stuboy

That's what I put which makes the second letter in the big fat bird clue an 'o'

BTW how did you get to 'Brownian' from 'Have to stop boy from such a motion

TakenThePlunge

I don't think Othello is right then, now that I look at it more it's definitely ostrich
big = os
tons = t
fat = rich

Brownian have = own
to stop = contained in
boy = brian
actually whenever I see motion with 8 I try to fit brownian in, it's an old favourite :-)

stuboy

I would never have got that. In fact its the first time I've heard of 'Brownian'

I agree you about 'ostrich'

So that leaves;

Unreliable character's part ending in tragedy(7)
S*****O

and

Discontinue Parliamentary sessions for withdrawing inferior plant (5)
R****

Just worked this one out

TakenThePlunge

Brownian motion - watch your tea leaves in a cup of tea :-) That's Brownian motion at work.

So back to the missing clue - that O looks wrong.. I suspect it's more likely to be s*****y from the ending in tragedy...streaky fits the unreliable but don't know how character's part equates to streak

TakenThePlunge

From the Chambers dictionary -- a slight ingredient; trace: a streak of humor.

So a part of character = streak it's definitely streaky.

stuboy

The 'O' comes from

What anorak perhaps does for fatigue (9)

***S*R*I*
My answer was constrain which gives me second letter 'O' I suppose it could be 'eyestrain' which would give us the 'y'

Just got it EYES_TRAIN . Anorak - train spotter

Your a genius


Try this one, it will help with the other

In recession one third off fermented milk product that may contain fruit (4)
*R*G

TakenThePlunge

fermented milk product = yogurt take 1/3 off and turn upside down gives trug which as any gardener will tell you is a basket for fruit or veggies..

Meant to say I'm quite enjoying these - tough but solvable, unlike those Friday DA puzzles in the Sydney Morning Herald, which have me swearing all weekend ... :-)

stuboy

I tried everything with 'yogurt' as the third off is often easy to spot. It was the in recession bit that I couldn't figure. I didn't think about turning it around.

Ta for that.

And lastly what do you suggest for

Snarls and rants about beginning to lose. (6)
*A*E*S

I would be interested to see a few from the Daily Herald

TakenThePlunge

Snarls as in tangles....

I only do Fridays so I'll put some of the more evil ones in here then :-)

stuboy

Damn. I had that and the more I looked at it the less I liked it.

Looking forward to the Herald ones.

A few years ago I was in the US for 3 months. I tried a few ordinary crosswords in the papers and could hardly get started. I remember on two occasions being sat outside with my crossword and coffee and as happens you end up chatting to someone.

Once they realised I was English they were surprised that I couldn't even get what they thought were the simplest of clues. When I saw the answers I was really none the wiser.

Is this the same Down Under?

TakenThePlunge

Actually I've just realised he puts it on line - here's last Fridays


There is the odd one or two where you need Australian knowledge, but in the main very much like a tough Daily Telegraph crossword.

incidentally this is one of his easier ones, I managed to solve it before I got home on the train, a rarity indeed.

stuboy

Thanks for that I'm part way through it.

I'm stuck on 3.

Uncovered more metal resources exploring ridge initially.(5)

B*R**

Sources of energy king found in some wines. (5)
C***S

The last letter of the first one is the third letter of the second one.

TakenThePlunge

Think exploring ridge initially for the last 2 letters


I think that the second is but I can't quite convince myself

TakenThePlunge

7, 11 and 12 are going to need a bit of Aussie knowledge

3 is an anagram

stuboy

That's as far as I got but like yourself couldn't quite convince myself. Its the 'sources of energy' part that is throwing me.
I've tried, corks, cavas, and crus to no avail.

I'll keep thinking.

Will probably be back needing help with the Herald