Comments on: Inquisitor 1135 – Six further on, by Quixote

By: Quixote

Quixote — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:32:41 +0000

Thanks for feedback. I was rather pleased that Matilda and Stephen were the same length and six letetrs different given the 1135/1141 temporary transferral of power. And I come from an era when thematic puzzles didn’t all require highlighting. The Indy weekend puzzle has tradionally been a gentle introduction to thematic barred puzzles, even if it now tries from time to time to outdo its illustrious Listener rival — so if someone did it quickly for a change, I’m happy!

By: petebiddlecombe

petebiddlecombe — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:42:15 +0000

“17 years or so”: nmsindy has understood what I meant.

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:28:20 +0000

Thanks for the encouragement Mike …and the warning!
I have a feeling I may be struggling this week!

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:28:14 +0000

Only guessing but I think what is meant by ‘the next 17 years or so’ is that the puzzle numbers wd take us to the present time more or less if the puzzle numbers were perhaps to relate to a theme.

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:58:11 +0000

I delved a while after completing the crossword and learnt a little history. Matilda (Stephen’s cousin) was the daughter of Henry I and heir to the throne, but Stephen seized it (1135). He was captured & imprisoned by her (1141), and although she became known as “Lady of England” she was never crowned.

I guess she got even when her own son, Henry II, succeeded Stephen.

(Not sure what Pete meany by “the next 17 years or so”.)

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:14:26 +0000

Yes, I found this the quickest Inquisitor solve that I can recall – very enjoyable and clear. Wondered if there was something thematic about STEPHEN and MATILDA but did not pursue it too far so it’s v interesting now to see it explained. Re quixotic oversight, that clue puzzled me too, making it my final entry. Homer nods as they say which is reassuring in a way…

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:15:09 +0000

The solution notes will read:

“The word ladder was Stephen, pesante, peasant, namaste, amental, matinal, Matilda. Stephen ascended the throne in 1135, the number of the puzzle. Six years further on in 1141 his position as monarch was for a period seized by his rival Matilda, six further on at the end of the ladder.”

It was easier than most, yes, but the idea is to encourage (comparatively) new solvers, rather than put them off. But don’t get lulled into a false sense of security.

I made a note to substitute “stroke” for “shot” when solving the puzzle in the first place, but forgot to implement it – sorry, it was just a quixotic oversight. (Boom, boom!)

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:32:18 +0000

Thanks Pete.
I enjoyed this puzzle and I think it must be my quickest Inquisitor solve yet.I like to think it’s because I’m getting better at doing them but it’s probably just a slightly easier puzzle than some.No doubt regulars here will set me straight on that!
I think the clarity of the preamble helped me and the fact that I could start filling the grid without having to treat the answers in some way.
Last to go in was 27 across and like you,I was a little surprised to find “shot” in both clue and answer.