Religion and Ethics Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: SusanDoris on June 04, 2018, 08:21:57 AM
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As I think I might have mentioned recently, I am subscribed to the Daily Telegraph crosswords. I can print them off and put them on my CCTV and, if I know the answer, I can pencil in the letters.
The quick ones I can usually do almost all clues, and then I can find the remaining ones by going to the 'view solution' link.
However, the cryptic on Saturdays doesn't have the answers until 8 days later, so I am hoping one of you did the cryptic this last Saturday, 2nd \June.
1 across and 1 down I can't do. Well can't do quite a lot of the others, although I have got more than half of right-hand side of grid.
Anyone got the answers? I have just tried googling crossword clue answers but no luck so far.
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MMM
Yet you're SO certain no outside deities exist!?!?!? ;)
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MMM
Yet you're SO certain no outside deities exist!?!?!? ;)
'Oooh, goody!!' An answer, I thought, only to have my hopes dashed! :d
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What are the clues Susan?
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What are the clues Susan?
1 across: Next X-ray should be here in hospital directory. (9)
1 down: Most of capital area is upwardly mobile. (4)
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1d is "ALSO" -
Most of Oslo (a capital) plus A (Area) all reversed (ie, "upwardly mobile" as it's a down clue) for a synonym for "too".
Are you sure 1 ac has 9 letters?
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I ask because the answer seems to be AFTERWARDS (ie, 10 letters - synonym for "next" plus could be read as "after wards") but I suppose AFTERWARD fits too if it's a one-ward hospital!). Not a great clue though - the "X-Ray" bit doesn't punch its weight.
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I ask because the answer seems to be AFTERWARDS (ie, 10 letters - synonym for "next" plus could be read as "after wards") but I suppose AFTERWARD fits too if it's a one-ward hospital!). Not a great clue though - the "X-Ray" bit doesn't punch its weight.
thank you very much for both posts. I have just looked again at 1 down and realised I forgot to type the word 'too' which comes at the end!
I had thought of also of course, but couldn't work out why.
I'd really like to have a word with the compilers sometimes!!! :)
It doesn't matter how long I take to do them or how many I do, but it does give me something else to do which needs thinking, even though I have to have the magnification up quite high and my nose practically touching the screen!! :D
Just looked again at clue - sorry!! yes 1 across is 10 letters.
I shall now spend time for a couple of days pondering on the down clues from 1 across......
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No problem Susan. I admit that I looked up the clue for 1d online because I couldn't make sense of it, which is where I found the missing "too". Then I assumed that the "A" of "ALSO" would give me the first letter of 1ac and figured it out from there.
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No problem Susan. I admit that I looked up the clue for 1d online because I couldn't make sense of it, which is where I found the missing "too". Then I assumed that the "A" of "ALSO" would give me the first letter of 1ac and figured it out from there.
Much appreciated. I hope you've seen edits on my previous post... ...
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Hi Susan,
Much appreciated. I hope you've seen edits on my previous post... ...
No problem, and yes I saw the edits. Happy to to help if you get stuck!
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'Oooh, goody!!' An answer, I thought, only to have my hopes dashed! :d
AHA A really clever HA HA HA reply that & solved ALL our problems guru-Ji!!!!!
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Those cryptic clues are gobbledegook.
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Those cryptic clues are gobbledegook.
But when you have, for instance, been puzzling over one for a day or three and then realise the answer, it is very satisfying!!
And then what is needed is one of those face/palm emoticons!
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Hi Susan,
But when you have, for instance, been puzzling over one for a day or three and then realise the answer, it is very satisfying!!
And then what is needed is one of those face/palm emoticons!
What's curious too I used to find was that I could look at a crossword clue for ages with no success, go and make coffee or something and when I looked at it again solve it more or less immediately. It's as if the brain got that twirly thing that computers get when everything freezes, you turn it off and on again, and it all works fine.
Incidentally, if you're a crossword enthusiast you'd like I think Sandy Balfour's memoir "Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose". It's a lovely book with a recurrent crossword theme. Not sure if it's available in large print or audio format, but worth looking out if it is. Here's a link to it on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pretty-Girl-Crimson-Rose-Crosswords/dp/1843540894
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Hi Susan,
What's curious too I used to find was that I could look at a crossword clue for ages with no success, go and make coffee or something and when I looked at it again solve it more or less immediately. It's as if the brain got that twirly thing that computers get when everything freezes, you turn it off and on again, and it all works fine.
Incidentally, if you're a crossword enthusiast you'd like I think Sandy Balfour's memoir "Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose". It's a lovely book with a recurrent crossword theme. Not sure if it's available in large print or audio format, but worth looking out if it is. Here's a link to it on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pretty-Girl-Crimson-Rose-Crosswords/dp/1843540894
Thank you - yes, I have seen reference to that book. So now I phoned the RNIB and they have it available in braille, which is even better, especially as it is only four braille volumes! Have you ever seen the size of these?! E.g. four volumes = one small paperback!
I've never been a crossword addict, but always did them when I had time. It's like Scrabble - I can still have a game with one of my granddaughters about once a year, but she has to put the letters in place! I thought I might be able to do that on line, but it's too difficult. Once I'd realised how I could use the Telegraph's crossword site, I got the Tech chap to sort it out .
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Just a thought Susan - the book is available as a Kindle version so it's been digitised. Is there not some way that you could obtain it on screen but in extra large format so you could read it that way?
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PS Susan - Did you complete the clues that drop down from 1ac?
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Just a thought Susan - the book is available as a Kindle version so it's been digitised. Is there not some way that you could obtain it on screen but in extra large format so you could read it that way?
No, I’m afraid not. Huge font I could read a word at a time, but otherwise it’s Snthetic Dave! My peripheral vision (to the top, right sideand lower edge of right eye) gives me quite an all-round view of things to the horizon, but blurred and no detail. However, this enables me to be completely independent fortunately.
PS Susan - Did you complete the clues that drop down from 1ac?
3 and 5 yes, but 2 and 4 not yet! I’ll type clues below, but don’t want them answered yet!! :)
2 down: Hoards made by 29 ground squirrels, oddly. (9) First letter T 8th R
4 down: Norm is too old, rejecting one blood type after another. (7) A blank E and last letter E
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Ok Susan - I'll keep the answers to myself then ;)
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PS Susan - in case you're going wrong, for 2d the "R" is the seventh letter, not the eighth.
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PS Susan - in case you're going wrong, for 2d the "R" is the seventh letter, not the eighth.
:) Yes, I mis-counted - I do have it in the right place!
The answers that fit are treasures - two other across clues I've just done confirm the s's - and average. However, if they are wrong pleas don't say yet!! If they are right, can you explain why, please?
Hoards - treasures
Norm - average
the rest might well be redundant!
On radio 4 it is 6:0 p.m. - any idea why it is 6:06 on this post?
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Hi Susan – yes both correct.
2d: Hoards made by 29 ground squirrels, oddly (9)
TREASURES is the synonym for “hoards”. The first four letters refer to the answer to clue 29, which I assume has alternate letters that give you “TREA” (that’s the “oddly”). The last five letters are the alternate letters of “squirrels” (again, the alternate letters are indicated by the use of “oddly”).
4 down: Norm is too old, rejecting one blood type after another (7)
AVERAGE is the synonym for “norm”. The “too old” gives you “OVER AGE” but if you reject one blood type (ie, type “O”) at the beginning in favour of another (ie, type “A”) that changes the OVER AGE into AVERAGE.
Et voila!
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:) Yes, I mis-counted - I do have it in the right place!
The answers that fit are treasures - two other across clues I've just done confirm the s's - and average. However, if they are wrong pleas don't say yet!! If they are right, can you explain why, please?
Hoards - treasures
Norm - average
the rest might well be redundant!
On radio 4 it is 6:0 p.m. - any idea why it is 6:06 on this post?
The time is caused by the server that the message board sits on being 'fast'. We don't have any control over it and when it gets to around 8 minutes or so The Powers that Be usually reset it.
Alternatively it's just to make everyone think it's a bit later than it actually is, so that when Mods say 'Come along now, don't you lot have homes to go to?', then we can get you chucked out a bit quicker.
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bluehilside
Thank you. I had looked at clue 29 but will now do so again to see what you mean
I may well come back with a couple more clues tomorrow ... ... e.g. Sulphur used in crop dries. (5) 'begins with O.
I bet you've got it already! :)
NS
Thank you - I have never noticed the timing before! :)
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No problem Susan (and yes I have!)
PS And I think it should be "driers", not "dries"...
PPS Possibly knowing the chemical symbol for Sulphur may help you too ;)
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No problem Susan (and yes I have!)
PS And I think it should be "driers", not "dries"...
You are right - I have just turned on CCTV and peered more closely and there is that extra r! I realised the answer yesterday evening - oasts - and thought to myself , that's funny, I don't thinkI have ever in my life thought of oast as a verb! That extra r makes all the difference.
PPS Possibly knowing the chemical symbol for Sulphur may help you too ;)
Yes I knew that S was sulphur but to begin with I was trying to add it to the letters in crop.
Just a few spaces now, so I would like to fill in the following, please!
One’s trapping in river areas (5) A blank R blank S
Cabinet perhaps goes off to the Left –- maturity comes later? (7)S blank T blank A blank E
The T could be wrong, but I don’t think so.
There are a few other empty squares, but I don’t care!!! :))
I think I’ll give myself a rest today and print off tomorrow’s – and of course the answers for those will be available on Friday.
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I don't usually do crosswords, but I like a good cryptic clue, e.g. "She has copper wire, thin but very strong (9)". The ones mentioned earlier are just ridiculous.
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I don't usually do crosswords, but I like a good cryptic clue, e.g. "She has copper wire, thin but very strong (9)". The ones mentioned earlier are just ridiculous.
:) Answer to that clue, please, or at least a letter or two!!
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Herculean.
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Herculean.
Thank you, and now I know this, I bet the clue won't reappear for ages!
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My friend's father is a crossword setter for the Herald and this is a nice wee article about him.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/16103970.Clued_up__the_fiendish_mind_behind_The_Herald_s_Wee_Stinker_crossword/
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My friend's father is a crossword setter for the Herald and this is a nice wee article about him.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/16103970.Clued_up__the_fiendish_mind_behind_The_Herald_s_Wee_Stinker_crossword/
Very good article - thank you for posting the link. He and his wife sound like a lovely couple and would be most interesting to meet.
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SteveH,
I don't usually do crosswords, but I like a good cryptic clue, e.g. "She has copper wire, thin but very strong (9)". The ones mentioned earlier are just ridiculous.
The "wire" is redundant. "She meets copper, thin...etc" say would be better. "She"and "her" aren't synonyms either - the perfect clue has to be exact and every word should punch its weight. Something like, "Britney Spears confused religious folk (13)" perhaps.
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SteveH,
The "wire" is redundant. "She meets copper, thin...etc" say would be better. "She"and "her" aren't synonyms either - the perfect clue has to be exact and every word should punch its weight. Something like, "Britney Spears confused religious folk (13)" perhaps.
Ah my favourite anagram
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NS,
Ah my favourite anagram
Mine too, though I like ones that by co-incidence could have have connections too (married/admirer, silent/listen, deductions/discounted, angered/enraged). Carthorse/orchestra is an oldie but a goody as well.
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By way of a coda, "Eleven plus two/Twelve plus one" being anagrams and having the same answer has a certain appeal.
Oh, and "public relations" rather pleasingly produces, "lies built on crap" too.
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I was at a quiz when the question was asked which ten letter word can you type from the top alphabet line of a qwerty keyboard. We came up with an answer which was right but wasn't the one appropriate one that the quizmaster was looking for. Another team came up with a third. The appropriate one is fun though
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SteveH,
The "wire" is redundant. "She meets copper, thin...etc" say would be better. "She"and "her" aren't synonyms either - the perfect clue has to be exact and every word should punch its weight. Something like, "Britney Spears confused religious folk (13)" perhaps.
I'm going to play the *blind card* here and do a bit of special pleading - it is going to take me too long to do that, so please may I have the answerstraight away? Thank you.
ETA: And may I beg for answers to clues mentioned a few posts back, please? :D
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NS,
I was at a quiz when the question was asked which ten letter word can you type from the top alphabet line of a qwerty keyboard. We came up with an answer which was right but wasn't the one appropriate one that the quizmaster was looking for. Another team came up with a third. The appropriate one is fun though
The pleasing answer is TYPEWRITER, but there is a longer one than that...
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NS,
The pleasing answer is TYPEWRITER, but there is a longer one than that...
More than one but the question both freed and restricted people. So one longer word is very obvious if you come up with a specific 10 letter word. Yet the team didn't
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Hi Susan,
I'm going to play the *blind card* here and do a bit of special pleading - it is going to take me too long to do that, so please may I have the answerstraight away? Thank you.
PRESBYTERIANS (anagram of BRITNEY SPEARS).
ETA: And may I beg for answers to clues mentioned a few posts back, please?
Sorry, I missed them before. OK:
One’s trapping in river areas (5)
ACRES - synonym is “areas”. “One’s is “ACE’S” that “traps” a river, ie “R”.
Cabinet perhaps goes off to the Left –- maturity comes later? (7). The T could be wrong, but I don’t think so.
I’m not liking that “T” there I’m afraid. The answer is STORAGE. A cabinet perhaps is for storage. “Goes off” is ROTS but it’s reversed (“to the left” in an across clue). “Maturity” is AGE, that “comes later” – ie, after the first bit.
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PS Susan,
What's the clue that's given you an answer with a "T" in the wrong place by the way?
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And Presbyterians and Britney Spears are also anagrams of Nearby Priests - my hat is doffed to bhs for this point made some time ago
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Hi Susan,
PRESBYTERIANS (anagram of BRITNEY SPEARS).
Sorry, I missed them before. OK:
ACRES - synonym is “areas”. “One’s is “ACE’S” that “traps” a river, ie “R”.
I’m not liking that “T” there I’m afraid. The answer is STORAGE. A cabinet perhaps is for storage. “Goes off” is ROTS but it’s reversed (“to the left” in an across clue). “Maturity” is AGE, that “comes later” – ie, after the first bit.
Thank you very much. TheACRES one I would never have worked out!
I thought it was age at the end, but I must remember to try reversing things when I see right or Left in future!
The down clue which now ends in O is:After artist died, half of score is set to be heard(5) begins with R (from afterwards). The third letter I wasn’t sure of because it belongs to one of the words I’m not bothered about!
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Hi Susan,
Thank you very much. TheACRES one I would never have worked out!
I thought it was age at the end, but I must remember to try reversing things when I see right or Left in future!
No problem, and I'm sure you'd have got it anyway ;)
The down clue which now ends in O is:After artist died, half of score is set to be heard(5) begins with R (from afterwards). The third letter I wasn’t sure of because it belongs to one of the words I’m not bothered about!
Try RADIO. A radio is “a set to be heard”. The artist is Royal Academician (“RA”) followed by “D” (“died”) and the “IO” looks like the number 10, which is half a score.
Quite a convoluted clue!
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Hi Susan,
No problem, and I'm sure you'd have got it anyway ;)
Try RADIO. A radio is “a set to be heard”. The artist is Royal Academician (“RA”) followed by “D” (“died”) and the “IO” looks like the number 10, which is half a score.
Quite a convoluted clue!
Thank you.
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Thank you.
No problem Susan. What was the word you weren't "bothered about" by the way?!
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No problem Susan. What was the word you weren't "bothered about" by the way?!
:D Okay, here are the remaining clues for which I have odd letters but not answers! This is quite good exercise toofor both mind and body , as I have the CCTV in the front room and the computer in the back, soI hop up from here, read the clue, memorise it, come and post it and repeat until finished!
9 across: Take and squander? (5) S blank E blank D but since the D is from radio , I now assume the word is SPEND.
21 across: ,... following grasping half-idle mum (7) s blank L blank N bank E
The L might be wrong.
This clue follows another ending in ... : Lose heart, having endless need to accommodate dad ... ( DESPAIR
28 across: King being shown in reduced one's rank, having stripes (5) S blank U blank K
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Blimey Susan, am I getting paid for this? ;)
OK:
Okay, here are the remaing clues for which I have odd letters but not answers! This is quite good exercise toofor both mind and body , as I have the CCTV in the front room and the computer in the back, soI hope up from here, read the clue, memorise it, come and thpe it and repeat until finished!
9 across: Take and squander? (5) S blank E blank D but since the D is from radio , I now assume the word is SPEND.
Yes it is. SPEND can have either meaning.
21 across: ,... following grasping half-idle mum (7) s blank L blank N bank E
The L might be wrong.
This clue follows another ending in ... : Lose heart, having endless need to accommodate dad ... ( DESPAIR
Bit confused by this (is this one clue or two?) but the answer is SILENCE (so the "L" isn't wrong). To keep Mum is silence, so that’s the synonym. “Following” gives you “SINCE”, which “grasps” (ie, wraps around) half of “idLE”, ie the LE in the middle.
28 across: King being shown in reduced one's rank, having stripes (5) S blank U blank K
SKUNK. “King” is “K” which is “shown” in “reduced” – ie, SUNK. The skunk is the resulting stripey critter.
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Blimey Susan, am I getting paid for this? ;)
Well, you did ask - even though it was a bit more than one word!! :D
OK:
Yes it is. SPEND can have either meaning.
Bit confused by this (is this one clue or two?) but the answer is SILENCE (so the "L" isn't wrong). To keep Mum is silence, so that’s the synonym. “Following” gives you “SINCE”, which “grasps” (ie, wraps around) half of “idLE”, ie the LE in the middle.
Ah yes, of course. I was forgetting about being mum being silent. I had seen that silence fitted but didn't know why.
Yes the other part I quoted was from previous clue.
SKUNK. “King” is “K” which is “shown” in “reduced” – ie, SUNK. The skunk is the resulting stripey critter.
Thank you again - much appreciated. Do you in fact do the Telegraph crosswords regularly anyway?
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Blimey Susan, am I getting paid for this? ;)
OK:
Yes it is. SPEND can have either meaning.
Bit confused by this (is this one clue or two?) but the answer is SILENCE (so the "L" isn't wrong). To keep Mum is silence, so that’s the synonym. “Following” gives you “SINCE”, which “grasps” (ie, wraps around) half of “idLE”, ie the LE in the middle.
SKUNK. “King” is “K” which is “shown” in “reduced” – ie, SUNK. The skunk is the resulting stripey critter.
Eh?
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Top of the mornin' to ya Susan,
Thank you again - much appreciated. Do you in fact do the Telegraph crosswords regularly anyway?
No problem - I can see this becoming a weekly event!
No, I never look at the Torygraph. Many, many years ago (ie, pre-Murdoch) I used to do the Times crossword every morning on the train to work - finishing it meant I'd have a good day and vice versa!
The Times & Telegraph crosswords work in more or less the same way though - the one that was always weird was the Guardian, which seemed to plough its own furrow for some reason. Once you get the code ("flower" means a river - ie, rhymes with "grower", "confused", "upset" etc means it's an anagram, "sounds like" means it's a homonym, "in", "within" etc often means there's a portmanteau word hiding in there somewhere and so on).
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ad,
Eh?
Confused? Interrogate disciple after he returns.
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NS,
And Presbyterians and Britney Spears are also anagrams of Nearby Priests - my hat is doffed to bhs for this point made some time ago
Actually I don't remember that, but I'm sufficiently shameless to take the doff nonetheless ;)
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Top of the mornin' to ya Susan,
No problem - I can see this becoming a weekly event!
sounds like a good idea!
Today, about 7:45 a.m. I printed off quick and cryptic. By 8:15 I had only three (connected) clues left on the quick, so I can see that after a while, I might find them a bit too easy, but reserve judgement for now. The three remaining clues I completedwhen I got home from tap.
The cryptic I read slowlythrough but so far have only managed three answers, one of which might be wrong! 1 down: RAINCOAT – CROATIA, Last one across: SECURE - RESCUE.
I’ve been out to tea with a friend this afternoon, but will see what I can do now. I’m definitely a morning person though!
No, I never look at the Torygraph. Many, many years ago (ie pre-Murdoch) I used to do the Times crossword every morning on the train to work - finishing it meant I'd have a good day and vice versa!
The Times & Telegraph crosswords work in more or less the same way though - the one that was always weird was the Guardian, which seemed to plough its own furrow for some reason. Once you get the code ("flower" means a river - ie, rhymes with "grower", "confused", "upset" etc means it's an anagram, "sounds like" means it's a homonym, "in", "within" etc often means there's a portmanteau word hiding in there somewhere and so on).
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Hi Susan,
sounds like a good idea!
Today, about 7:45 a.m. I printed off quick and cryptic. By 8:15 I had only three (connected) clues left on the quick, so I can see that after a while, I might find them a bit too easy, but reserve judgement for now. The three remaining clues I completedwhen I got home from tap.
The cryptic I read slowlythrough but so far have only managed three answers, one of which might be wrong! 1 down: RAINCOAT – CROATIA, Last one across: SECURE - RESCUE.
I’ve been out to tea with a friend this afternoon, but will see what I can do now. I’m definitely a morning person though!
Sounds like a lovely day. I'm definitely an evening person, so between us I reckon we've got this covered!
Presumably the Daily Telegraph prints the answers the following day so you won't have long to wait. Maybe we should focus on the Sat one instead so you're not left wondering all week? :)
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SteveH,
The "wire" is redundant. "She meets copper, thin...etc" say would be better. "She"and "her" aren't synonyms either - the perfect clue has to be exact and every word should punch its weight. Something like, "Britney Spears confused religious folk (13)" perhaps.
"Wire" is there to make sense of "thin but very strong". If she has copper wire, it is her Cu.
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Presumably the Daily Telegraph prints the answers the following day so you won't have long to wait. Maybe we should focus on the Sat one instead so you're not left wondering all week? :)
Yes, I agree. By the way, I shall not, on principle, look at the answers today, especially as I've managed a few more clues.
ETA to remove smiley!! Pleas assume them on this topic! I might, though, add a frown if a Saturday clue is particularly annoying.
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SteveH,
"Wire" is there to make sense of "thin but very strong". If she has copper wire, it is her Cu.
Nah, it's weaker than it should be. I can explain why if you're interested?
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Hi Susan,
Yes, I agree. By the way, I shall not, on principle, look at the answers today, especially as I've managed a few more clues.
ETA to remove smiley!! Pleas assume them on this topic! I might, though, add a frown if a Saturday clue is particularly annoying.
Good for you. I'll have an extra strong coffee on Saturday to be ready for you!
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Synthetic Dave is not speaking! I have re-started the computer several times, but no luck. I will ask my neighbour to come in later and see if she can find out why, but otherwise I'll try using the laptop but it is not easy to do.
So requests for hints and help may have to be delayed!!
I can't hear if I have made any tpos! *sighs* Why does this sort of thing always happen at weekends?
Workiong with huge magnification, I have managed to print off Quick and Cryptic so I shall not be idle ...
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My lovely neighbour has been in and followed S/N instructions to get Synthetic Dave back - I must have accidentally pressed the key combination which changes voice synthesiser.
The Quick one is a bit hard today, still plenty of gaps to fill.
Cryptic I have done several clues, but will be back for help later, I think.
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Hi SUsan.
My lovely neighbour has been in and followed S/N instructions to get Synthetic Dave back - I must have accidentally pressed the key combination which changes voice synthesiser.
The Quick one is a bit hard today, still plenty of gaps to fill.
Cryptic I have done several clues, but will be back for help later, I think.
No problem Susan. Family over for dinner tonight (Nick Nairn's halibut on shredded cabbage with smoked bacon lardons & a cream tarragon sauce - one of my faves - since you ask) so may struggle for time but I'll do my best ;)
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Hi SUsan.
No problem Susan. Family over for dinner tonight (Nick Nairn's halibut on shredded cabbage with smoked bacon lardons & a cream tarragon sauce - one of my faves - since you ask) so may struggle for time but I'll do my best ;)
Sounds delicious!
clues can of course wait until tomorrow, when I would be grateful for 1 Across: Suffering Samson was, fatally (10)
No letters - all I can think of so far is hairlessly! Hmmm, probably wrong"
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Susan,
Sounds delicious!
clues can of course wait until tomorrow, when I would be grateful for 1 Across: Suffering Samson was, fatally (10)
No letters - all I can think of so far is hairlessly! Hmmm, probably wrong"
It is!
OK, Samson had his hair cut off by Delilah right? A length of hair is a "tress". Samson was therefore "dis-tressed", and DISTRESSED is a synonym for "suffering".
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Susan,
It is!
OK, Samson had his hair cut off by Delilah right? A length of hair is a "tress". Samson was therefore "dis-tressed", and DISTRESSED is a synonym for "suffering".
That's why I don't do crosswords: they infuriate me!
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Steve H,
That's why I don't do crosswords: they infuriate me!
You'd be even more infuriated if you let me tell you what was wrong with the "copper" clue ;)
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Steve H,
You'd be even more infuriated if you let me tell you what was wrong with the "copper" clue ;)
Go on, then. If you mean the word "wire", which is irrelevant to the answer and only there to make the clue make more sense, I agree: it always irritated me a bit.
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Susan,
It is!
OK, Samson had his hair cut off by Delilah right? A length of hair is a "tress". Samson was therefore "dis-tressed", and DISTRESSED is a synonym for "suffering".
Thank you very much - I will now turn off computer making sure I do not turn off Syn.dave too.
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Steve H,
Go on, then. If you mean the word "wire", which is irrelevant to the answer and only there to make the clue make more sense, I agree: it always irritated me a bit.
It’s worse than that. Here’s the clue again:
“She has copper wire, thin but very strong (9)"
It's weak because the perfect clue should make sense but also be as misleading as possible. Think of “Bar of soap (6,6)” for example. “Bar of soap” makes good sense in English ok, but it takes you away from the answer (“ROVER’S RETURN”).
In your clue the “copper wire” immediately gives away that it’s referring to the element copper, so the CU is obvious. Had it just been “She has copper, thin but very strong” (or better yet, “she meets copper, thin…etc” or similar) on the other hand there’d have been some ambiguity – ie, why has she met a policeman?
“She” and “her” aren’t interchangeable either by the way.
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Thank you very much - I will now turn off computer making sure I do not turn off Syn.dave too.
No problem Susan. Have a good evening.
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Steve H,
It’s worse than that. Here’s the clue again:
“She has copper wire, thin but very strong (9)"
It's weak because the perfect clue should make sense but also be as misleading as possible. Think of “Bar of soap (6,6)” for example. “Bar of soap” makes good sense in English ok, but it takes you away from the answer (“ROVER’S RETURN”).
In your clue the “copper wire” immediately gives away that it’s referring to the element copper, so the CU is obvious. Had it just been “She has copper, thin but very strong” (or better yet, “she meets copper, thin…etc” or similar) on the other hand there’d have been some ambiguity – ie, why has she met a policeman?
“She” and “her” aren’t interchangeable either by the way.
Good points. I love "bar of soap"!
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Having walked my 4.7 miles - still a bit slower than I used to! - I am now looking at the solutions to yesterday's Quick. 2 across was Calmer. The answer is STILLER - now that is a dreadful word, which I doubt anyone ever uses. Huh!
I can see I'll have to have a mental file for: suffering = DISTRESS with or without suffix; ruin = WRECK and add to it for the words that come up regularly under various guises.
Or, as Joshua Foer finds out, in the book I have nearly come to the end of, about the Memory Championships a 'palace'.
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Steve H,
Good points.
Thank you.
I love "bar of soap"!
Me too!
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Hi Susan,
Having walked my 4.7 miles - still a bit slower than I used to! - I am now looking at the solutions to yesterday's Quick. 2 across was Calmer. The answer is STILLER - now that is a dreadful word, which I doubt anyone ever uses. Huh!
I can see I'll have to have a mental file for: suffering = DISTRESS with or without suffix; ruin = WRECK and add to it for the words that come up regularly under various guises.
Or, as Joshua Foer finds out, in the book I have nearly come to the end of, about the Memory Championships a 'palace'.
Hi Susan. 4.7 miles eh? I’m impressed!
I don’t mind “stiller” too much – crossword answers are often fairly arcane. Re “distressed” after a while you find you refer automatically to associated words. “Hair” for example immediately makes me think, “tress’, “lock” (good for ambiguous meanings that one), “curl”, “perm”, “bangs” (now there’s an old-fashioned word!) etc. It’s a pretty useless for any practical purposes of course, but I even find myself mentally working out puns, anagrams and the like sometimes just because a word strikes my fancy.
Odd really. By contrast, numbers might as well be in Cantonese for me – no resonances at all. Ah well.
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I also love 'bar of soap' as clue for the Rovers and like crosswords but what has brought me to this thread is the description of BHS's last night's dinner! Lovely (tho' I no longer eat fish or flesh, can still appreciate it second hand). Hadn't heard of Nick Nairn before.
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Hi Robbie,
I also love 'bar of soap' as clue for the Rovers and like crosswords but what has brought me to this thread is the description of BHS's last night's dinner! Lovely (tho' I no longer eat fish or flesh, can still appreciate it second hand). Hadn't heard of Nick Nairn before.
He’s very good – his books tend to be my go-to ones when I fancy doing something a bit cheffy for a dinner party, esp fish. Halibut is a lovely firm fish anyway (and no bones!) so you’re off to a good start just there. The sauce is a bit of a faff – lots of sweating shallots & mushrooms, reducing white wine, then fish stock etc but al worth it in the end I think. Oh, and don’t even think of using unsmoked bacon for the lardons in the bed of cabbage the fish sits on!
Maybe you could break your veggie “duck” just this once…?
Here’s a link if you’re interested:
https://plus.google.com/107346167256278601901/posts/YehR1hUXpUG
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bluehillside
A question regarding the folowing clue: Is it an anagram of wad of notes? But please don't tell me the answer yet!
29 across: Person handling money could make fortune returning wad of notes (10)
The reason it would help to work out this one is that, when I printed the crossword, it printed this clue on a separate page!
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Hi Susan.
A question regarding the folowing clue: Is it an anagram of wad of notes? But please don't tell me the answer yet!
29 across: Person handling money could make fortune returning wad of notes (10)
The reason it would help to work out this one is that, when I printed the crossword, it printed this clue on a separate page!
No!
(Think political office...)
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Prudential?
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Robbie,
Prudential?
No. What's a "wad of notes" that's "returned"?
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chancellor
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Robbie,
chancellor
SSSHHHHHH!!
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Hi Susan.
No!
(Think political office...)
Phew! Think I've got it. As soon as I read that, I thought Chancellor, but then it has taken me the rest of the intervening time to work out that the llor at the end makes roll if returned. Is the chance bit anything to do with Monopoly?!
some years ago, on the jREF (now IS) forum, there was a most interesting discussion about space, time and relativity and one of the posters at the time, Sol Invictus, if I remember correctly, who was a Physics Professor at a US University, wrote a very long post in response to a point. I listened with concentration all the way through and at the end thought it was possible I had just about picked up the gist, although of course I'd never have been able to put it into words! I was going to respond with words of admiration, but read on ... ... and the next post was: 'Brain 'asplodes'. That was just so funny and quite a few others echoed that sentiment!It still makes me smile now.
Especially in connection with these cryptic clues!!
ETA: Fortunately, I did not see the above exchange between you and Robbie!
Plus second edit to put e in I've
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Susan,
Phew! Think I'v got it. As soon as I read that, I thought Chancellor, but then it has taken me the rest of the intervening time to work out that the llor at the end makes roll if returned. Is the chance bit anything to do with Monopoly?!
No, the CHANCE is just a synonym for “fortune” I think. I must admit I came at it backwards too – the “roll reversed” bit first, then tried to work out what word would have a “llor”
some years ago, on the jREF (now IS) forum, there was a most interesting discussion about space, time and relativity and one of the posters at the time, Sol Invictus, if I remember correctly, who was a Physics Professor at a US University, wrote a very long post in response to a point. I listened with concentration all the way through and at the end thought it was possible I had just about picked up the gist, although of course I'd never have been able to put it into words! I was going to respond with words of admiration, but read on ... ... and the next post was: 'Brain 'asplodes'. That was just so funny and quite a few others echoed that sentiment!It still makes me smile now.
Especially in connection with these cryptic clues!!
Hmmm…even I would struggle to find a clue for that one I think…
I don’t have access to the Torygraph I’m afraid (I think it’s behind a pay wall) but by all means try me if you get really stumped. I can't promise to know the answer, but I'll give it a go.
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Susan,
No, the CHANCE is just a synonym for “fortune” I think. I must admit I came at it backwards too – the “roll reversed” bit first, then tried to work out what word would have a “llor”
Hmmm…even I would struggle to find a clue for that one I think…
I don’t have access to the Torygraph I’m afraid (I think it’s behind a pay wall) but by all means try me if you get really stumped. I can't promise to know the answer, but I'll give it a go.
Yes, it is £4.99 a month to subscribe to the crosswords page. Worth it for me, though.
And thank you for your help.
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Susan,
Yes, it is £4.99 a month to subscribe to the crosswords page. Worth it for me, though.
And thank you for your help.
No, thank you. I enjoy attempting them ;)
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PS Susan,
How about this one:
1ac ( 8 )
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PS Susan,
How about this one:
1ac ( 8 )
As I'm sure you havn't missed out the clue, I imagine that 1 ac is the clue itself!! I'll go away and think about it ...
The first thing to spring to mind is ACROSTIC
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Susan,
As I'm sure you havn't missed out the clue, I imagine that 1 ac is the clue itself!! I'll go away and think about it ...
The first thing to spring to mind is ACROSTIC
Actually the 1 ac is irrelevant. It could be any across or down clue, but it's still just ( 8 ).
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Susan,
Actually the 1 ac is irrelevant. It could be any across or down clue, but it's still just ( 8 ).
So: CONSUMED ? I bet that's wrong.
Can I have a hint, please, for: Set up where house might be at start of race (7)
It ends with L - one of those from CHANCELLOR Then that'll be enough for today!
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Susan,
So: CONSUMED ? I bet that's wrong.
It's CLUELESS.
Can I have a hint, please, for: Set up where house might be at start of race (7)
It ends with L - one of those from CHANCELLOR Then that'll be enough for today!
Hmmm...let me think...
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Susan,
I admit I'm struggling here. Are you sure about the wording of the clue?
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Susan,
Could that "house" be "horse" by any chance?
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Hi again Susan.
OK, I have to do some food prep (lemon chicken bake since you ask) so will sign off for a bit. I'm pretty sure that "house" should be "horse" and, if it is, think of the answer as two words (2,5) that describe where a horse is at the beginning of a race. Then join those words together. That's all I can think of that makes sense in any case.
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Susan,
It's CLUELESS.
LOL! I've just phoned my neighbour and passed that on. Made her laugh too!
Susan,
I admit I'm struggling here. Are you sure about the wording of the clue?
Oh dear, I've just put the magnification up quite a bit higher and peered a bit more closely and, as it should be, the word is horse. My apologies, I should have done that earlier. I mean, I thought of install but couldn't work out what the house had to do with it.
ETA: Have now seen #94 and #95 ...
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Hi Susan,
LOL! I've just phoned my neighbour and passed that on. Made her laugh too!
Glad you (and your neighbour) liked it!
Oh dear, I've just put the magnification up quite a bit higher and peered a bit more closely and, as it should be, the word is horse. My apologies, I should have done that earlier. I mean, I thought of install but couldn't work out what the house had to do with it.
ETA: Have now seen #94 and #95 ..
Blimey girl – you ask for hints about crossword clues and then throw me a curved ball by giving me the wrong clues!
Nah, just kidding. By all means keep ‘em coming whenever you like - I can’t promise to have the answers, but I’m always willing to give it a go. What’s your next plan – giving them to me in Cantonese? ;)
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Hi Susan,
Glad you (and your neighbour) liked it!
Blimey girl – you ask for hints about crossword clues and then throw me a curved ball by giving me the wrong clues!
Nah, just kidding. By all means keep ‘em coming whenever you like - I can’t promise to have the answers, but I’m always willing to give it a go. What’s your next plan – giving them to me in Cantonese? ;)
Hi Susan,
Glad you (and your neighbour) liked it!
Blimey girl – you ask for hints about crossword clues and then throw me a curved ball by giving me the wrong clues!
Nah, just kidding. By all means keep ‘em coming whenever you like - I can’t promise to have the answers, but I’m always willing to give it a go. What’s your next plan – giving them to me in Cantonese? ;)
T
I have done a bit of counting: 225 squares, 43 black (white for me since I use white on black on the CCTV) so 162 to be filled in. So far 48 remain blank, so I seem to have about two-thirds done.
Clue: A military alliance film person dealing with bodiees (9)
I think the answer is ANATOMIST because I know that third is A, fifth is O and last is T but can you just say if it is right or wrong, please If it is right, I'm not sure why!
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Hi Susan,
I have done a bit of counting: 225 squares, 43 black (white for me since I use white on black on the CCTV) so 162 to be filled in. So far 48 remain blank, so I seem to have about two-thirds done.
Clue: A military alliance film person dealing with bodiees (9)
I think the answer is ANATOMIST because I know that third is A, fifth is O and last is T but can you just say if it is right or wrong, please If it is right, I'm not sure why!
Yup, spot on. The clue gives you the initial "A". The military alliance is "NATO". A film is a "MIST". Put them together and you have a person who deals with bodies.
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Hi Susan,
Yup, spot on. The clue gives you the initial "A". The military alliance is "NATO". A film is a "MIST". Put them together and you have a person who deals with bodies.
Many thanks! Couple more later ....
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Susan,
Many thanks! Couple more later ....
No problem. I suspect that when you saw why it was correct you thought "of course!" or similar ;)
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Susan,
No problem. I suspect that when you saw why it was correct you thought "of course!" or similar ;)
Actually, no I didn't immediately - and I paused to think about why. The answer is that I cannot ever see the word as a whole. I can only really focus (peripherally) on one letter at a time, but I can see the pattern around - and know what the letters are, because I wrote them in! Also of course, I think visually.
I was quite pleased with getting: Mozart work aunt was playing with octet around France(4,3,5) COSIFANTUTTE
On the CCTV the squares are about 3 cm across and the letters just a bit smaller. I'm just so lucky that I can do what I do.
But now I must put away Tesco shopping. Tesco always provide me with a sensible assistant for an Assisted Shop and the taxi drivers bring it all into the house for me, but I can't ask them to put it all away! I asked the chap at the fresh fish counter if they do halibut - since you were saying its boneless - but they didn't have any.
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Susan,
Actually, no I didn't immediately - and I paused to think about why. The answer is that I cannot ever see the word as a whole. I can only really focus (peripherally) on one letter at a time, but I can see the pattern around - and know what the letters are, because I wrote them in! Also of course, I think visually.
I was quite pleased with getting: Mozart work aunt was playing with octet around France(4,3,5) COSIFANTUTTE
On the CCTV the squares are about 3 cm across and the letters just a bit smaller. I'm just so lucky that I can do what I do.
But now I must put away Tesco shopping. Tesco always provide me with a sensible assistant for an Assisted Shop and the taxi drivers bring it all into the house for me, but I can't ask them to put it all away! I asked the chap at the fresh fish counter if they do halibut - since you were saying its boneless - but they didn't have any.
Ooh nice one re the Mozart clue. Yup, put that shopping away asap ;) Just to be clear re the halibut, there's a singe bone down the centre of the fillet but there are no rib bones that many fish have. If you're a Waitrose person and you have one of their loyalty cards they often have it and you get 20% off on Fridays (it's quite expensive). Careful you don't over cook though: pre-heat your oven to very hot (230c normal/210c fan). Take your 5oz halibut steak (skin removed), put it in a lightly buttered tin, squeeze some lemon juice on it and season. Add a drop of white wine if you have it and dab some butter on top. Cook for 6 minutes - do NOT cook for any longer or it will dry out. When you serve it pour the tin juices over the fish. Goes well at this time of the year with a few new potatoes and some wilted spinach or maybe some broccoli ;)
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Susan,
Ooh nice one re the Mozart clue. Yup, put that shopping away asap ;) Just to be clear re the halibut, there's a singe bone down the centre of the fillet but there are no rib bones that many fish have. If you're a Waitrose person and you have one of their loyalty cards they often have it and you get 20% off on Fridays (it's quite expensive). Careful you don't over cook though: pre-heat your oven to very hot (230c normal/210c fan). Take your 5oz halibut steak (skin removed), put it in a lightly buttered tin, squeeze some lemon juice on it and season. Add a drop of white wine if you have it and dab some butter on top. Cook for 6 minutes - do NOT cook for any longer or it will dry out. When you serve it pour the tin juices over the fish. Goes well at this time of the year with a few new potatoes and some wilted spinach or maybe some broccoli ;)
Sounds good - unfortunately, Waitrose is in Lymington. There's a Morrison's here
with, people say, a good fish counter so I will ask there.
Opening note penned by German composer (6) blank R Blank blank blank H I think it is BREACH. Is this right, please? If so, it will give me one more letter to a clue which eludes me: Mark a point with sharp beaks (10) but I don't want to know the answer yet!
ETA to add an a between mark and point
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Hi Susan,
Sounds good - unfortunately, Waitrose is in Lymington. There's a Morrison's here
with, people say, a good fish counter so I will ask there.
OK – keep me posted won’t you ;)
Opening note penned by German composer (6) blank R Blank blank blank H I think it is BREACH. Is this right, please?
Yup. A BREACH is an opening. The German composer is Bach, who “pens” (ie, contains) the note "RE" as in "doh, re, me" etc.
If so, it will give me one more letter to a clue which eludes me: Mark a point with sharp beaks (10) but I don't want to know the answer yet!
ETA to add an a between mark and point
Hmmm…not obvious this one but I think I’d start with that “beaks” meaning judges and similar…
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Hi Susan,
OK – keep me posted won’t you ;)
Yup. A BREACH is an opening. The German composer is Bach, who “pens” (ie, contains) the note "RE" as in "doh, re, me" etc.
Hmmm…not obvious this one but I think I’d start with that “beaks” meaning judges and similar…
Yes, I was running through letter combinations in my head and since the first four letters are blank A blank I, I thought MAGI sounded like a promising start. The others are: blank T blank A blank Y. The Y might be wrong, but I don't think so. But still no answer yet, please!
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Hi again Susan,
Yes, I was running through letter combinations in my head and since the first four letters are blank A blank I, I thought MAGI sounded like a promising start. The others are: blank T blank A blank Y. The Y might be wrong, but I don't think so. But still no answer yet, please!
I admit it took me a while (and I didn't have any letters either!). But yes - you're on the right track.
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Hi again Susan,
I admit it took me a while (and I didn't have any letters either!). But yes - you're on the right track.
MAGISTRACY- again, a word of infrequent use maybe! The grid is looking far less empty now, so I feel I can happily ask for answers to the two following, please.
14 down: Cowboy comfortable coming up with delay (10)
---S-I-H-R
15 across: Dicky heading off from Bedfordshire town (8)
: Fifth letter A and first letter = second letter of 14 down
There are two other clues which require actual knowledge … …
And then some other blank squares here and there... ...
Since NS told me about the Proxy server, I have been able to use that whenever R&E drops out, but today Tech chap is coming here to fix my list of 'computer corrections' and will download the latest version 17 SuperNova and this has been made compatible with Google Chrome, which, in turn as far as I know, is the better way to access R&E. We'll see.
ETA: Word in e-mail regularly seen in plain language (7)
P-O-I-E The O might be wrong. The P comes from the word SPED which is answer to:A person on foot took off (4). The D is definitely right. Since none of the gaps affects any other word, I will feel justified in leaving them blank if necessary!
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Hi Susan,
MAGISTRACY- again, a word of infrequent use maybe! The grid is looking far less empty now, so I feel I can happily ask for answers to the two following, please.
Well done!
14 down: Cowboy comfortable coming up with delay (10)
---S-I-H-R
I think the "H" is wrong because the "cowboy" is GUNSLINGER. “Comfortable coming up" (ie, reversed) is “SNUG” backwards, and “delay” is LINGER.
15 across: Dicky heading off from Bedfordshire town (
: Fifth letter A and first letter = second letter of 14 down
Don’t like it much but I guess it must be UNSTABLE. It’s Dunstable with the “heading” (ie, the D) missing. “Dicky” must be the synonym, but I think of that word more as meaning “unwell” than “unstable”.
There are two other clues which require actual knowledge … …
And then some other blank squares here and there... ...
Try me if you’d like me to have a go!
Since NS told me about the Proxy server, I have been able to use that whenever R&E drops out, but today Tech chap is coming here to fix my list of 'computer corrections' and will download the latest version 17 SuperNova and this has been made compatible with Google Chrome, which, in turn as far as I know, is the better way to access R&E. We'll see.
Good luck. I seem only to be able to log on using the proxy server these days, though maybe one in 20 times it works normally. When someone posts a link though (say to a YouTube clip) I can’t access it if I’m using the proxy address.
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Hi Susan,
Well done!
I think the "H" is wrong because the "cowboy" is GUNSLINGER. “Comfortable coming up" (ie, reversed) is “SNUG” backwards, and “delay” is LINGER.
Don’t like it much but I guess it must be UNSTABLE. It’s Dunstable with the “heading” (ie, the D) missing. “Dicky” must be the synonym, but I think of that word more as meaning “unwell” than “unstable”.
Try me if you’d like me to have a go!
Thank you – much appreciated. I would never have got those answers. It is so much more interesting to have a person to consult.
And, yes please! Last remaining few are:
Follower of post-punk style obtained heroin initially (4) So now G-T- so I've no idea!
Major port in south-east America (7) Begins and ends with S – The middle’s a muddle! And that’s because 9 across is: Try on manoeuvres adopted by superior gold-digger (5-5) F---Y---E- FANCY fits into first half, but not sure why…
Yes, there are a few other letters missing from down clues, but I’ll pursue those for a bit longer.
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Hi Susan,
Thank you – much appreciated. I would never have got those answers. It is so much more interesting to have a person to consult.
No problem Susan, and I’m sure you would ;)
And, yes please! Last remaining few are:
Follower of post-punk style obtained heroin initially (4) So now G-T- so I've no idea!
GOTH. The “obtained” is GOT, and heroin is H. Goth is a “post punk style”.
Major port in south-east America (7) Begins and ends with S – The middle’s a muddle!
Quite clever that because it misleads you into looking for a “major port in south-east America”. It’s SERIOUS. The “major port” is RIO, which is “in” SE (south-east) and US (America). As a rule by the way the Torygraph, Times etc cryptic crosswords don't have general knowledge clues so you know straight away that the answer can't just be the name of a port.
And that’s because 9 across is: Try on manoeuvres adopted by superior gold-digger (5-5) F---Y---E- FANCY fits into first half, but not sure why…
The “on manoeuvres” tells you there’s an anagram somewhere, and the (5-5) is helpful because we know it’s hyphenated. A “gold-digger” is also a gold miner, which gives the synonym FORTY-NINER. The anagram of “try on” is ORTYN, which is “adopted by” (ie, inside) FINER – which is the “superior” bit.
Yes, there are a few other letters missing from down clues, but I’ll pursue those for a bit longer.
OK – good luck!
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Thank youfor the answers and the explanations. I'll add manoeuvres to the mental list of words and phrases indicating anagrams.
Bites uppish friend in the back (8) S-I-A-L- Wwith no effect on other words. If it's SPINAL-, what would the last letter be? If it's SPIRALS, then SPIR is RIPS, and perhaps pAL comes into it? Hmmm
Anyway, I can discard that one now!! I have already done some of today's Quick, but haven't looked at the Cryptic yet. I will not attempt to look at solution, available tomorrow, too quickly though.
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Susan,
Bites uppish friend in the back (S-I-A-L- Wwith no effect on other words. If it's SPINAL-, what would the last letter be? If it's SPIRALS, then SPIR is RIPS, and perhaps pAL comes into it?
SPINALLY. “Bites uppish” is “nips” backwards – ie, SPIN – (presumably it’s a down clue) and “friend” is the ALLY part, the whole thing being a synonym for “in the back”. “Friend” by the way almost always gives you “ALLY”, “PAL”, “MATE” etc.
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Susan,
SPINALLY. “Bites uppish” is “nips” backwards – ie, SPIN – (presumably it’s a down clue) and “friend” is the ALLY part, the whole thing being a synonym for “in the back”. “Friend” by the way almost always gives you “ALLY”, “PAL”, “MATE” etc.
Ah, yes, of corse, I should have realised! :) thank you. Right, on to today's cryptic...
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bluehillside
25 across on Tuesday:Member of the clergy made a confession, to some extent(6)
I looked up the answer: DEACON
I had the C . CON = start of confession, and DEA is part of 'made', but I just wondered if you could please fill in the details? Thank you. No rush.
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bluehillside
25 across on Tuesday:Member of the clergy made a confession, to some extent(6)
I looked up the answer: DEACON
I had the C . CON = start of confession, and DEA is part of 'made', but I just wondered if you could please fill in the details? Thank you. No rush.
Member of the clergy made a confession, to some extent(6)
Deacon is the last 2 letters of made, the a of a, the con from confession are consecutive in the clue.
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Member of the clergy made a confession, to some extent(6)
Deacon is the last 2 letters of made, the a of a, the con from confession are consecutive in the clue.
Ah, yes, I see! Many thanks.
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Hi Susan,
MADE A CONFESSION
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Oops - NS got there before me I see. Sorry.
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Oops - NS got there before me I see. Sorry.
Thank you!
In fact, the clue was on two lines splitting at a, so I then have to move the magnified words back to second line and could not see the connection.
Must remember to look for that sort of answer.
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Susan et al,
As an adjunct to the discussion on the politics of breastfeeding, how’s this for crossword clue perfection (an old one from, I think, The Guardian):
Inflammation primarily found in maternal breasts ( 8 )
Answer to follow…
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If anyone’s interested, the answer to “Inflammation primarily found in maternal breasts ( 8 )” is MASTITIS.
It’s beautiful because the answer works perfectly on two different levels. The clue is a coherent sentence to which the answer MASTITIS makes sense. You can also deconstruct it though as follows:
The “primarily” after “inflammation” gives you the first letter of that word, ie “i”.
The “found in” tells you that the “i” will be inside something else.
The “maternal breasts” gives you “Ma’s tits”.
Put the “i” inside “Ma’s tits” and you get…
…MASTITIS!
Now I ask you – how good is that?
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If anyone’s interested, the answer to “Inflammation primarily found in maternal breasts ( 8 )” is MASTITIS.
It’s beautiful because the answer works perfectly on two different levels. The clue is a coherent sentence to which the answer MASTITIS makes sense. You can also deconstruct it though as follows:
The “primarily” after “inflammation” gives you the first letter of that word, ie “i”.
The “found in” tells you that the “i” will be inside something else.
The “maternal breasts” gives you “Ma’s tits”.
Put the “i” inside “Ma’s tits” and you get…
…MASTITIS!
Now I ask you – how good is that?
:D Well I knew the answer straight away after reading clue, but would never have thought of that deconstruction!
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Well, I'm quite pleased - I have already done about 13 of yesterday's Cryptic crossword answers. The Quick was not easy, so I had to look up several answers this morning!
The following is first Down clue, and I would be grateful for a helpful hint. 'Order Diana' would seem to mean using letters of Diana, but that's 5 and there aren't another 3 handy. Hmmm.
Order Diana to go to hospital department to be disciplined (8) First letter O
I had an MRI scan of my heart on Friday, and since they didn't gasp with horror or send me to the Cardiac Department, I am assuming I still have a few years in which to become a crossword expert! :D
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Hi Susan,
Well, I'm quite pleased - I have already done about 13 of yesterday's Cryptic crossword answers. The Quick was not easy, so I had to look up several answers this morning!
The following is first Down clue, and I would be grateful for a helpful hint. 'Order Diana' would seem to mean using letters of Diana, but that's 5 and there aren't another 3 handy. Hmmm.
Order Diana to go to hospital department to be disciplined ( First letter O
Well, think of an “order” bestowed upon the great and the good, then the shortened version of "Diana", then a three letter abbreviation for a hospital department, the whole thing being a synonym for “disciplined”.
I had an MRI scan of my heart on Friday, and since they didn't gasp with horror or send me to the Cardiac Department, I am assuming I still have a few years in which to become a crossword expert!
I’m delighted to hear it on both counts Susan!
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Hi Susan,
Well, think of an “order” bestowed upon the great and the good, then the shortened version of "Diana", then a three letter abbreviation for a hospital department, the whole thing being a synonym for “disciplined”.
I’m delighted to hear it on both counts Susan!
Ah yes, of course, you have to think of all the different meanings of a word,don't you, but I thought of it as an instruction to order the letters in Diana. I did remember about meanings with the clue: Instructions to make less noise in bars DIMINUENDO
Thank you for your help.
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No problem Susan ;)
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Could I have a yes or No answer please? Small child with Terence has no right to be unsteady (7) Is it TODDLER?
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Susan,
Could I have a yes or No answer please? Small child with Terence has no right to be unsteady (7) Is it TODDLER?
No! (Sorry....)
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Let me know if you'd like a clue though...
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Let me know if you'd like a clue though...
Thank you, but not just yet.
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GF
TOTTERY? Terry minus an R, plus Tot!
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Susan,
Bingo!
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Susan,
Bingo!
Only 6 or 7 answers left to find now...
If you could supply this one:One cannot go straight ahead and make it (6) ---O-R
then I hink I might manage the last few!
I think this one is definitely easier than previous week's.
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DETOUR is the first word that comes to mind. Seems to fit the clue?
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DETOUR is the first word that comes to mind. Seems to fit the clue?
Thank you, yes.
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Answers to the last three would be appreciated - I feel no dishonour in asking that!! :)
Humming coming from a telephone call (5) Begins with A and last letter E I'm just about certain.
Leave willingly (8) -E---A-H The fourth letter is the third letter of previous answer
Seen in court, a revolutionary quality that attracts admiration (6) C-C-E- The E could be wrong...
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No probs Susan. I'll be out for dinner later so if you have any final toughies get your orders for clues/answers in fast!
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OK…
Answers to the last three would be appreciated - I feel no dishonour in asking that!!
Humming coming from a telephone call (5) Begins with A and last letter E I'm just about certain.
I’m not liking that “E” I’m afraid – looks like ABUZZ to me.
Leave willingly ( -E---A-H The fourth letter is the third letter of previous answer
Hmmm…BEQUEATH fits.
Seen in court, a revolutionary quality that attracts admiration (6) C-C-E- The E could be wrong...
CACHET. CHE (as in Guevara) inside CT (abbrev. for “court)
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OK…
I’m not liking that “E” I’m afraid – looks like ABUZZ to me.
Hmmm…BEQUEATH fits.
CACHET. CHE (as in Guevara) inside CT (abbrev. for “court)
!
Many thanks. I will sort out the E as it is only a four-letter word. If I can't do it, I shall simply ignore it
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No problem Susan,
Many thanks.
The E came from TRENDY Clue was: Attempt to limit ruin with it (6) The T came from: ALL-OUT in answer to clue: Fielding side strives for this kind of effort (3-3) and the D from DIMINUENDO.
So I can't think what the word would be if it has a Z in it... although I'm sure you're right!
Hmmm…TRENDY fits too! I can’t access the crossword online I’m afraid so I’m flying blind. Are you sure about the two clues?
I’ll have another think though.
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No problem Susan,
Hmmm…TRENDY fits too! I can’t access the crossword online I’m afraid so I’m flying blind. Are you sure about the two clues?
I’ll have another think though.
I have just modified previous post. I was looking at the wrong E! What with running back and forth between the CCTV and the computer ....!
right. The clue where I thought the E was is: Hiss: 'Turn over if snoring!' (4) I thought it was FIRE from end of over and if, backwards!
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Hi Susan,
I have just modified previous post. I was looking at the wrong E! What with running back and forth between the CCTV and the computer ....!
right. The clue where I thought the E was is: Hiss: 'Turn over if snoring!' (4) I thought it was FIRE from end of over and if, backwards!
Ah right – that explains it!
FIZZ. It’s “turn over” (ie, reverse) the IF, followed by ZZ (snoring sound), the whole being a synonym for “Hiss”.
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Thank you. I shall do a couple of the mid-week ones, then hope next Saturday's is not too hard.
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Susan,
Thank you. I shall do a couple of the mid-week ones, then hope next Saturday's is not too hard.
No, thank you - I enjoy giving them a go, especially when you throw me off with the wrong clues! ;D
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good afternoon - it's Saturday again. I've done the Quick but the Cryptic looks quite a tricky one and so far I have only answered two clues. I would be grateful for an answer to 1 Across, if it is not DICTIONARIES. if it is, then why is it?!! I can see that 'diction' is speech but not why 'before House'.
Volumes of meaning in speech before House (12)
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good afternoon - it's Saturday again. I've done the Quick but the Cryptic looks quite a tricky one and so far I have only answered two clues. I would be grateful for an answer to 1 Across, if it is not DICTIONARIES. if it is, then why is it?!! I can see that 'diction' is speech but not why 'before House'.
Volumes of meaning in speech before House (12)
My take is yes . Diction = speech. Aries = Astrological House
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My take is yes . Diction = speech. Aries = Astrological House
Ah, yes, thank you. Having that answerfilled in will make it look as if I have done more than I have! There are quite a few down clues from it of course.
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Edited to add that I have worked out the answer: ANSWERING I suppose the SWER is to do with swearing, but the two references to articlwsI don't really get. Never mind, at least the grid - although a right mess - is looking less empty now.
Having listened to England v Panama on Five Live, I am now having another go at yesterday'sCryptic. May I please have a clue or hint for:
Replying to article on cursing, getting another article rejected (9)
DSeventh letter possibly S
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Hi Susan,
Having listened to England v Panama on Five Live, I am now having another go at yesterday'sCryptic. May I please have a clue or hint for:
Replying to article on cursing, getting another article rejected (9)
DSeventh letter possibly S
The synonym part is "replying". Try putting an "article" in before a synonym for "cursing", but take a different article out of that synonym word.
The "S" is wrong by the way.
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Hi Susan,
The synonym part is "replying". Try putting an "article" in before a synonym for "cursing", but take a different article out of that synonym word.
The "S" is wrong by the way.
Thank you,. Yes, I worked out the reasons for talking about articlsabout 3:0 a.m.!!
... not, however, after staing awake puzzling!!
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Oh dear, I see that bluehillside will not be here for a couple of weeks, so could you, NS, or someone else please help with the folloing clue? It begins with I and 7th and 9th letters are S.
Concerns about interrupting during exams (9)
I've googled that one and of course the answer is INTERESTS with TESTS interrumpted
Three more to go. .
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Final edit: It has to be DESERVE I suppose. So - grid finished!
Edited to add: have now realised that the one about Boots = CHEMIST;
the one about least complicated I have finally realised = EASIEST Took me a
while to realise anagram of ASSET plus IE for 'that is'.;
and that fits in with EARLIER.
But I still can't do 1 down...
The following clues are still incomplete and any help would be appreciated:
1 down: Justify present being given after poor grades? (7) First letter D and last letter E. I thought the beginning must be DE or DEF for poor grades. Third letter is third letter of 8 acrossand fifth letter is third of 11 across.
2 down: Boots maybe with fringe seen in clubs first (7) First letter C and last letter T. There is a slim chance that the T is wrong but I'm as sure as I can be that it is right. The thirdletter is the fifth of 8 across and the fifth is the fifth of 11 across.
8 across: Liquid asset's acquired that is least complicated (7) First letterE last letter T
11 across: More advanced fiction - first for radio, with listener as the lead (7) First letter E last letter R so I thought it might be EARLIER
*crosses fingers and hopes some help is available*
And if bluehillside is reading this, he'll know the answers already!
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I've printed the Quick and the Cryptic for today, and have done half the Quick, but so far can't do any of the clues for the Cryptic! The first is either revolution or liberation, so I suppose I can put in the last four letters.
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It was just too hot to tackle last week's 29th June one, and this week, I have only started because I spent two nights and two days in hospital. All well, fortunately, but I'll get back to the cryptic tomorrow.
If you are reading this, bluehillside, I am halfway through the Sandy Balfour book. Interesting.
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I'm just wondering if there is anyone there today who could perhaps give me a pointer for this clue?
Achieve success through Republican Party ties (2, 6)
It is an Across clue.
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Hi Susan,
I'm just wondering if there is anyone there today who could perhaps give me a pointer for this clue?
Achieve success through Republican Party ties (2, 6)
It is an Across clue.
It's GO PLACES. To go places is to "achieve success", the GOP (Grand Old Party) is the republicans and laces are "ties".
I'm retired here now incidentally.
Moderator Content removed. I've found somewhere else to discuss similar matters ...so this seems like a good place to wish you well and to sign off.
All best,
blue
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Hi Susan,
It's GO PLACES. To go places is to "achieve success", the GOP (Grand Old Party) is the republicans and laces are "ties".
I'm retired here now incidentally.
Moderator Content removed. I've found somewhere else to discuss similar matters ...so this seems like a good place to wish you well and to sign off.
All best,
blue
Thank you for your help - much appreciated. I thought it was something to do with GOP ... reading the Sandy Balfour book I am inevitably learning more about construction of clues - - although I doubt if I'll become really quick. Thank goodness the activity has helped provide another stimulus for keeping the brain functioning - although the brain does of course actually physically shrink a bit in old age! I knew this, but it was mentioned to me the other day by a doctor in the Stroke Clinic - I had to visit because of another (very minor) TIA. .
From the start of finding message boards, I have belonged to four which have fortunately proved to be all quite different, plus the Radio 3 one which branched off into r3ok but seems to have faded away completely now.