Comments on: Guardian 25084 / Rufus

By: Little Dutch Girl

Little Dutch Girl — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:44:27 +0000

How nice Rufus that you read the blog and took the trouble to comment. Thank you. PS I like CDs – so don’t stop using them – and they are infinitely better than Spoonerisms!

By: Tom Roper

Tom Roper — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:06:38 +0000

Further to Myrvin’s remarks about the OED, if your library authority is too mean to subscribe, then join another that does…for some reason it’s not well publicised, but all library authorities have now agreed to offer membership to anyone anywhere. I’ve joined Manchester and can see their electronic resources, though I live on the south coast

By: Rufus

Rufus — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:24:29 +0000

Thank you mhl for the excellent blog.

Regarding cryptic definitions, I do realise some solvers do not like them as, often, if you don’t think laterally you won’t arrive at the answer – you cannot work out the answer by hard work or re-examination of the clue.

However, according to all the crossword experts, it is a legitimate and accepted way of clueing. One national editor – who shall remain anonymous to avoid his embarrassment – tells me that my use of CDs is the main reason for his continued use of my puzzles. The few clues of mine that people remember when I meet them always seem to be the CDs.

By: Carrots

Carrots — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:11:06 +0000

Classic Rufus: surfaces so smooth he must have ironed them and a couple of stings in the tail to show who is boss. He may not be the most daunting of setters but what he may lack in sophistry he makes up for in style. Thank you Rufus: Monday lunchtimes without you can make me give up the will to live.

By: tupu

tupu — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:25:48 +0000

Hi Muck

Thanks. Yes, I know those, but am still haunted by a mental image of his uttering the other catchphrase.

By: Davy

Davy — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:35:52 +0000

Thanks mhl,

A mainly good puzzle from Rufus with some great CDs including 11a, 23a and especially 5d (ACUPUNCTURE). Also, enjoyed the ‘normality’ anagram and ENZYME. On the down side (sorry about that), I thought 3d was very poor and 1d was not convincing. I enjoyed the simplicity of 20d (MODERN).

Like everyone else, I nearly put SIRIUS for 9a but couldn’t figure out the word play.

I didn’t have any particular problems finishing this puzzle, although often with Rufus, there are two or three clues that I struggle with or sometimes give up on.

By: muck

muck — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:22:19 +0000

tupu@28: at risk of going even further off message... Clive Dunn's catchphrases in Dad's Army were "they don't like it up 'em" and don't panic

By: muck

muck — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:18:44 +0000

tupu@28: at risk of going even further off message... Clive Dunn's catchphrases in Dad's Army was "they don't like it up 'em" and don't panic

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:13:51 +0000

Got stuck on the same few others did. Feels good to know it wasn’t just me.

Re Quiptic blog, I did offer quite a while ago but in the end we decided it was unlikely to get the support. Can’t rely on my health now. If I do the Quiptic, it is usually Saturday when the prize one has done my brain in. Leave a post in the Crossword Discusion thread under Chat on or after the next Monday when it can’t be a spoiler and somebody may reply as I know there are a few here that do it.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:52:57 +0000

Thanks Stella @ 30

I’d forgotten about the Quiptic until I saw your comment.

I agree that it is more difficult than today’s Cryptic but I got there in the end.