September 14 2010

Best of Winter 5

icicle

Last batch of Winter wonders this post. Crack as many as you can, relying on genius and/or the camaraderie of the Comment hints and heckles from your fellow Stormers. Next, once the half-dozen are dusted, mix the six initials, and quickly get your own clue[s] ready for Thursday’s shout-out, where we judge the best five clues (one per acrostic word) from all DIY composers.

Let the last batch begin, with my three favourites of the chilly season included:

Weak antenna almost receiving what BBC repeats? (6) [Times 8697 – and 3rd fave]

Male hanging around to enjoy festival (5,4) [Times 8684]

Always go the wrong way, entering junctions (3,5) [Loroso – and Winter’s best clue]

Country singer not very popular at first (5) [Times 8740]

Bond, spy carrying on with English maiden (9) [Paul – and the 2nd best]

Physicist’s routine for splitting mass? (10) [Columba]

CLUE ANSWERS SOON AND HOMEGROWN CLUE COMP TO FOLLOW!

Comments

SK — 14 September at 03:33AM

Got 4 and 6 on the first pass. And a possible for 1 but I'm not convinced...

Matthew Lambert — 14 September at 09:44AM

I agree number 3 is very well done

Mr X — 14 September at 09:50AM

Got 1 at first go. Will ponder the rest.

SK — 14 September at 10:11AM

1 is a nice clue, and agree 3 is clever...but is it borderline for DA's breakfast table test?

Mr X — 14 September at 11:27AM

Got 2 & 5 - 2 has a bit of a tough word in there. I have a potential answer for 3 but it commits the sin of repeating a word from the clue in the answer so I'm probably off-target.

Mr X — 14 September at 02:26PM

Finally, after concentrating too far east, got 4.

philth — 14 September at 02:45PM

3 is fantastic, shame I haven't had the time to get through BoW3/4, these have been great

btw loving Puzzled - there was only one copy of it (left?) at my lbs - a sign of great success?

Mr X — 14 September at 03:24PM

I'd just about given up on 3 when inspiration hit.

SK — 14 September at 03:27PM

I've got all, but I'm not happy with my answer for 2...the wordplay works nicely but the answer is a bit clunky. Seeing Mr X comment I think I may have to go back to revisit. Pity as the initials fit nicely for the acrostic (perhaps the initial is right and I have to rework the rest?) And Mr X, there's no word repeat in 3. Think breakfast table...

Mr X — 14 September at 03:33PM

With the 5 answers I've got, the acronym is clear. SK - For 2, there's a good chance you have the right initial. The answer fits the definition cleanly. The part of the wordplay that I thought was tricky is a bit Shakespearean.

SK — 14 September at 03:41PM

Sounds like I've got the right acronym....though as my answer for 2 is wrong there's no harm in revealing. I had M + CRUISING (hanging) = MUSIC RING. I'll confer with the Bard and come up with the correct answer...

Mr X — 14 September at 04:22PM

SK - your wordplay needs to incorporate the enjoying as well as the hanging.

Mr X — 14 September at 04:59PM

I've got a potential answer for 6. It's initial completes the acronym & it kind of fits. I'll guess I'll just wait & see if it's right.

SK — 14 September at 05:00PM

Yep, that was a weakness in my logic...thanks for the tip.

SK — 14 September at 05:03PM

And Mr X, the clue for 6 fits the definition neatly. The theme is consistent.

Mr X — 15 September at 09:57AM

The penny finally dropped on number 6 at some ungodly hour in the middle of the night.