Sunday Times Prize Crossword 4586 Sunday April 20Th 2014

[mercedita]

Not doing too well this week! I'm stuck on four!
1A Inappropriately insert fowl (10): SPATCHCOCK fits but why?
15A Clue once provided without faith (6): How does SHINTO (faith) fit there?
And 27A Tough, short, novelist was in charge (10). _A_D_E_D_D. Possibly HARDHEADED, but why?
3D Make crazy drunk cheer with me about to offer this? (5,2,6) I have C_E_E, _E, _E_T_E.

Hoping I'm not too late to catch someone awake. Many thanks.

[Mamyalynne]

1 cockfight
15 shinto - hint in so
27 Hard(y) headed (was in charge)
3 Creme de menthe - dement + cheer me

[Mamyalynne]

sorry

1a was looking at wrong crossword

Spatch ( wrongly insert) + cock

[Mamyalynne]

apologise...

Spatchcock means ti insert words etc inappropriately and is also a fowl split lengthways.

Think too much Easter cheer. :-)

[mercedita]

Thanks, Mamyalynne. But I still don't get 1a. How is Spatchcock cockfight?

[Mamyalynne]

it isn't that was in another crossword.

[mercedita]

Thanks, Mamyalynne! Didn't know the first meaning for Spatchcock re inserting a word. Glad you're still around at this time! Can I ask you another very small question? In 15a, which word gave you the letters SO? Was it ONCE?

[Mamyalynne]

Provided is SO

[mercedita]

OK, I'll make a note of that! Don't see why but never mind! Many thanks!
While we're online, Mamyalynne, have you ever tried the cryptic Antico crossword in The Oldie? I think they're great but I've never met anyone who does them & wouldn't know how to go about it. Cheers.

[Mamyalynne]

Never come across it no - suppose not available online?

[mercedita]

It's a monthly subscription magazine, run by Richard Ingrams after he passed Private Eye over to Ian Hislop. Try www.theoldie.co.uk. The Antico Genius crosswords are great. Some of the answers are unclued, or have an extra unnecessary letter which has to be collected to make up a connected word, or there are clues without the definition parts, etc. etc. I really enjoy solving it but would just like to talk about it with someone!.

[Mamyalynne]

I have to say that it sounds beyond me, I like a crossword more straightforward and dislike shall we say twiddly bits, I am sure there are many on here that will do it.

Good luck, happy solving and sorry for all the dithery answering I've done.

[mercedita]

No, it's for me to thank you! I'll try mentioning the Oldie somewhere else maybe but I do like this site. Am getting to know your username and others. I was so pleased to do last week's crossword on my own that I felt like just going on here just to say hi to everyone & "I've done it!" Talk next week hopefully. Thanks again! :-)

[Mamyalynne]

Night night, speak soon. x