Comments on: Independent on Sunday 1068 by Quixote – 1st August 2010

By: Quixote

Quixote — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:35:59 +0000

I tend to use puzzles with long anagrams sparingly, because when solving them I usually get there without working out all of the anagram. But I try to throw in the odd novelty for those who like them when I see an opportunity. Normal service has now been resumed.

By: Myrvin

Myrvin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:14:34 +0000

Last in was BRUT – danged 4-letter words.
Long quotes just have to be loked up. Never heard this one.
I like nmsindy’s explanation of 5.
LASCAR appears in a Holmes story. “The man with the twisted lip”
The fake beggar is hiding in a nasty boarding house when his wife turns up. She is told the room is taken by a Lascar. I looked it up when I heard it first.
Didn’t like CASTER and ‘broadcast’

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:14:43 +0000

I thought the anagram appealed here because its wording suggested the quote, which I think I had heard before without being aware of where it came from – it was also v appropriate for a puzzle appearing on the first day of August.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:54:58 +0000

Thanks, Handel, and to nms for explaining ‘infer’ (nice).

I dislike long obscure anagrams, especially in this case, where there’s little in the clue to point you in the right direction. It’s fine if they span one or two clues, but this one virtually inactivated the half of the across grid. And, with apologies to Lord Byron, what on earth is the ‘Burlador’ of Seville supposed to have known about the English weather?

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:20:07 +0000

I think INFER comes from INFER(tile) with tile = hat. Really enjoyed the anagram with the phrase emerging from crossing letters, it’s a quote from Byron’s ‘Don Juan’ tho I did not realise this till verifying. Thanks for the blog, Handel.