Sunday, Deccember 13, 2009 (ST 4353)

This puzzle was originally published in The Sunday London Times on November 1, 2009

Introduction

I found this to be a rather difficult puzzle - with more than the usual quota of obscure British expressions. Even after completing it, I was left in the dark about the wordplay for several clues. Luckily, I could rely on talbinho for an explanation.

Today's Glossary

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

CAB - abbreviation 1 Citizen's Advice Bureau [Chambers] or Citizens’ Advice Bureau [Oxford] or Citizens Advice Bureau [Wikipedia]: one of a network of independent charities throughout the UK that give free, confidential information and advice to help people with their money, legal, consumer and other problems.

CAMRA - abbreviation Campaign for Real Ale: an independent, voluntary, consumer organisation based in St. Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale and the traditional British pub. It is now the largest single-issue consumer group in the UK, and is a founding member of the European Beer Consumers' Union (EBCU).

fortissimo - music (abbreviation ff) adj very loud.

gash² [Collins] - adj Slang [probably Brit.] surplus to requirements; unnecessary, extra, or spare

ginger nut - [probably Brit.] noun a ginger-flavoured biscuit (cookie: the British term for cookie is biscuit, I don't know what name they have for biscuits) [known in North America as a ginger snap]

Herm - one of the Channel Islands

OR - abbreviation 3 military other ranks (by extension, men)

rom or Rom - noun a male Gypsy

soak - noun 2 informal a heavy drinker

Links to Solutions

A review of today's puzzle by talbinho can be found at Times for the Times [ST 4353].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

13a A new hint to have sparkling wine for first course (9)

Since antipasti is the plural of antipasto, I wondered if there might be an inconsistency (in number) with the definition "first course". However, upon reflection, I concluded that a course could well consist of a number of antipasti.

20a Idiotic, a bunch of beer enthusiasts beginning to troll around - such may be found on the road (10)

Thankfully, this clue is easily solved from the definition (such as may be found on the road) and checking letters. The convoluted wordplay involving the obscure (at least to North American audiences) group of British beer fanciers was far more challenging - so much so that I only got it by reading talbinho's review. The wordplay is as follows:

MAD (idiotic) A CAMRA (bunch of beer enthusiasts) T (beginning to troll), all of which is reversed (around) to give TARMACADAM.

28a Italian city with university good for mathematician (6)

Like talbinho, I questioned "Italian city with university" as a definition for Turin, although Wikipedia does say, "Turin is home to one of Italy's oldest universities, the University of Turin, which still ranks among the best universities in Italy."

3d Group turned into old rockers, strapped up (8)

Despite having found the correct solution, the wordplay escaped me. I even had to reread talbinho's explanation a couple of times to comprehend what he was trying to explain. I think that the easiest way to understand the solution is to think of it as replacing the phrase "Group turned into old rockers" by the phrase "band aged"; i.e., when the band (group) aged, they became "old rockers".

9d One will get soak on island? Weather map may show that (8)

Deciphering the wordplay was far more difficult than finding the solution (which was pretty obvious from the definition and checking letters). A better knowledge of the Channel Islands and a better acquaintance with British slang terms for drunkards would have helped immensely.

Signing off for this week - Falcon