Comments on: Everyman No. 3339 (26th September)

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:16:07 +0000

Thank you, Lorraine. As I’ve said before, I like the way you produce the blog because it reminds me of the puzzle, which one week on has normally found its way into the recycling.

Enjoyable and well-clued as always from Everyman. RABBIT is certainly well-known to cricketers, Stella – a lower-order batsman who can’t really bat for his life. Not sure where it comes from, though – maybe from that startled expression that rabbits give you when you catch them in the headlights before trying to swerve and avoid producing a further item of roadkill.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 13:35:40 +0000

Thanks Lorraine, and Peter O for the information on orchids and other flora.

I agree, this was slightly tougher than the usual Everyman, with a couple of new words (12d and 21d), and a new acception for a very familiar one – ‘rabbit’.

As always, though, soundly clued and enjoyable. Thanks, Everyman.

By: PeterO

PeterO — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:46:15 +0000

Curious. A google of ‘naked lady orchid’ provides a large number of hits, most of which seem more interested in naked ladies than orchids, but only two obvious relevant entries. One references Collins, and the other also uses the identical wording, with no more information; yet the same search readily provided a botanical name and photos for the naked man orchid. It is hardly surprising a common name applied to several plants, and the naked bit would indicate that the flower, like the colchicum (to spell it correctly this time) now in bloom outside my window, does not have leaves, although in the case of the colchicum it will come up with some later.

By: PeterO

PeterO — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:47:07 +0000

TT – we crossed. Thanks for the information, I do not have Collins, and had not come across that one.

By: PeterO

PeterO — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:39:47 +0000

... that is, at least in slippers.

By: The Trafites

The Trafites — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:39:08 +0000

PeterO, Collins defines ‘naked lady’ as “a leafless pink orchid found in Australia and New Zealand“.

By: PeterO

PeterO — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:28:26 +0000

One quibble: in 26A, the naked lady in question is generally colchichum , the autumn crocus, which is not an orchid. I could find the name referring to other plants, none of which seems to be an orchid. Perhaps Everyman had in mind ladies clothed, at least in slippers.

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 09:30:04 +0000

I liked 13A, INEDIBLE, for some reason. I can’t remember how this puzzle worked for me except that it seems to be fully solved when I pull it out.

By: The Trafites

The Trafites — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 07:34:41 +0000

Hi Andrew, yes it was lovely to meet you also, nice to put a face to the name. I agree that Everyman seems to have stepped up the pace some what, I believed Everyman to be the puzzle for cryptic virgins, but not so sure about that now. Although I finish the puzzle every Sunday morning I am finding that the old grey matter is being worked much harder than it used to be. Regards, Lorraine.

By: AJK

AJK — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 05:44:30 +0000

Hi, Lorraine. Nice to meet you and Nick at the AZED lunch. Yes, Everyman seems to be a bit tougher of late. I agree 3d was terrific, but 6d was good too.