Comments on: Guardian No 24,582 / Araucaria

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:56:52 +0000

Don: re 19ac: ‘in’ is surely a very common linking word in crosswords? cf 26ac in today’s Brendan: ‘old man guarding a venerated object in temple [PAGODA]

I pointed out in the blog that Snug is a joiner in a Midsummer Night’s Dream, so the ‘joining’ in 22ac, though not strictly necessary, to my mind turns a good clue into a great one.

By: don

don — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:41:08 +0000

Got ‘old doG’ and ‘Suppressor’ and from the crossing G and S guessed ‘verges’, which I vaguely remembered as a Shakespearean character, so I guessed 14 Across. Then saw that 14 out of 26 clues (nearly 60%) were related and gave up. Waste of time Googling obscure characters from Shakespeare that few have heard of and even fewer are likely to hear of again.

But there were some dreadful clues. If ‘A fish’ = ‘a ling’ and ‘a fiddle’ = ‘strad, how does ‘in a former city’ = ‘Stalingrad’? The ‘in’ is superfluous. If ‘cosy’ = ‘snug’ what purpose has ‘joining’ in 22 Across, other than to be unnecessarily obscure? ‘… that lasted out’? And there are other examples in this excuse for a crossword.

Pity he doesn’t stick to English as well – ych a fi!

By: mark

mark — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:51:41 +0000

I’m with the ‘too difficult’ brigade. Gave up and I’m glad I did having seen how complicated some of the clues were.

I’ve never seen the mechanics of 16D before. I’d got 21D so suspected “salt” as the part….but to then use another word for salt and only take part of that….for goodness sake.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:30:08 +0000

Very difficult today.

Completely stumped in trying to solve 14a for around 20/25 minutes before starting on, and solving, some of the referenced clues -(via unrefereenced clues).

Once 14a was solved I have very little to complain about. Apart, that is, from 21d which I originally had down as Salted, then later, Deltas. Doh!!

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:24:09 +0000

Well, I appologise for breaking said records. It may have something to do with being glued to the sofa. Anything different breaks the monotony and induces enthusiasm, however unlikely.

Happy wotsits and things too.

By: muck

muck — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:44:06 +0000

Thanks, Dave E. It is probably the first puzzle I have given up on in many years without solving a single clue. In my defence, I was fast-tracked through Maths & Eng Lang GCEs and missed out on Shakespeare. I still look forward to Araucaria, but on this particular Monday, also for personal reasons which needn’t concern 15sqd, he wasn’t a welcome challenge.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:39:30 +0000

Derek; I think you must hold the record for the longest footage of comments – and highest number of responses – for anyone who, of his own admission, didn’t attempt a single answer and professed no interest whatsoever in the puzzle, first because of the setter and, subsequently, after ‘cheating’, because of the theme clue. With Mhl, I do hope that this has not put you off attempting [and commenting on] Guardian puzzles in the future and that you will find some of the ‘fun’ and ‘pleasure’ that George and the rest of us [or why would we be here?] usually find, in spite of the occasional frustration Happy New Year!

By: Dave Ellison

Dave Ellison — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:23:13 +0000

Thank’s, Muck, I am glad I am not alone. I gave up too, the first time I have failed to get a theme in 42 years. I did guess Shakespeare after my wife got Silvia for me, but couldn’t work out why, still thought I might be looking for a film, didn’t think “writer” described Shakespeare, none of the clues I had solved I knew as S. characters (Shallow, Snug, Slender, Verges) and I had no cross checking letters.

Araucaria used to be my favourite – perhaps still is?

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:14:18 +0000

I know, I know, George. “Getting it” after head bashing can be fun. Providing you haven’t already been rushed to hospital with a broken skull!

Tom, sometimes vague you say? They all go vague at times, some more than others as you note. Bugs me too.

Umm, the Eclipse Stakes was named after Eclipse the horse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_(horse), but he lived before any of us can remember, trips in the Tardis not withstanding.

By: muck

muck — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:05:59 +0000

Interesting comments! Despite being a fairly experienced Guardian cryptic solver, and quite familiar with Araucaria, I failed to get 14ac or any other answers and gave up.