Comments on: Guardian 24,550 (Araucaria)

By: Paul (not Paul)

Paul (not Paul) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:20:52 +0000

Oops that should be Loch Lochy lock gates…

By: Paul (not Paul)

Paul (not Paul) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:20:09 +0000

Being a regular visiter to Scotland, I got Loch Lochy straight away. Amusingly, as it is part of the Caledonian canal, Loch Lochy is locked at its southern end. There is a gated road across the loch gates and sometimes the Loch Lochy loch gates are locked.

By: smutchin

smutchin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:29:51 +0000

Mhl, Calamity Jane is a bona fide classic – and you probably know most of the songs without even realising it: Deadwood Stage (“Whip crack-away!”), Windy City, Secret Love, The Black Hills of Dakota, It’s Harry I’m Planning to Marry…

Being a fan of the film, once I’d got 11dn, the rest of the themed clues came easily, which also helped fill in other parts of the grid, making this a relatively easy Araucaria for me.

9ac made me smile.

By: Ian Hinds

Ian Hinds — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Despite the fact that I started with Calamity Jane and realizing the theme, I nevertheless found the clues, especially 20d and 17d, tough going.

11d was superbly clued and ranks high up with the very best with the likes of “Charge of the light brigade” (11,4)

As ever with Araucaria it gave tremendous pleasure and pain in equal quantities.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:35:13 +0000

Like Shirley, I found this one very straightforward – unlike yesterday’s Brummie, but it helps if the theme is flagged up! And I’ve been doing Araucarias for thirty years, which probably helps…

MISCLICK is a very Araucarian word – he may not be in the first flush of youth, but the good Rev is not averse to a modern coinage now and then. I liked the double use of ‘mouse’ in the clue. I had all the connecting letters before I solved 19dn, but it fell out quite easily thereafter, my entomology being up to the challenge.

Isn’t ‘VAINGLORIOUS’ a lovely word?

By: Tom Hutton

Tom Hutton — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:22:12 +0000

I was reminded that it was Adam Smith who said “a group of businessmen rarely get together without trying to hatch some conspiracy to defraud….” which looks like sound thinking these days.

By: Tom Hutton

Tom Hutton — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:13:17 +0000

A very nice crossword if you knew your Calamity Jane. The first two clues that met my eye were Loch Lochy and Lovat so I hoped for a Scottish theme. I suppose you could add Adam Smith to get a mini theme.

Does elapse include fall among its definitions? I personally have never elapsed from my bicycle.

By: Geoff Anderson

Geoff Anderson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:56:20 +0000

Adam Smith – the ‘Smith’ isn’t ‘forge’ but HIT HARD = SMIT + H. Smit is an old past tense of ‘smite’ (smite – smit – smitten; as in write – writ – written)

And a click beetle is a kind of beetle that can right itself from being on its back, which it does with a clicking noise.

By: mhl

mhl — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:42:07 +0000

Actually, I realise my comments above sound wholly negative about the crossword, when of course there was a lot to enjoy here… Is the film worth seeing?

By: don

don — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:59:30 +0000

Sorry, ‘three-part’!