Sunday, January 17, 2010 (ST 4358)

This puzzle was originally published in The Sunday London Times on December 6, 2009

Introduction

Given that talbinho thought that this puzzle was difficult, I feel a real sense of accomplishment in having completed it - however, this was achieved in nowhere near his time. A good deal of today's puzzle is set in a garden; however, it seems to be one that could use a bit of pruning as there is quite a lot of extraneous verbiage to be found in some of the clues (a fact also mentioned by a correspondent on Times for the Times).

Today's Glossary

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

bairn - noun chiefly Scottish & N. English a child

cam follower - a specialized type of roller or needle bearing designed to follow cams (in automotive terms, it is more commonly known as a tappet, lifter or rocker arm)

gooseberry - noun 2 Brit. informal a third person in the company of two lovers, who would prefer to be alone

pie² or pi - noun 1 printing confusedly mixed type. 2 a mixed state; confusion.

tig - noun & verb chiefly Brit. another term for tag (children's game)

whisht , whist or wheesht - chiefly Scottish verb to be quiet; to keep silent. Also as exclamation.

wrinkle - noun 3 informal a clever innovation, or useful piece of information or advice

Links to Solutions

A review of today's puzzle by talbinho can be found at Times for the Times [ST 4358].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

11a Swan ahead, biting stalk of this plant (9)

The solution seems to be:

PEN (swan) ON (ahead) containing (biting) STEM (stalk) /of\ PENSTEMON (this plant)

I have shown the word "of" as a linking word, although I don't feel it is a very appropriate one. However, if one were to consider the definition to be "of this plant", then the solution would presumably need to be something along the lines of "penstemonial" (or whatever the word is that would mean "of or like a penstemon"). In his review, talbinho suggests the words "of this" are superfluous. They may be from a cryptic standpoint, but they are also fairly important to smooth the surface reading of the clue.

On is one of those words with so many meanings that it is sometimes difficult to find the particular sense that the setter has in mind. On probably means ahead in the sense "adverb 2 ahead, forwards or towards in space or time • go on home • later on". I discovered this meaning only after trying to make cricket terminology fit - which proved to be an exercise in attempting to "pound a square peg into a round hole."

Interestingly enough, the same source also defines on as "preposition 22 following • disappointment on disappointment". Therefore, on can mean both ahead and following. However, since these meanings occur as different parts of speech, it may be incorrect to say that on is its own antonym.

24a The gullible set down on icy mountain here? (9)

Since talbinho commented on what he perceived to be padding in 11a, I sort of expected he might also comment on the words "on icy mountain" in this clue. While not absolutely essential to either the cryptic reading or the surface reading, they do provide a bit of guidance as to what part of the world we are in (and its likely not the Caribbean).

26a Concerned with the matter of cunningly putting dagger right in (9)

While I managed to convince myself that the excess verbiage in 24a could probably be justified, I have more difficulty doing so in this clue. My interpretation is that "cunningly putting" is an anagram indicator for the fodder DAGGER R (right) IN with the definition being REGARDING (concerned with). But what is the phrase "the matter of" doing in the clue?

2d State a radio buff is to ring up (5)

I am sure that the residents of Omaha, Nebraska will be surprised to discover that the London Sunday Times has conferred statehood upon them. Based on reports on Times for the Times, this glaring error was corrected within a few days by the Sunday London Times on its online version - but obviously not in the syndicated version.

4d Very fine wrinkle on crown (6)

The solution is TIPTOP (very fine) /\ TIP (wrinkle) on (before in a down clue) TOP (crown).

There appears to be a glitch in the text on Times for the Times, as I honestly do not believe that talbinho means to say that the solution is TIP + TIP. Wrinkle is a British expression meaning tip (see Today's Glossary).

7d Unofficial supporters of the military putting money in machine parts (4,9)

I had trouble deciphering the wordplay as I thought that the machine parts in question were cams, never having heard of cam followers. Collins defines camp follower as "1. (Military) any civilian, esp a prostitute, who unofficially provides services to military personnel". I guess it takes little imagination to visualize how they might "support our troops".

19d Having agreed charge about right, have the gang released (3,4)

Yet another clue that has seemingly sprouted excess verbiage that I vainly tried to incorporate into the wordplay. Although not my initial explanation (it is amazing how writing out an explanation causes one to rethink it), I think that "having" is meant in the sense of "if you have". Therefore the clue could be reworded as:

If you have "agreed charge about right", you have "the gang released".

or, in other words:

agreed charge about right = the gang released

or, solving:

SET (agreed) FEE (charge) about R (right) = the gang SET FREE (released)

But what role is "the gang" playing in the clue?

Signing off for this week - Falcon