daily telegraph 25,451

[barbrajay]

Still struggling today!
1d Take time out of thinking for shuttle diplomacy (9)
Is the answer "modernist"?

2d Possibly London's assets (7) - ??P??T?L

6d Holy types church sets free without hesitation (9)
Am I right in thinking that is "celibates" ?

10a From the library of former learner, one book sir wanted back (2,6) EX L?B???

Not doing very well at all today! Help would be appreciated.

[shaneystar2]

10a Ex Libris

[shaneystar2]

2d Capital

[shaneystar2]

Celibates ..CE church sets free ..liberates without er ..hesitation

[barbrajay]

Thanks for the explanations Shaneystar. I really should have got "capital" it was too obvious!

Will struggle on and may come back again for more help later!

[johnalex]

1d Medi(t)ation . . . . take (t)ime out . . . . = Mediation

[johnalex]

9a Action . . . . Act 1 + on (about)

[barbrajay]

Thanks JohnAlex. As soon as I changed it to mediation I realised that 9a was action. I now have a problem with
15a Figure of love (6) which I thought was target and now is N??G?T. Presumably it becomes "nought" ?

16d : Tour going wrong, time to expose scandal (7) I'm not right on that one now.

17a Splendid joke I fed into Scotsman (8) I'll doubtless kick myself but all I can get is ??A?S??C and I'm getting nowhere with that. I've probably gone wrong on 13d which I thought was anarchism.

Sorry! Help!

[johnalex]

Hi Barbra - no need to apologise for anything.
15a Yes, NOUGHT = Love, eg 15-0, fifteen-love

[johnalex]

16d Outrage . . . . outr (tour), age (time)

[barbrajay]

Thanks for the encouragement johnalex. Can you help on 16d and 17a please?

I'm also totally stuck on 19a: special performer to astound Brown, male brought in (8)

[johnalex]

17a Majestic (splendid) . . . . MA jest I C

[johnalex]

19a Stuntman . . . . stun+T(m)AN . . . . m=male

[johnalex]

19a . . . . and of course TAN = brown (not Gordon!)

[barbrajay]

Thanks johnalex. I'm not enjoying this compiler - what have Brown or a Scotsman got to do with the clues? They seem to be decoys and are making my head hurt! Think I'll give the last 4 a rest now and take a fresh look in the morning!

Goodnight, and many thanks again.

[johnalex]

Thanks Barbra - to answer those two points, Mac is your Scotsman, eg MacDonald; plus Brown = Tan. But you're right, too late for all this nonsense, I have just turned into a pumpkin (but don't look any different) - Have a great weekend. ja

[barbrajay]

Ja! Weekend crosswords to come! Am still battling with this one, despite being sleepy.

Last two:

17d fellow starting new deal as a statesman (7)
MAN?E??
24a Wicked activity around American city gets one killed (5)
S???N

That is of course if I'm right in thinking 13d is "abjection"


Barbrajay

[barbrajay]

It's OK johnalex et al: I've got it! 17d is Mandela and 24a is slain! I must be tired - they were really obvious!

Night all! Talk tomorrow?

[kayakamina]

24a Slain......Sin around LA (Los Angeles) =Killed