Hmmm… I struggled with this one, and although I’m pretty sure I have a correct grid, it is more through the definitions than the wordplay. I’m going to try to piece the last few together while writing this up, if you feel dandruff it is from my head-scratching.
Paul McKenna usually gives a pun in the top row, and the 13×11 grid, rather than the usual 12×12 would seem to indicate something, but I’m lost this time. It is also two words that I suspect, as an Australian living in the USA, I pronounce differently to Paul.
Just to make matters worse, I’m going to be out of town this weekend, so I won’t be able to fill in the gaps until late Sunday or Monday. I’m writing this up early and scheduling it.
Well here goes my best shot…
| Across | |
| 1 | Gregarious solicitor collaring security outfit (6) |
| SOCIAL – SOL(solicitor) containing CIA(American security outfit) | |
| 5 | Writer turned into fat cat (7) |
| LEOPARD – POE(writer) reversed inside LARD(fat) | |
| 11 | Rumble practically spoils retreat (7) |
| TWIGLOO – TWIG(rumble can mean to grasp, to see), then LOOT(spoils) missing the last letter | |
| 14 | Get the better of equestrian lacking aspiration, like her say (9) |
| OUTDOORSY – OUTDO(get the better of), then HORSY(equestrian) without the H | |
| 15 | Hot Bovril leaving black discoloration (5) |
| LIVOR – anagram of BOVRIL minus B(black) | |
| 16 | Do put your foot down, run away briskly (7, two words) |
| CON MOTO – CON(do, swindle), then MOTOR(put your foot down) missing the last letter | |
| 17 | Rest up after test I’ll go to meeting (7) |
| TRYSTER – anagram of REST after TRY(test) | |
| 19 | We care for crook (13, two words) |
| PASTORAL STAFF – double definition based on he meanings of PASTORAL | |
| 21 | Whiten just what you want of soft underwear (7) |
| CAMITOP – CAM(whiten with limestone), IT(just what you want), TO(of), P(soft) | |
| 23 | As heard translate poetically that chunk of book (7) |
| TERNION – I think this is a homophone of TURN(translate), YON(that, poetically) | |
| 24 | A stack of papers question resentment (5) |
| QUIRE – QU(question), IRE(resentment) | |
| 26 | Mineral gypsum mostly round yonks? (9) |
| PLEONASTE – PLASTER(gypsum) missing the last letter around EONS(yonks) | |
| 28 | Pacific island in fantastic increase, as expressed (7) |
| EIRENIC – I(island) inside an anagram of INCREASE minus AS | |
| 29 | Valve succeeded passing check and remained unchanged (7) |
| TETRODE – remove S(succeeded) from TEST(check) then RODE(remained unchanged, particularly of a bet) | |
| 30 | You dive into this because sunshine finally is back (6) |
| COSSIE – ‘COS(because), then the last letter of sinshinE and IS reversed. Modesty and physique mean I think I last wore a cossie in the early 80s and the world is a better place for it. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | ____ keeps small hut out of water (5) |
| STILT – odd clue – the whole does appear to be the definition, wordplay is S(small) TILT(hut) | |
| 2 | New Conservative Party upset para on going for life after service? (11, two words) |
| CIVVY STREET – anagram of CONSERVATIVE,PARTY minus PARA,ON | |
| 3 | At heart The Big Bopper is of some people (4) |
| IGBO – hidden inside the bIG BOpper | |
| 4 | Beloved poet adopting uniform and old cover for opening (11) |
| LOUVER BOARD – LOVER(beloved) and BARD(poet) containing U(uniform) and O(old) | |
| 5 | French department’s prize (3) |
| LOT – double definition | |
| 6 | Limit on credit card? Like some basic living structure (11) |
| ENDOPLASTIC – END(limit), O(on), PLASTIC(credit card) | |
| 7 | Suggest short esplanade near port (6) |
| PROMPT – PROM(esplanade), PT(port) | |
| 8 | Acts of axing and reversal go with bonsai art strangely (11) |
| ABROGATIONS – anagram of GO,BONSAI,ART | |
| 9 | Cordlike it is rising through mend (9) |
| RESTIFORM – IT’S reversed inside REFORM(mend) | |
| 10 | Rest in shed, yes inside (6, two words) |
| DAY OFF – DOFF(shed) with AY(yes) inside | |
| 12 | Mostly good doctrine reversing crime in crowd (6) |
| BONISM – SIN(crime) inside MOB(crowd), all reversed | |
| 13 | Plum before roar in Slough (9) |
| MIRABELLE – A(before), BELL(roar, bellow) inside MIRE(slough) | |
| 18 | Regularly knocking back sauce in need of wallop’s last drop (6) |
| TOPING – TOPPING(sauce) missing the last letter of walloP | |
| 19 | Stone perfectly makes step (6) |
| PIT-PAT – PIT(stone), PAT(perfectly) | |
| 20 | Old course found by nurse during shift (6) |
| TENOUR – EN(nourse), inside TOUR(shift of duty). Course meaning drift here | |
| 22 | Quiet exercises are core wanting gold (5) |
| PEACE – PE(exercises), A(are), then CORE missing OR(gold) | |
| 25 | Instruments blowing the lid on microwaves (4) |
| UKES – NUKES(microwaves) missing the first letter | |
| 27 | Date gave the appearance of being without medicine (3) |
| SEE – SEEMED(gave the appearance of) missing MED(medicine) | |
A tough, but rewarding, puzzle. Mr McKenna certainly gets you delving into the nooks and crannies of Chambers.
Midas
I try to ignore the top row pun when solving and it certainly didn’t cost me anything in this one. No idea what it’s meant to be
I thought it was a good challenging puzzle