Comments on: Guardian 25,048 – Chifonie

By: FumbleFingers

FumbleFingers — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:39:58 +0000

Interesting point, duncan. I’ve always deconstructed “banker” as river, but maybe this time it wasn’t. Whatever, I still think it’s become a cliche on a par with “traveller”=REP, and should be put out to grass.

btw – I think today’s quiptic has a lot of nice misdirectional surface readings, which more than made up for the standard cryptic being a bit light in that department.

By: duncan

duncan — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:23:29 +0000

I saw the solution “polenta” & deconstructed (probably because of “lent”) the p-o part as an abbreviation for “post office”, often used as a bank amongst other things. could this have been the intent, rather than the river?

By: Davy

Davy — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:50:15 +0000

I thought this was pretty good and particularly liked 6d and 7d. I too would love to know the place where the BARTENDER gives drinks away. Thanks Chifonie.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:44:49 +0000

Thanks for the blog Andrew.

Always good to see a Chifonie puzzle in The Guardian.

I rather enjoyed this and found it one a par with Rufus as far as degree of difficulty is concerned. Apart from ‘Banker’ in 1 dn everything clued to my satisfaction.

25′

By: FumbleFingers

FumbleFingers — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:34:28 +0000

When unions are in pay negotiations they wouldn’t differentiate between “new” and “extra” money being put on the table.

As with many others, I think “banker” for river is way past its sell-by date (apart from maybe the very first time I met it, I’ve never thought it was much good anyway). Other than that, a competent if somewhat humdrum offering today.

By: Carrots

Carrots — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:55:13 +0000

Is Chifonie really a “he”? I was going to groan loudly at one or two of the clues but, thinking the setter a lady, my chivalrous instincts demurred. I realize that Grauniad Wimmins will scoff at such chauvanism…but all I would ask is that they use their mobile phones with restraint in the First Class carriages of our railways.

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:24:57 +0000

Thanks Andrew.
I thought this was a pretty good puzzle,nothing too difficult but a few smiles along the way.
A few good anagrams -10,12 and 24 across and a couple of clever misdirections.
Tried to fit La Scala for 7 down when I,of all people,should have got Tosca straight away!
Banker for river is o.k. by me.
Kathryn’s Dad @ 11 – excellent!

By: muck

muck — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:30:40 +0000

Thanks for the blog Andrew

Stella Heath #7: “where I at first tried north/south as vaguely anagramatic of scout’s honour”
I too took exactly this wrong turning at 24ac.

By: Mike M

Mike M — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:01:33 +0000

I don’t really like river = BANKER, but technically it is probably correct. As the river flows around bends, the water will build up more on one side compared with the other, therefore “banking” (in the same way as runners on banked tracks run higher in the outside lanes). But I still don’t like it here….

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:56:32 +0000

Andrew

In the newspaper industry, an EXTRA edition is a new one containing the very latest news.

So what’s new?