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The Answer Bank: "Postcard From Hedge-Sparrow" ( Www.crossword.org.uk/ )
14 Answers
Good afternoon, a formidable challenge from the Crossword Centre with “Postcard from Hedge-Sparrow”. It carries a lengthy and what looks like an awe-inspiring preamble. (www.crossword.org.uk/postcard.html)
Location .......................................... Activity ................................................
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.
For my own edification, I’ve dared to attempt it but am stuck on some clues for which I would appreciate assistance. Thanks in advance!
ACROSS:
9 Instrument converting bit of sludge into tritium in Brent reservoir (7): ????E?E
21 Hero’s initial repugnance after lion escapes keepers (6) : HA????
22 Tragic overture not finished – use organ (6) : ???R??
29 Turning pale, son dresses for fishing (4) : ?EB?
30 In New Year, gathering breed of dairy cattle together (8): I???????
DOWN:
3 Feel Victor needs to get into line (4) : LE??
7 Coy champion losing weight - the bit around the middle (5) : ??N?N
8 Share cycling tour in outskirts of French quarter (6): ??T?T?
14 Country’s rod of authority captured in mounted art (6) : R?????
23 Agreement to doff hat for threepence (4) : ?R??
28 Halt carouser’s terrible slurring when skinned (6) : ????E?
35 Take e.g. trifle from one local branch (5) : ?NA??
Location .......................................... Activity ................................................
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.
For my own edification, I’ve dared to attempt it but am stuck on some clues for which I would appreciate assistance. Thanks in advance!
ACROSS:
9 Instrument converting bit of sludge into tritium in Brent reservoir (7): ????E?E
21 Hero’s initial repugnance after lion escapes keepers (6) : HA????
22 Tragic overture not finished – use organ (6) : ???R??
29 Turning pale, son dresses for fishing (4) : ?EB?
30 In New Year, gathering breed of dairy cattle together (8): I???????
DOWN:
3 Feel Victor needs to get into line (4) : LE??
7 Coy champion losing weight - the bit around the middle (5) : ??N?N
8 Share cycling tour in outskirts of French quarter (6): ??T?T?
14 Country’s rod of authority captured in mounted art (6) : R?????
23 Agreement to doff hat for threepence (4) : ?R??
28 Halt carouser’s terrible slurring when skinned (6) : ????E?
35 Take e.g. trifle from one local branch (5) : ?NA??
Answers
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9 CITTERN - replace the 's[ludge]' of ci[s]tern (='reservoir') with T(ritium) ['Brent' is extra].
21 HAVERS 'H(ero)' + [L]ion with 'L' as the extra letter, so remove ion from AVERSion = 'repugnance'.
22 'not finished' = over (for 'finished') is removed from (over)TURE and anag this + US[e] (the 'e' is extra) for UTERUS
29 it's 'pal[e]' = BUD (reversed) + S ['e' extra] DUBS (def - 'dresses a fly for fishing').
30 AYRSHIRE anag ('new') YEAR +SHIR (= 'gathering') with 'E' missing from wordplay.
21 HAVERS 'H(ero)' + [L]ion with 'L' as the extra letter, so remove ion from AVERSion = 'repugnance'.
22 'not finished' = over (for 'finished') is removed from (over)TURE and anag this + US[e] (the 'e' is extra) for UTERUS
29 it's 'pal[e]' = BUD (reversed) + S ['e' extra] DUBS (def - 'dresses a fly for fishing').
30 AYRSHIRE anag ('new') YEAR +SHIR (= 'gathering') with 'E' missing from wordplay.
1 to 14 of 14
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