SOLUTION to Side by Side by eXternal

 Side by Side by eXternal - SOLUTION

Letters omitted in wordplay give KYLIE MINOGUE (leftmost letters) and JASON DONOVAN (rightmost letters) reading down the grid; letter pairs deleted from clues give ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, a song by the pair; AUSTRALIAN is changed to NEIGHBOURS, the programme in which the pair starred and which will have its final episode aired in August.

Letters are highlighted for reference.

Across

1 Female slave is following old boy around (7) O,LAD<,IS with K omitted

6 Pierre’s article on middle of your work unit (5) OU,LE with J omitted

10 Like thread of fiction involving knight (5) LI(N)E with Y omitted

11 Unknown one returned claw of prehistoric times (7) Z,I,NAIL< with A omitted

12 A love for indigo (4) A,NIL

13 Errant first daughter lives aimlessly (6) (FIRST,D)*

14 Once determined when well directed (8) AS,SO,LED with I omitted

16 River swimmer systematically crosses (6) hidden swimMER Systematically with E omitted

18 Express contempt about vacuous EastEnders retrospective (5) RE,ES< with N omitted

19 Islander at urinal’s a drunk (10) ATURINALSA*

21 Peers in Ayrshire pigpens (6) STIES with M omitted

23 That’s foul, rear of obscene yokel’s itched (6) YUCK,E with D omitted

25 Trump and English rogue not related (10) TRUMPANDE* with I omitted

27 Cockney has confidence and begins (5) ‘OPES with N omitted

28 Revolutionary is turning more malicious (6) RED,IS< with N omitted

31 Opposing another player alone, no netballer 

tackles (8) hidden alONE NO NEtballer with O omitted

33 Forming into circle, soldiers stand in wine cellar (6) OR,BIN with G omitted

34 A guide regularly used for Swiss canton (4) AgUiDe with V omitted

35 Strange item on Canadian rider (7) ITEMON* with U omitted

36 No longer adjudge money not British (5) BREAD-B with A omitted

37 Heartless wombat took apart caterpillar (5) WOAT* with E omitted

38 An earl too diminished becomes tougher (7) AN,E,ALS{o} with N omitted

Down

1 Band of light encircling head of most elevated learned man (6) H(M)ALO< with L omitted

2 Deserted, is swallow to move from perch? (7) D,IS,EAT with S omitted

3 Guests in land wash collections of possessions (4) {l}AN{d} {w}AS{h} with ES extra

4 Transparent material covering over fabrics (5) LEN(O)S

5 Tricky to hide large excursion (5) S(L)LY with A omitted

6 Rodent removing wings of feathered beasts (4) {b}IRD{s} with J omitted

7 Month encasing this mixture would make pillar (4) MONTH around OLI would make MONOLITH with O omitted

8 Behold! Thug’s leaped on layer made of wooden strips (6) LA,T,HEN with PE extra

9 Base carer raising son is guaranteed (7) E,NURSE with S raised with D omitted

13 Long-forgotten disorder in Midlands city that’s had fourth upgrade? (5) DERBY with B becoming A

15 Reached highest point looking sickly (6) double def

17 Rancid ragged undies not completely destroyed (6) R,UNDIE{s}* with CI extra

18 Slight luminance on Alsatian coats (4) S(L)UR

20 Lifted special metal sieve (4) S,MET< with AL extra

21 Costly clumsily crossing old mother’s blind spot (7) COST* around O,MA with LY extra

22 Stretch ancient clasp (5) SPAN with G omitted

24 Study dissecting slow climbing of sloths, maybe (7) DEN in LATE<

25 Mature women supporting forum group (6) GROUP*,W with FO extra

26 Studies mountain nymphs (6) READS with O omitted

28 Number of close encounters (5) hidden cloSE ENcounters with V omitted

29 That is interrupted by upcoming race season (5) I(RUN<)E

30 Lubricant’s cool temperature (4) IN,T with O omitted

31 Tory place above joint oddly overlooked by tax officer (4) jOiNt,TO with RY extra

32 Ancient buildings erode, appearing hideous (4) hidden erODE Appearing with OU extra

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle September 2022

 Postcard from Hedge-sparrow

 Whilst on holiday, Hedge-sparrow has sent a postcard to Crossword Centre solvers showing several features of interest of four different types – A, B, C and D.  Each clue includes either: (i) an extra consecutive letter sequence, always extending over more than one word (4 clues); (ii) an extra single letter (35 clues); (iii) an extra single word (18 clues).  All “extras” must be removed before solving.  In the final grid, no cell contains more than one letter.
A: Unscrambling the extra consecutive letter sequences gives four thematic names.  In the final grid, the initial letter of each of these names must be circled where it occurs in the corresponding entry.
B: These features are located in nine cells where crossing entries clash.  In clue order, extra single letters from 35 clues indicate how to derive these features’ names, whose (first) initial must be inserted as the contents of the corresponding clash cell.
C: A thematic feature, starting at cell 14, comprising 23 contiguous cells (5 words, including repeats).
D: Three further thematic names (30 cells in total).

The pairs of letters discarded from clash cells are to be separated (on a clash-by-clash basis) into two groups.  Unscrambling these groups gives (i) the name of Hedge-sparrow’s holiday location (two words), and (ii) what he’s up to (three words), both of which must be written below the grid.
In the entry grid, only cells forming part of the thematic features A, B, C and D are to be filled (63 cells in total), all others being left blank.  Solvers are encouraged to beautify their postcard with colour as they deem appropriate.  A map might prove helpful.   

Location ..........................................   Activity .............................

PDF version

Across

1 Lacking inclination, Sian’s undressed at private hospital (7)

9 Instrument converting bit of sludge into tritium in Brent reservoir (7)

14 Female feeding king his slice of ham hock? (7)

15 Ruing getting caught in informer’s snare (5)

16 I face team checks in plant (4)

17 Unorthodox view for Max who raged “Get a spouse” (4)

18 Flash from flickering light displaying name for hospital block (5)

19 Quiet rambler nigh on made confession (6)

20 Feast for saints in hell to atone for the past (4)

21 Hero’s initial repugnance after lion escapes keepers (6)

22 Tragic overture not finished – use organ (6)

25 How American swimmer emits power in secret rite (4)

27 Owing Ed money, hide rent surreptitiously (8, three words)

29 Turning pale, son dresses for fishing (4)

30 In New Year, gathering breed of dairy cattle together (8)

33 Split entrance to dorms IV and XI (4)

34 Certainty over becoming blued, essentially, in paint (8)

37 Crape cut from stretchy fabric for stars (4)

38 Louse translating an East Ghanaian language (6)

39 Reveal all to impress guards (6)

42 Send gold removed from cutter (4)

44 Fat infused with seasoning rejected in the end (6, two words)

45 Shock demolishes institute in course heading South (5)

46 Single black thorn, nothing further to the left (4)

47 Lacking pedal, Rover and Ford being stripped (4)

48 Cars court has not sequestered from traders (5)

49 Spotted second mouse tucking into ground grain (7)

50 Camp causes injury to scrub wallabies (7)

51 Old-fashioned French stockade cutting off British Celts, originally (7)

 Down
2 Long pipes from hot oven heated hobs quick, no question (8)
3 Feel Victor needs to get into line (4)
4 In Scotland, buy up hotel close to Dunbar? (4)
5 Island estate surrounding loch – it’s in the Hebrides (5)
6 Cursorily purge knife (4)
7 Coy champion losing weight - the bit around the middle (5)
8 Share cycling tour in outskirts of French quarter (6)
9 Sticks used in game: bit of harmless fun from a bygone age, in short (4)
10 Trouble arises over university publisher (6)
11 Island base covered by taxi (5)
12 Introductory parts of discourse initially rejected by radio broadcast (7)
13 In retirement, slowly save money?  Certainly not on Mull (3)
14 Country’s rod of authority captured in mounted art (6)
23 Agreement to doff hat for threepence (4)
24 One revealing war horn tends to unman evil rampaging monarch (8)
25 Groucho Marx ultimately smothered with balsam playing Biblical character (7)
26 Secured by a belt, fool crosses River Avon (4)
28 Halt carouser’s terrible slurring when skinned (6)
31 Last year, ash trees flourished (6)
32 Haunt burning church (6)
35 Take e.g. trifle from one local branch (5)
36 Scot appearing after sun’s half-melted snow (5)
37 One trapped in liner following evacuation, possibly anchorless (5)
39 Contests will and arising settlements to begin with (4)
40 Codeword for opening of slushy e-mail (encrypted without header) (4)
41 Alter ship’s course to pass coot (4)
43 Having power enough, curtail bleak war (4)
44 Inclined, winding path (3)

 To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format giving the final entries, plus the location and activity to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th October 2022. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

  

Crossword News August 2022

 Crossword News August 2022

The July Prize Puzzle was That Moment by Chiffchaff. In That Moment pennies (p in RIPS and d in CARDCASE) drop in two clues so that the dIAGONAL(D), as given by the dropped letters in eight across clues, reads THE PENNY DROPS. PENNYPINCH is changed to PINCHPENNY to complete the grid which contains no other ps or ds.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

I found the clash between 41a and 34d quite early, and then briefly wondered if all of the clashes would be on this diagonal before realising that the other three clashes had to appear in one entry and, in any case, most of the blank cells remaining on the diagonal were unchecked. It took me quite a bit longer to work out 14d, but once I did the penny dropped.  I liked the thematic way the across clues were altered, and such clues seem to be easier to solve than if some clues need to have a letter added or removed because once you've solved one you know how to alter one of the adjacent clues. Having said that, I originally changed 'Spin' to 'Spine' in 35a, but suspected this was wrong as soon as I read the next clue and couldn't find an E that could be removed and leave a real word.  I liked that resolving all of the clashes the other way would have made real words, and that the final change also made real words. I also liked that all of the Ds and Ps in the grid are involved in penny-drops and contribute to the phrase on the diagonal either before or after the final step.

Many thanks for a very enjoyable puzzle – the letters dropping from clue to clue mechanic was new to me and very satisfying. The endgame eluded me for a while but I think I've dropped the right pennies!

Until I discovered the Crossword Centre a year or so ago, I don't think I had met the term "penny drop moment". It provided a most ingenious and enjoyable theme! Fortunately three of the clashes were in one answer (14 down), so the main effect of the clashes was simply to prevent me from solving that clue until the penny had indeed dropped. And I enjoyed the final change (17 down). Well done, Chiffchaff!

There were 47 entries, of which 16 were marked incorrect. The majority was failing to drop the final PENNY leaving PENNYPINCH in the grid.

The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat was Rod Beards, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which is donated by Chambers.

A solution is available at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2022/08/that-moment-by-chiffchaff-solution.html

You still have time to solve the August puzzle, Side by Side by eXternal.

The September challenge will be Postcard by Hedge-sparrow.
***
The following notice appears on the front page of this month's Crossword Club magazine (August 2022).

“Future Arrangements

Thank you again all those who offered suggestions and help with the future. I’m pleased to say our appeals have now come up with a distinguished cruciverbalist who has offered to take over much of the Club’s activity. “

Does anyone know who is taking over the Crossword Club? Their website is now defunct and reviving it would be a good start.
***
Although I did not attempt Sabre’s Stations of the Cross in the June edition of The Magpie, I was amazed at the solution. It seems that no theme, however abstruse, can be used by Sabre!

The message from added/omitted letters reads “Number of Type A and B give letter sums of the two words”. There are 37 Type A clues and 7 Type B. The latter, being fairly restrictive, should lead to Ababa, hence to Addis Ababa. The five unclued entries ST LIDETA, TEGBARED, MEXICO, LEGHAR, STADIUM, are the five stations common to the crossing of the blue and green light rail lines in Addis Ababa. COCACOLA is only on the green line, SARIS only on the blue line.

The Magpie is available at https://www.piemag.com/
***
While John Tozer is recovering in hospital, Robert Teuton is managing the Clue-Writing Competition. He can manage the monthly contests but has not the ability to manage membership. Prospective new members should contact the admin and as soon as he is able, Robert will enrol them.
***
Chambers has committed to sponsoring the Crossword Centre for another year with a dozen copies of Chambers Crossword Dictionary.
***
The new series of Only Connect will start on Monday 29 August.
***
There is a delay in publishing the July Azed slip. Azed had a spell of Covid and a family holiday in France. Hopefully, it will be issued soon.

Best wishes
Derek

That Moment by Chiffchaff SOLUTION

Solution to That Moment by Chiffchaff

In That Moment pennies (p in RIPS and d in CARDCASE) drop in two clues so that the dIAGONAL(D), as given by the dropped letters in eight across clues, reads THE PENNY DROPS. PENNYPINCH is changed to PINCHPENNY to complete the grid which contains no other ps or ds.

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle August 2022

 Side by Side by eXternal

PDF version

Each row, with one exception, contains two letters omitted by wordplay in their clues. Cells containing these letters always occur in pairs, horizontally or vertically. These letters spell out a pair linked by a title spelled out in clue order by pairs of consecutive letters to be removed from eight other down clues before solving, always leaving real words. Finally, solvers must change one entry to show a further title linking the pair, creating new real-word crossing entries.

Across

1 Female slave is following old boy around (7)

6 Pierre’s article on middle of your work unit (5)

10 Like thread of fiction involving knight (5)

11 Unknown one returned claw of prehistoric times (7)

12 A love for indigo (4)

13 Errant first daughter lives aimlessly (6)

14 Once determined when well directed (8)

16 River swimmer systematically crosses (6)

18 Express contempt about vacuous EastEnders retrospective (5)

19 Islander at urinal’s a drunk (10)

21 Peers in Ayrshire pigpens (6)

23 That’s foul, rear of obscene yokel’s itched (6)

25 Trump and English rogue not related (10)

27 Cockney has confidence and begins (5)

28 Revolutionary is turning more malicious (6)

31 Opposing another player alone, no netballer tackles (8)

33 Forming into circle, soldiers stand in wine cellar (6)

34 A guide regularly used for Swiss canton (4)

35 Strange item on Canadian rider (7)

36 No longer adjudge money not British (5)

37 Heartless wombat took apart caterpillar (5)

38 An earl too diminished becomes tougher (7)

Down

1 Band of light encircling head of most elevated learned man (6)

2 Deserted, is swallow to move from perch? (7)

3 Guests in land wash collections of possessions (4)

4 Transparent material covering over fabrics (5)

5 Tricky to hide large excursion (5)

6 Rodent removing wings of feathered beasts (4)

7 Month encasing this mixture could make pillar (4)

8 Behold! Thug’s leaped on layer made of wooden strips (6)

9 Base carer raising son is guaranteed (7)

13 Long-forgotten disorder in Midlands city that’s had fourth upgrade? (5)

15 Reached highest point looking sickly (6)

17 Rancid ragged undies not completely destroyed (6)

18 Slight luminance on Alsatian coats (4)

20 Lifted special metal sieve for local person (4)

21 Costly clumsily crossing old mother’s blind spot (7)

22 Stretch ancient clasp (5)

24 Study dissecting slow climbing of sloths, maybe (7)

25 Mature women supporting forum group (6)

26 Studies mountain nymphs (6)

28 Number of close encounters (5)

29 That is interrupted by upcoming race season (5)

30 Lubricant’s cool temperature (4)

31 Tory place above joint oddly overlooked by tax officer (4)

32 Ancient buildings erode, appearing hideous (4)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8^th September 2022. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

Crossword News July 2022

 

Crossword News July 2022

The June Prize Puzzle was Repatriation by Hawk. The government decided to repatriate even-numbered letters (B, D, F, H, etc). L and N were the two fugitives. The oblique commentary spelled out in the departure lounges were the phrases COMME CI COMME CA (“not ideal”) and EASY COME EASY GO (“casual attitude”).

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

This was a toughie, made tougher with the inclusion of a lot of obscure terms in both entries and wordplay, but balanced somewhat with liberal checking.  A very entertaining puzzle, starting with the clever and amusing wording in the preamble complemented by many superb clues, quite devious in some cases I might add.  Quite an achievement in gridfill to be left with only the 'odd' characters, and to find starting entries with just one instance each of unwanted characters, even with the dispensation of rotational symmetry. A challenge well worth the price, great fun, many thanks.

Such a lovely, engrossing puzzle.  Great clues, with the extra words well-disguised.  While filling the grid, I did notice certain letters recurring, but it took a while for me to realise that Hawk was using only 13 (alternating at that!!) letters of the alphabet, with any of the other 13 to be replaced by those.  Brilliant setting feat!  Many thanks to Hawk.

This was a tough one! I had filled the grid before I saw which were the "unwanted characters" and was astonished to find that they included half the alphabet! A remarkable achievement by Hawk to fill the grid thus, and to find phrases to fill the first and last rows. The top phrase ingeniously removed any ambiguity as regards 7 and 14 down.

There is a full solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2022/07/repatriation-by-hawk-solution.html

This proved to be a difficult puzzle. There were 35 entries, of which 9 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat was Gerry Murtagh, from Glasgow, who will soon be receiving his prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary.

There is still time for you to solve the July challenge, That Moment by Chiffchaff.

The August Prize Puzzle sees a return of a popular setter, Side by Side by eXternal.

The Crossword Centre pipeline is looking very healthy with puzzles every month until next April.
***
John Tozer, who suffered a heart attack in May, is recovering very slowly and it is hoped that he will move into rehabilitation soon. Until he is well enough to manage the &lit site the Azed Slip will be available on the Crossword Centre - http://www.crossword.org.uk/ We wish him a speedy recovery.
***
I have been watching the growth of MyCrossword, a site developed by Raider, aka  Tom Blackwell. MyCrossword allows setters to create and publish puzzles. Alan Connor has recently interviewed Raider and you can find out more here - https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2022/jul/04/crossword-roundup-could-your-puzzle-find-a-home-online-at-mycrossword
***
On Saturday 27 August there will be return of Lollapuzzoola in New York. As well as the five puzzle tournament there is an opportunity to compete on-line. You can buy tickets and get more information at  https://bemoresmarter.com/lpz2022/

Best wishes

Derek

 

 

 

Repatriation by Hawk - SOLUTION

 Repatriation by Hawk - Solution

Solution

TThe government decided to repatriate even-numbered letters (B, D, F, H, etc). L and N were the two fugitives. The oblique commentary spelled out in the departure lounges were the phrases COMME CI COMME CA (“not ideal”) and EASY COME EASY GO (“casual attitude”).

Extra Words

17A ARRIVES (for 14D COMES)

34A FOOLS (for 7D MOMES)

45A MUM (for 2D MOMMY)

2D HALFPENNIES (for 8D MAIKS)

14D UNDERSTANDING (for 40D GAUM)

18D COMMANDERS (for 13A AGAS)

31D LETTUCE (for 42D COS)

37D STOP (for 1D CEASE)

Answers / Explanations

DL1 DOR / DOR(hawk)

DL2 EVA / 2 definitions

DL3 FOP / FP around O(undle)

DL4 JAZY / JA(z)ZY

DL5 MEXICO / EX in MICO

DL6 SYBO / (bu)SYBO(dy)

DL7 THECA / THE CA (Consumer 

    Association)

11A EGOISM / (GO + IS) in ME<

12A SUMO / SUM + O

13A ALAS / (c)ALAS(h)

15A SMAIK / SIK(a) around (M + A)

17A MIMUS / M replaces N in MINUS

19A SOMEWAYS / MEW in SOAYS

21A EMYS / MY in ES

23A MASUS / (yokohama)MA SUS(hi)

24A SCUM / SCUM(fish)

25A SEMSEM / SEEM around MS

27A SEMEMES / SEMÉ + MES(s)

29A SQUEAKS / (QU in SEA) +

    (doc)KS(ide)

30A AMUSES / ASSUME(s)*

32A CYME / (lega)CY ME(dia)

34A CUSCUSES / 2 definitions

38A CASSIO / IAGOSSCHEMESISNT* 

    - THEMESSING)*

40A GAS / SAG<

41A CESSE / SS in CEE

42A CAECA / (f)ACEAC(hes)<

43A SCOUSES / (cou)SCOUSES

44A SCOG / S + COG

45A SCUSES / S promoted in CUSSES

46A MAWS / 2 definitions

1D FEASE / Homophone of FEES

2D POMMY / P + (c)OMMY

3D MIKES / MI + KES

4D ESS / ESS(e)

5D ISAY / A for P in I-SPY

6D CUISSES / C + ISSUES*

7D TOMES / TOES around M

8D HAIKS / HAIKUS - U

9D CAUCUSES / UCU in CASES

10D ASSUMES / AS + (E in SUMS)

14D NOMES / OMENS*

16D MAMMA / MAMMA (mia)

18D MACES / MACE + S

20D SUMACS / (SCAM US)<

22D MEEMIES / M + ENEMIES - N

25D SACCOS / ACC in SOS

26D SUE / ISSUE - IS

28D MUSEUMS / MUSE UMS

31D MUCOSA / MUCO(r) + SA

33D YACCA / CAY< + CA

34D COCCO / C in COCO

35D SASSE / SASSE(nach)

36D ESSAY / (S(omething) + EASY)*

37D GESSO / (banda)GES SO(da)

39D SAGY / (remedie)S A GY(psy)

40D GAUR / RAGU*

42D COZ / COZ(e)