting Big Dave's site, I can't even excuse my failure to solve this relatively easy clue by claiming to have been distracted by Gazza's illustration! (What a lovely headset!)

20a   A ballet or rally arranged to include hot musical venue (5,6,4)

The Royal Albert Hall^[7] is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England.

23a   Describe clearly at home petty officer consumed by drink (8)

According to several dictionaries, pint^[5] is an informal British expression meaning a pint of beer • we’ll probably go for a pint on the way home. Although it may be British in origin, it is also a much-used term in Canada.

25a   Cloth not new put round English breakfast dish (6)

While I have eaten this breakfast dish, I normally eat other types of cereal which may explain why the solution to the clue did not readily come to mind.

26a   Light opening to exhibition held by artist (6)

Francis Bacon^[7] (1909 – 1992) was an Irish-born British figurative painter known for his bold, austere, graphic and emotionally raw imagery.

1d   Service shown by prince having deadly consequences (6)

Prince Hal is the name by which the future King Henry V of England goes by in William Shakespeare's plays Henry IV, Part 1^[7] and Henry IV, Part 2^[7]. In all likelihood, "prince" is not a reference to American theatre director Hal Prince.

6d   Stiff group of students supported by a lecturer (6)

In the UK, a form^[5] is a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number • the fifth form [the North American counterpart would be grade • the fifth grade]. By the way, I did confirm that L, as an abbreviation for lecturer, is found in The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition.

14d   Short rest in card game (3)

Nap^[5] is a card game resembling whist in which players declare the number of tricks they expect to take, up to five.

18d   Like a blue part of floor (not half) in refurbished chalet (8)

In Britain, a blue^[5] is a person who has represented Cambridge University (a Cambridge blue) or Oxford University (an Oxford blue) at a particular sport in a match between the two universities • a flyweight boxing blue.

19d   One on board facing sign of shame? Avoid expressing an opinion (7)

As you may recall from yesterday's puzzle, in the Royal Navy, able seaman (abbreviation AB)^[5]. is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. Thus the first part of the wordplay is not (as was my first thought) 'A (one) + (on) B (board)' but 'AB (one on board; i.e., able seaman)'.

21d   Record account in group that’s aiming to recover animal (6)

The Automobile Association^[7] (The AA) is a British motoring association founded in 1905. Its counterparts in North America would be the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA). One of the services that it provides to motorists is the recovery (towing) of vehicles in the event of a breakdown.

22d   Idle lines penned during game in retreat (6)

Lollop^[4] is a British term with the seemingly somewhat contradictory meanings of (1) to walk or run with a clumsy or relaxed bouncing movement or (2) a less common word for lounge (as a verb).

References: 
^[1] - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2] - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3] - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5] - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6] - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7] - Wikipedia
^[8] - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9] - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)

Signing off for today - Falcon