No sweat for most of this but a momentary hiccup in the SE until I sorted 21a and 18d. I solved it in my car as I hid from some aspects of Sports Day.Solving time ? Just your index finger. (This clue does rather accurately describe one of the writers.). Quickie pun   filler  +  telly  =  philately. Optionally, provide word lengths or an answer pattern to improve results. I still don’t always complete, and it always takes two sessions, one at breakfast, and then hopefully completing over lunch or tea, depending on the daily errand/chore list. (4,6)WIND TUNNEL : A synonym for curve and an underground passageway. The clues were a bit blurry this morning, which made it harder. Published: 31 Jul 2016 . Whisk in the remaining beer. Time has very little to do with it. Use any means available to you – electronic anagram solver, dictionaries (you should see my battery of crossword dictionaries, dictionary of idioms and so on) but most of all read the clue carefully – sometimes several times – and use Big Dave Cryptic Crosswords “The Usual Suspects”. I am also a retired language teacher – TEFL and French – and all I can say to you is do not lose heart! So many brilliant clues but will name 1a as the fave although 30a made me smile knowing who was blogging today! 2) Fry potatoes until golden brown, roughly 10 minutes removing with a slotted spoon or spider. Make a well in centre of flour. Hands out fish and chips with pasta and salad (6), Harry ___, fish and chips king, and creator of Britain's longest established restaurant chain, including one at Cheshire Oaks (7), Fish and chips, cheeseburgers, including oyster starters with thin slices of fish (9), Sale et ____, with salt and vinegar, as fish and chips should be. Thursday - maybe tripe or pigs feet for grandad … Monday - cold roast meat with chips, peas, gravy (laundry day so no time for proper cooking) Tuesday - Liver and onions with mashed potato and maybe carrots. Great stuff from the master with too many top clues to pick a favourite. crossword time can be limited – how did I ever have time to workð. If you are an amateur radio enthusiast, your ‘handle’ is the identifier which you go by, essentially your name. When I use anything else I always let people know. He just doesn’t like to admit it. So when I read some of your contributors saying itâs too easy sometimes, my advice to them is stop moaning, get on with the toughie and remember that there are probably 99% of Telegraph crossword solvers who never write to your blog and find every puzzle a demanding challenge every day. Wednesday - sometimes kippers for grandad or boiled eggs for me. Such was the high quality of today’s puzzle that it’s hard to believe that Jay can deliver anything better, although I hope he’ll certainly not stop trying! He’s all hopped up on shellfish and free ale…he always always writes letter circles. 3-4 tbsp of plain flour, to coat the fish. Hi Ts. Wind, rain, thunder and lightning and widespread snow in the South Island. ***/**** and I just love Jay’s artful clues ! Managed this all-on-my-owny-o but it took me ages…..9d was last in, though I’d twigged the meaning of “handle” from the start. A team of volunteers in wet weather gear had to turn out with chainsaws to clear it all away. You should come and meet us all. Method. (calculate amount according to the size of your pan) Allow approximately 150 g (5 oz) fish per person. 30a   Carol hoards stuff, just a few scraps (10)SMATTERING : Carol here is a verb and is put outside a word meaning stuff or things. That led to the daft situation where if you wanted fish and chips on a Sunday, you had to buy it from the Chinese takeaway. The Crossword Solver found 20 answers to the. The great thing about this blog is the wide range of abilities and opinions. Gradually whisk in beer until batter is smooth or use a hand blender if preferred. 21d   Fruit firms supported by eccentric (7)COCONUT : The abbreviation for a firm or commercial enterprise is repeated and then followed by a word for an eccentric. Oh and ignore what Miffypops is saying about using a pencil for anagrams. Everyone’s a favourite except 16a. I attempt it about three times a week. 1a made me laugh and came a close second. 27a   Sorry to repeat visit (4,5)COME AGAIN : Double definition. Thanks to Jay and good morning to our 2kiwis. Best Fish & Chips in Johannesburg, Greater Johannesburg: Find 5,222 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Fish & Chips and search by price, location, and more. I wouldn’t call using a thesaurus cheating, but I aways try and solve without electronic help. I am French by the way and since discovering this wonderful blog I have progressed in leaps and bounds. 5d   Neglected poor two-timed wife going off (7)OMITTED : An anagram (poor) of TwO-TIMED once the abbreviation for wife has been removed. Cover and leave to stand for 1 hour in the fridge. What holds most new solvers up is reading the clues. Jay rarely fails to produce a top puzzle for us on a Wednesday, and this was certainly another in a long line of enjoyable and eminently solvable grids. My wife and I spent several hours managing five clue answers. 10a   Answer supplied to previous Italian course (5)PASTA : A word meaning previous or happened earlier precedes the abbreviation for answer. 1. Last in was 5d, too ages for the penny to drop. a deed executed by one party, especially one by which a person changes his or her name, originally having the edge ‘polled’ or cut, not indented. brb suggests it is: Make a well in the centre of the mixture and whisk in the ale and vinegar. As a retired chemistry teacher I feel I should declare some professional solidarity with you as my solving skills seem to be on a par with yours. Thanks to Jay and also to the 2K’s whose weather doesn’t sound an awful lot different from ours really. The day I don’t get a kick out of solving the puzzle will be when I stop bothering. I think using a thesaurus is really just a time issue for me. Very cold here – my little grey cells are shivering – well, that’s my excuse anyway. My favourite was 1a. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. All very enjoyable, my favourite part being 27a. Surely 26d does not stand on its own but rather the animal is used to describe a type of party. Pat dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Nevertheless I do also appreciate longer clues when the surface reading is smooth, and my favourite today was 18d. Enter the answer length or the answer pattern to get better results. I guess the Lenten season got us craving some delicious fish dishes. I did not find today’s very easy but got there at the end. Beer battered crispy cod with perfect double cooked chips and minty mushy peas. Cut fish filets into 2 x 1/-1/2-inch pieces. I will ask Kitty what she thinks. We don’t think we are the creme de la creme, but we do enjoy the puzzles and the community and we hope you will too. I enjoy the challenge and try very hard not to “cheat” although my electronic thesaurus is my new best friend. It is a real pleasure to see new people joining in. All very exciting. We have been very grateful to be able to light our fire and appreciate its cheery flames while we solve and blog the crossword. With thanks to Jay and to the shivering Kiwis. & had a smile at 14d. 26d   Party animal (4)STAG : The type of party that often precedes nuptials. Finished this on the train journey from Penzance to Paddington and needed most of the time ***/*** along with some others I was in the cope rather than cape camp ð³ For some reason could not fathom out 15a ð¥ Liked liked 1a & 29a Thanks to the 2x Ks and to Jay ð. The only thing used in solving by me is the tip of my index finger. A very nice puzzle from Jay. Learnt a new word in 22a but best clue for me was 1a. Hello Very Tiny Dave. My childhood memories are of the 50's and again it was a case of always the same meal on a set night of the week. Our best advice would be to keep following this site and working out from the hints how each clue is put together. 17a   Declines home visits (5,2)DROPS IN : A word for declines or turns down and a short word meaning at home. Malt vinegar. ***/***. Nothing is cheating. 7d    Material requiring time and determination (5)TWILL : The abbreviation for time and determination or intent. 24a    Paper put on record (8)DOCUMENT : A double definition. It may not be quite as cold here as in NZ, but it’s unseasonably chilly in London for late May, and my central heating has just switched itself on! Learning, remembering, and enjoying the experience are the prerequisites. Apr 1, 2015 - It’s hard to find good Fish and Chips, but it’s not hard to make good fish and chips! Thanks to the Ks and Jay 2*/4* 24a was my last one in for no explicable reason – perhaps I’ve got used to looking for FT or some such when ‘paper’ is mentioned! In some areas of the country, ‘handle’ is slang for name, and the answer is the process of getting a new name. Thanks also to the setter. I needed a few hints as I thought that was quite tricky. 8 years ago. With golf to play, a dog to walk etc. You got a name check!! If it starts https change this to just http . Sounds good to me as we batten down and crank up the AC here in South Florida…, Managed to walk up to the barber for haircut and picked up a DT on the way – I hate to miss a Jay puzzle.completed over a mug of tea on my return before (yet another) little lie down, which I am still enjoying. Thanks to the setter and very many thanks to the two Kiwis. The two with the greatest appeal for us are 1a, because it made us laugh and 30a because it so accurately describes one of us. IMHO “handle” usually refers to a title or decoration (which surely cannot be changed by 9d) rather more than a name however I rest my case! For the fish: 4 x 180g cod fillets, skin removed Sea salt flakes Once you learn not to do that you are in. 15a   Works out, seeing others mostly surrounding a lad (7)REASONS : A from the clue and a male offspring are inside a word that describes the ‘others’ once its last letter has been removed. What an interesting set of comments today and some new solvers ! Una, to respond to the climate change question. I’m definitely not in the “Read &Write” club. Thx to all. Liked 1a. Dust each piece of fish and … After a really enjoyable visit to our marvellous aquarium yesterday, we’re off to Granville Island today with our grandson and probably a spot of lunch at the Sandbar. Heat oil in a large pan. Many thanks to Jay and to 2kiwis for the hints. For the beer batter: 250ml beer 200g plain flour, plus extra for drudging the fish 5g fresh yeast 1 free-range egg yolk Pinch sugar. (4)STEW : This method of cooking involves long slow simmering. 14d   Basic principles of supporters with piles (5,5)BRASS TACKS : Yes, those underwear supporters once again, and then a word meaning piles or heaps. Many thanks indeed to Mr. Mutch for the superb entertainment and to the 2Ks for their review. Nice mix of relatively straightforward and some head scratchers. Just enjoy the solve. We all started with experiences just like you describe and can assure you that it does eventually come more easily. Thanks Jay, great stuff. I felt very self satisfied today as I steadily progressed through the crossword to be told on completion that some of my answers were wrong.  Taking offence ( 5 ) TWILL: the abbreviation for time and determination or intent John... * for me advice would be to keep warm while cooking the fish strips the. Of curve on subway while putting this together we had a call from a friend at the Hotel. Wednesday - sometimes kippers for grandad or boiled eggs for me leave to stand for 1 in. Leave a comment telling us what you thought of today ’ s excuse. Of this but a momentary hiccup in the sugar and yeast which made it harder times. Large bowl word in 22a but best clue for me enjoyed them all word lengths or an pattern... For their review to clear it all away needed 2kiwis explanations to understand a few back... 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