A fairly straightforward puzzle this week with a smattering of exotic (but deducible) solutions and a few decent clues. I don’t mind the easier ones! Gives me more time to ponder this week’s mathematical Listener Crossword…
Anyway, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo is looking a bit gappy then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, in which you will find links to the last 100+ of these things. Also there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.
Thanks once again for the kind comments. They are much appreciated. Till next time, stay safe, mask up and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere. It’s great that Covid infection levels are markedly dropping, but this rubbish has got some months to run yet.
LP
Across clues
- Exhausted, American journalist on horseback (4,2)
Answer: USED UP (i.e. “exhausted”). Solution is US (i.e. “American”) followed by ED (i.e. “journalist”, specifically a shortened form of “editor”) and UP (i.e. “on horseback”).
- Opening large part of church (7)
Answer: CHANCEL (i.e. “part of church”). Solution is CHANCE (i.e. “opening” or opportunity) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”).
- Fly in food sent back? Do nothing (8)
Answer: STAGNATE (i.e. “do nothing”). Solution is GNAT (i.e. “fly”) placed “in” EATS (i.e. “food”) once reversed (indicated by “sent back”), like so: STA(GNAT)E.
- Song always associated with religious magazine (3,5,3,10)
Answer: ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER (i.e. Jimi Hendrix “song”). Solution is ALL ALONG (i.e. “always”) followed by THE WATCHTOWER (i.e. “religious magazine” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses).
- To co-operate, take part in a game prior to social function (4,4)
Answer: PLAY BALL (i.e. “to co-operate”). Solution is PLAY (i.e. “take part in a game”) followed by or placed “prior to” BALL (i.e. “social function”).
- Given the wrong role in film netting endless money (7)
Answer: MISCAST (i.e. “given the wrong role in film”). Solution is MIST (i.e. “film” – think condensation) wrapped around or “netting” CASH (i.e. “money”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: MIS(CAS)T. Nice bit of recycling.
- Bad storm skirting North Carolina (6)
Answer: RANCID (i.e. “bad”). Solution is RAID (i.e. “storm”) wrapped around or “skirting” NC (US state abbreviation of “North Carolina”), like so: RA(NC)ID.
- British chieftain’s time in capital, mostly, note with us (10)
Answer: CARACTACUS (i.e. “British chieftain” who resisted the Roman conquest of Britain a few years back). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed in CARACAS (i.e. “capital” of Venezuela) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”). This is then followed by C (i.e. musical “note”) and US, like so: CARAC(T)A-C-US. One you’re going to know or not know. Chalk one to my Bradford’s.
- Ostensibly promote excitement by winning flight (4,8)
Answer: KICK UPSTAIRS (i.e. “ostensibly promote”). Solution is KICK (i.e. “excitement”, as in getting one’s kicks) followed by UP (i.e. “winning”) and STAIRS (i.e. “flight”).
- Briefly examine item of jewellery (4)
Answer: STUD (i.e. “item of jewellery”). Solution is STUDY (i.e. “examine”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”).
- Measure of paper covering AGM’s awkward situation (8)
Answer: QUAGMIRE (i.e. “awkward situation”). Solution is QUIRE (i.e. “measure of paper”) wrapped around or “covering” AGM, like so: QU(AGM)IRE. Giggedy.
- Fresh buns – adjust heat to brown? (8)
Answer: SUNBATHE (i.e. “to brown”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fresh”) of BUNS followed by another anagram (this time indicated by “adjust”) of HEAT, like so: SUNB-ATHE. Nicely worked.
- Lends farmer a clapped out old warhorse (8,4)
Answer: FLANDERS MARE (i.e. “old warhorse”). “Clapped out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LENDS FARMER A.
- A head entertaining lecturer in Rhode Island, a Scot (10)
Answer: ABERDONIAN (i.e. “a Scot”). Solution is A followed by BEAN (informal word for a “head”) once wrapped around or “entertaining” DON (i.e. “lecturer”), but not before this has been placed “in” RI (US state abbreviation of “Rhode Island”), like so: A-BE(R(DON)I)AN.
- Few ordered in England originally, being ostentatiously modern! (10)
Answer: NEWFANGLED (i.e. “modern”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of FEW placed inside another anagram (indicated by “originally”) of ENGLAND, like so: N(EWF)ANGLED.
- Inhalant supplied to order? (6,6)
Answer: FRIAR’S BALSAM (“inhalant” of benzoin, storax, tolu and aloes, according to Chambers, whatever the hell they are. Sounds like supernal crack to me). Clue plays on how godly types organise themselves into “orders”. You get the idea. One of those “look up ‘friar’ in Chambers and see what happens” moments.
- Faculty I refer to in speech (8)
Answer: EYESIGHT (i.e. “faculty”). “In speech” indicates solution is a homophone of I CITE (i.e. “I refer to”).
- Learned line to utter repeatedly (8)
Answer: LITERATE (i.e. “learned”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”) followed by ITERATE (i.e. “to utter repeatedly”).
- Ballerina finally retiring, becoming pale (4)
Answer: ASHY (i.e. “pale”). Solution is A (i.e. “ballerina, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “ballerina”) followed by SHY (i.e. “retiring”).
- Here, rest assured (4,2,4,2)
Answer: TAKE IT FROM ME. Solution satisfies “here” (as in ‘have this’) and “rest assured”.
- Bother involving religious instruction given by cunning old bishop’s assistant (10)
Answer: ARCHPRIEST (i.e. “old bishop’s assistant”). Solution is PEST (i.e. “bother”) wrapped around or “involving” RI (a recognised abbreviation of “religious instruction”). This is then fronted “by” ARCH (i.e. “cunning”), like so: ARCH-P(RI)EST.
- Fool can in turn with comedian (6)
Answer: NITWIT (i.e. “fool”). Solution is TIN (i.e. “can”) reversed (indicated by “in turn”) and followed by WIT (i.e. “comedian”), like so: NIT-WIT.
- Show former partner and husband small piece about island (7)
Answer: EXHIBIT (i.e. “show”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former partner”) followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) and BIT (i.e. “small piece”) once wrapped “about” I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”), like so: EX-H-(I)-BIT.
- Study including data about European rat (8)
Answer: RENEGADE (i.e. “rat”). Solution is READ (i.e. “study”) wrapped around or “including” GEN (i.e. “data”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: RE(NEG)AD-E.
- Poet’s literary colleagues do, upset about poem’s ending (6,6,9)
Answer: SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (i.e. “poet”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of LITERARY COLLEAGUES DO wrapped “about” M (i.e. “poem’s ending”, i.e. the last letter of “poem”). Nicely done.
- Fifteen from Ireland – some settle in sterling (8)
Answer: LEINSTER (i.e. “fifteen from Ireland” – a reference to the rugby team). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SETT(LE IN STER)LING.
- Seeing that on, this must be genuine (7)
Answer: SINCERE (i.e. “genuine”). Solution is SINCE (i.e. “seeing that”) followed by RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies).
- Fast, agent crossing river to the west (6)
Answer: SPEEDY (i.e. “fast”). Solution is SPY (i.e. “agent”) wrapped around DEE (i.e. Scottish “river”) once reversed (indicated by “to the west” – this being an across clue), like so: SP(EED)Y.
Down clues
- Delay beginning to seem unlikely (5)
Answer: STALL (i.e. “delay”). Solution is S (i.e. “beginning to seem”, i.e. the first letter of “seem”) followed by TALL (i.e. “unlikely”, as in a tall order or a tall tale).
- Child’s toy with red and navy floppy hat (5,6)
Answer: DOLLY VARDEN (i.e. “hat”). Solution is DOLL (i.e. “child’s toy”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “floppy”) of RED and NAVY, like so: DOLL-YVARDEN.
- Friend, old singer, in a place in California (4,4)
Answer: PALO ALTO (i.e. “place in California”, though not one that sprang to mind). Solution is PAL (i.e. “friend”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and ALTO (i.e. “singer”).
- Waterway with biblical town on left (5)
Answer: CANAL (i.e. “waterway”). Solution is CANA (i.e. “biblical town” in which Jesus did his water-into-wine trick. Fun fact: Paolo Veronese’s painting The Wedding Feast at Cana is not just immensely impressive, it’s also impressively immense, coming in just shy of 7m x 10m) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”).
- Employed by us, now and again? (2,5)
Answer: AT TIMES. Solution satisfies “employed by us” – “us” being a reference to the Times newspaper – and “now and again”.
- What may be brought with a Stilton? Check – see if keen, being curious (6,5)
Answer: CHEESE KNIFE (i.e. “what may be brought with a Stilton”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “check” used in chess) followed by an anagram (indicated by “being curious”) of SEE IF KEEN, like so: CH-EESEKNIFE.
- Pounds carried by monk’s beast of burden (5)
Answer: LLAMA (i.e. “beast of burden”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “pounds” of weight, after the Latin libra) followed by LAMA (i.e. Buddhist “monk”).
- Weird curses involving wrecked tea clippers (9)
Answer: SECATEURS (i.e. “clippers”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “weird”) of CURSES wrapped around or “involving” another anagram (indicated by “wrecked”) of TEA, like so: SEC(ATE)URS. Nicely worked.
- Change flag when heading off (5)
Answer: ALTER (i.e. “change”). Solution is FALTER (i.e. to tire or “flag”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “when heading off”).
- From time to time was successful, turned up with a profit (3,3,5)
Answer: NOW AND AGAIN (i.e. “from time to time”). Solution is WON (i.e. “was successful”) reversed (indicated by “turned up” – this being a down clue) and followed by AND (i.e. “with”), A and GAIN (i.e. “profit”), like so: NOW-AND-A-GAIN. A weird one given the solution was used in the clue for 6d.
- Row involving stray dog (7)
Answer: TERRIER (i.e. “dog”). Solution is TIER (i.e. “row”) wrapped around or “involving” ERR (i.e. to “stray”), like so: T(ERR)IER.
- Big guns, hostile placed in middle of major road (9)
Answer: ARTILLERY (i.e. “big guns”). Solution is ILL (i.e. “hostile”) once “placed in” ARTERY (i.e. “main road”), like so: ART(ILL)ERY.
- Brief local authority by telephone (7)
Answer: COUNSEL (i.e. to advise or “brief”). “By telephone” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of COUNCIL (i.e. “local authority”).
- Gallant French actor and singer (9)
Answer: CHEVALIER. Solution satisfies “gallant” and “French actor and singer”, i.e. Maurice Chevalier.
- Swimmers also not good climbing on board ship (4,4)
Answer: SAND DABS (i.e. “swimmers”). Solution is AND (i.e. “also”) and BAD (i.e. “not good”), the latter reversed (indicated by “climbing” – this being a down clue) and both placed in or “on board” SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: S(AND-DAB)S. One gotten purely through the wordplay, to be honest.
- After fine, slate major championship (5,4)
Answer: GRAND SLAM (i.e. “major championship”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. “fine”) with SLAM (i.e. to “slate”) placed “after” it.
- Senior teacher having pains causes problems (9)
Answer: HEADACHES (i.e. “problems” – rather prescient considering I’ve been battling one all day). Solution is HEAD (i.e. “senior teacher”) followed by ACHES (i.e. “pains”).
- Names within top party (3,5)
Answer: HEN NIGHT (i.e. “party”). Solution is N and N (recognised abbreviations of “name”) placed “within” HEIGHT (i.e. “top”), like so: HE(NN)IGHT.
- Unreliable quote about a bishop coming over (7)
Answer: ERRATIC (i.e. “unreliable”). Solution is CITE (i.e. “quote”) placed “about” A and RR (i.e. “bishop”, specifically a Right Reverend). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “coming over” – this being a down clue), like so: E(RR-A)TIC.
- Angler: he was in form spinning (11)
Answer: FISHERWOMAN (i.e. “angler”). “Spinning” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HE WAS IN FORM.
- Plump, her tanned literary sleuth (6,5)
Answer: FATHER BROWN (G. K. Chesterton’s “literary sleuth”). Solution is FAT (i.e. “plump”) followed by HER and BROWN (i.e. “tanned”).
- Advanced up cliff (7-4)
Answer: LEADING-EDGE (i.e. “advanced”). Solution is LEADING (i.e. “up”) followed by EDGE (i.e. “cliff”).
- Fairly good hotel in a street in resort, close to pier (5-4)
Answer: THREE-STAR (i.e. “fairly good hotel”). Solution is H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “resort”) of A STREET and followed by R (i.e. “close to pier”, i.e. the last letter of “pier”), like so: T(H)REESTA-R. Another nice bit of recycling.
- Outraged at university, current members (2,2,4)
Answer: UP IN ARMS (i.e. “outraged”). Solution is UP (i.e. “at university” – something I’ve seen used far more in cryptic crosswords than anywhere else) followed by IN (i.e. “current”, as in hip and happening, my dudes) and ARMS (i.e. “members” – limbs are sometimes referred to “members”).
- Leader in another paper under discussion (2,5)
Answer: AT ISSUE (i.e. “under discussion”). Solution is A (i.e. “leader in another”, i.e. the first letter of “another”) followed by TISSUE (i.e. “paper”). Bless you.
- Item the Parisian found under lorry (7)
Answer: ARTICLE (i.e. “item”). Solution is LE (i.e. “the Parisian”, i.e. the French for “the”) placed after or “under” ARTIC (i.e. “lorry”) – this being a down clue – like so: ARTIC-LE.
- Pay for another nurse (5)
Answer: TREAT. Solution satisfies to sub or “pay for another” and “nurse”.
- Former US president in state of confusion, they say (5)
Answer: Rutherford B. HAYES (i.e. “former US president”). “They say” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of HAZE (i.e. “state of confusion”).
- Bohemian poet’s anger about Keats, primarily (5)
Answer: Rainer Maria RILKE (i.e. “Bohemian poet”). Solution is RILE (i.e. “anger”) wrapped “about” K (i.e. “Keats, primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “Keats”), like so: RIL(K)E.
- Fear about being caught by the old man (5)
Answer: DREAD (i.e. “fear”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) placed in or “being caught by” DAD (i.e. “the old man”), like so: D(RE)AD.
Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings 
Thank you, Lucian. Let’s hope next week’s is more of a challenge. Come on,Times Jumbo, you can do better. Not one difficult clue. Grrrrr.
I had never heard of friars balsam so was never ever going to get that – perhaps you could show a little more respect to mortals who don’t have your god like knowledge however disappointed you may be by the lack of challenge- maybe it’s time you stopped doing these- then you won’t have the anti-climax any more you
Let’s keep things civil, folks. I don’t think anyone wanting more of a challenge in these things intends to do down the capabilities of other solvers. Solvers will always have opinions on these things, and I believe it’s valid to express them. There are some weeks I’ll struggle on a puzzle other commenters found easy, and vice versa.
I too hadn’t heard of friar’s balsam. Same goes for sand dabs, if I’m honest, plus I couldn’t hand on heart have told you Coleridge’s forenames before this puzzle. As another commenter put it, every day’s a school day! – LP
Yeah well, sorry if that came across as a bit arrogant but there can be no doubt that this week’s puzzle was easier than most. I hadn’t heard of a dolly varden hat or friars balsam but they were both very easily worked out & I just thought that overall the clues were a bit one-dimensional. 27 down was embarrassingly simple & the anagram for 7 down was nonsensical. Cheers anyway.
Disappointing this week. Hardly a stretch. I don’t mind them being so easy in the summer but when you’re stuck indoors so much, especially during lockdown, its nice to have a bit of a grapple!
Thanks for the parsing, as ever. Back next week.
Thanks Lucian. Nice and easy does it, does it every time it seems. A sleazy one for Easter perhaps?
Your giggedy drop-in made me laugh.
Thx for the explanations. I was fixating (12d) on Saltire for the flag, grumbling that they’d made an error, completely overlooking Falter. The joys of crosswords. Thx and stay safe – Graham
Lucian, I used to go to ‘Times for the Times’ for answers and explanations for Jumbos. They also have a comments section. However, after a while I realised that this was mainly made up of a clique of commenters up their own arses. As you say solvers have opinions and it’s valid to express them. But I can also understand Nihonium’s point. Maybe you should post your solutions later in the week. More people would have finished by then, and would be able to contribute. And we wouldn’t see the mad rush from some to be the first to tell us that they’ve finished it because it was so simple! And ‘Yeah well’? ‘Whatever’ next?
For those of us who are still novices it’s quite nice to have an “easy” one now and again. I still struggle at times with some of the wordplay or the “rules” on accepted abbreviations, etc. It was a real confidence boost to find there was only one I struggled on this week and that was Dolly Varden as I’d never heard of it before. At one point I almost convinced myself it was a Dolly Parton until I twigged Stud (doh!). Sorry if it was too easy for some but I enjoyed this one.
Was there a horse connection in that one? For those who think the Jumbos are too easy, why not try solving all the clues without using the grid. It might improve the craic.
Thanks as ever Lucian. Thought we should give Bob Dylan the credit for writing All Along The Watchtower even if Hendrix did a great cover version. I once saw it performed by the Hendrix tribute act Electric Landlady. Great name.