21. Militant strategy first seen in York Minster restoration (8) ENTRYISM. A political strategy once employed by the Militant movement - Y (first seen in York) + MINSTER all anagrammed (restoration)
2. Egyptian workers do badly on human rights (11) TUTANKHAMUN. Egyptian Pharaoh. - TU (Trade Unions, workers) + TANK (do badly) + HAMUN (anagram of human, indicated by “rights” meaning corrects
Merry Christmas to all and thanks for making the last three days waylaid in bed with flu bearable with the company of PBers right or wrong - some of the comments were very useful in helping getting me angry to sweat the bug out!
I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy day with no dramas.
One of the cold war myths was that the best time to attack the US with nuclear weapons would be 3:00 am EST. This is when numbers on duty would be the lowest and people at their least attentive. Something to look forward to every Xmas morning.
One of the cold war myths was that the best time to attack the US with nuclear weapons would be 3:00 am EST. This is when numbers on duty would be the lowest and people at their least attentive. Something to look forward to every Xmas morning.
This is also why the "reminder to move" on fitbits and Apple Watches is at ten minutes to the hour, so that people will be encouraged to go and get their dose of caffeine with time to return to their stations before the scheduled nuclear attack on the hour.
One of the cold war myths was that the best time to attack the US with nuclear weapons would be 3:00 am EST. This is when numbers on duty would be the lowest and people at their least attentive. Something to look forward to every Xmas morning.
Plus they’d be occupied with the radar tracking Santa’s sleigh bollox.
My son just spent twenty minutes playing 'Jingle Bells' over and over on his guitar upstairs.
He stopped about half an hour ago, yet I can still hear 'Jingle Bells' playing in my brain.
MAKE IT STOP!!!!
Fun fact: Jingle Bells is not a Christmas song. It was written for Thanksgiving. There's no mention of, or even implication of, Christmas in the lyrics.
Though you might want to double check this before setting as a quiz question!
22 Across ATTLEE Clement. - (B)ATTLE (fight) initially lost + E (European) 4 Down. TUNISIAN - UNI (educational institution) inside (inspired by) TSIAN (anagram of saint, indicated by extraordinary). 9 Across. TUGENDHAT Tom. Tory and former Minister of State for Security - TUG (upset GUT - stomach) + anagram of AND THE (indicated by runs).
26 Across PENINSULA The Peninsula War, 1807-14, was fought in the Iberian Peninsula - PEN (Writer) + IN + SU (US, America, returned) + LA (city - Los Angeles)
Morning all and a very merry Christmas. A particularly good one for me this year. I was due back offshore on 23rd but the rig was damaged in the recent bad weather and now I am postponed to 3rd January. So an unexpected Christmas at home.
Merry Xmas to all. Me and the better half are alone this year - the four offspring, partners and grandkids are all elsewhere - for the first time in 20 years.
We are absolutely devastated. It means we have to share a rib of beef (with Yorkshires) between us, drink good wine, watch whatever we want on TV, have an afternoon nap, and end the day not completely exhausted and run off our feet. Yippee.
Bravura performance from @BlancheLivermore this morning. I regard the ability to solve crosswords as evidence of a mis-spent youth. I clearly mis-spent my youth some other way. Wish I could remember how.
Morning all and a very merry Christmas. A particularly good one for me this year. I was due back offshore on 23rd but the rig was damaged in the recent bad weather and now I am postponed to 3rd January. So an unexpected Christmas at home.
Hope those on the rig are ok and that anyone planning to come onshore for Christmas made it.
Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.
This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:
• Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks. • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions. • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs. • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage. • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.
Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.
This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:
• Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks. • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions. • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs. • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage. • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.
Bravura performance from @BlancheLivermore this morning. I regard the ability to solve crosswords as evidence of a mis-spent youth. I clearly mis-spent my youth some other way. Wish I could remember how.
I love cryptic clues, thanks to @stjohn for another cryptic Christmas cracker
I remember the first clue that was explained to me, by an English teacher when I was about twelve:
Vast fire destroyed top hotel (4,4)
FIVE STAR
I knew then that I wanted to learn how to solve them, but didn't teach myself until I was at uni - when I was meant to be learning maths
I've solved a few more clues from this puzzle, but I don't want to hog the whole thing..
Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.
This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:
• Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks. • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions. • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs. • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage. • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.
Morning all and a very merry Christmas. A particularly good one for me this year. I was due back offshore on 23rd but the rig was damaged in the recent bad weather and now I am postponed to 3rd January. So an unexpected Christmas at home.
Hope those on the rig are ok and that anyone planning to come onshore for Christmas made it.
Yep. All okay and a few more of us onshore than originally planned so some unexpected good cheer.
Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.
This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:
• Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks. • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions. • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs. • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage. • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.
Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.
This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:
• Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks. • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions. • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs. • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage. • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.
Bravura performance from @BlancheLivermore this morning. I regard the ability to solve crosswords as evidence of a mis-spent youth. I clearly mis-spent my youth some other way. Wish I could remember how.
I love cryptic clues, thanks to @stjohn for another cryptic Christmas cracker
I remember the first clue that was explained to me, by an English teacher when I was about twelve:
Vast fire destroyed top hotel (4,4)
FIVE STAR
I knew then that I wanted to learn how to solve them, but didn't teach myself until I was at uni - when I was meant to be learning maths
I've solved a few more clues from this puzzle, but I don't want to hog the whole thing..
I was at a party many years ago and got chatting to a guy. The usual small-talk "Oh, so what is it you do?" and he explained he set the crossword for one of the broadsheets. And I did a big "Wow! That's amazing! Tell me about it! That's so cool!".
He thought I was taking the p*ss and I had to apologetically explain that, no, really, I was super excited about it!
Comments
Cheers for making this, Mr. John.
Merry Christmas all !
Much appreciation for our crossword compiler; I'll follow the results, but catering responsibilities will preclude even my usual feeble efforts.
The only day of the year when Wifey doesn’t shout at me for drinking at 10am, and even asks for a class of Champagne herself!
If I can kick things off with 21 across, I believe the answer is entryism.
ENTRYISM. A political strategy once employed by the Militant movement
- Y (first seen in York) + MINSTER all anagrammed (restoration)
Good morning and Happy Christmas everyone. Thank you to all whose effort has made this place of meeting possible.
TUTANKHAMUN. Egyptian Pharaoh.
- TU (Trade Unions, workers) + TANK (do badly) + HAMUN (anagram of
human, indicated by “rights” meaning corrects
AMIN Idi. Ugandan dictator
- A + MIN (minute)
https://www.mixcloud.com/radiowinchcombe/night-train-with-martha-richler-aka-marf-22-december-2022-an-oscar-wilde-christmas/
Although Gorbachev did resign on Xmas Day, if Pres Putin needs a hint....or, alternatively, Ceausescu met his end on this day.
https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1871826731666985172
Happy Christmas PB.
Traditional breakfast of chocolate orange, Percy Pigs and Toblerone being served in the Foxy household.
Rudder. Amber RUDD + ER - emergency room.
Or at least I think so!
PHILIP HAMMOND
Also an eagle is a score in golf that is two under par.
- Anagram indicated by cavorting of PM + I (one) + HON MP + HILDA
REMAIN(D)ER
Brexit
- REMAIN(D)ER (those left behind) not having D (died)
He stopped about half an hour ago, yet I can still hear 'Jingle Bells' playing in my brain.
MAKE IT STOP!!!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy day with no dramas.
https://x.com/Turbinetraveler/status/1871824125246808395
Merry Christmas everyone.
And now we peel carrots.
Fun nonetheless.
https://x.com/POTUS/status/1871692330895319092
Though you might want to double check this before setting as a quiz question!
May all your political bets pay out.
(B) ATTLE + E
On this day, let us remember that we are a community, and while we may disagree, it is this unnatural interest in politics that binds us together.
TUGENDHAT
TUNISIAN
UNI in (SAINT)*
- (B)ATTLE (fight) initially lost + E (European)
4 Down. TUNISIAN
- UNI (educational institution) inside (inspired by) TSIAN (anagram of saint,
indicated by extraordinary).
9 Across. TUGENDHAT Tom. Tory and former Minister of State for Security
- TUG (upset GUT - stomach) + anagram of AND THE (indicated by runs).
WHATSAPP
WHAT + PPS<- + A
PENINSULA
I do admire people who can solve crossword clues, of the sort we have each Christmas. My brain just doesn't work that way.
- WHAT (Pardon) + SPP (PPS, parliamentary private secretary - minister’s
assistant) reversed (spinning) around (over) A
- PEN (Writer) + IN + SU (US, America, returned) + LA (city - Los Angeles)
Edited extra bit: also, roast carrots and parsnips are fantastic.
We are absolutely devastated. It means we have to share a rib of beef (with Yorkshires) between us, drink good wine, watch whatever we want on TV, have an afternoon nap, and end the day not completely exhausted and run off our feet.
Yippee.
Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.
This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:
• Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks.
• Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
• Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs.
• Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage.
• Air raid alarms declared nationwide.
https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1871781152748703896
I remember the first clue that was explained to me, by an English teacher when I was about twelve:
Vast fire destroyed top hotel (4,4)
I knew then that I wanted to learn how to solve them, but didn't teach myself until I was at uni - when I was meant to be learning maths
I've solved a few more clues from this puzzle, but I don't want to hog the whole thing..
WILSON
(IN SLOW)*
Elon Musk: "Not officially."
Netanyahu: *laughs* — "OK, so you're the unofficial president..."
https://x.com/TheTNHoller/status/1871687955267641509
It’s the MIRV Griffin show… ands here’s MIRV!
He thought I was taking the p*ss and I had to apologetically explain that, no, really, I was super excited about it!
WATSON
waits on, minus i
LEO AMERY
but I can't see how oam is 'over America'
'over revolutionary' (Mao backwards) maybe? @stjohn ?
Or is o over, and am America?
Edit.. of course o is over. Cricket scoreboard abbreviation
ENGELS
GELS (bonds) with E and N (bridge opponents)
NATO
tan backwards and o for over
- Anagram (indicated by motion) of IN SLOW
11across. ENGELS Friedrich. German philosopher and political theorist
- GELS (bonds) with E N (opponents round a bridge table - East and North)
12 across. LEO AMERY Former Tory minister and advocate of British imperialism
- LEERY (suspicious) with O (over) + AM (America) being taken inside
5 down. WATSON. Lord Tom Watson, a Labour peer
WAITS ON (attends to) without (missing) I (individual)