Comments on: Guardian 25,170 / Paul

By: paul8hours

paul8hours — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:19:28 +0000

Thanks for the blog & to Paul for another good one.
I did this late last night but still I can’t believe I didn’t get peace having worked out the treaties bit. Worse still I mispelt tineist which gave me no chance of getting clerihew. Must cut out the errors when I go to Buckingham !

By: Gerry

Gerry — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:04:23 +0000

Once 20d was solved I got through it quickly, though I had to look up the song-titles, and kept the city in mind to get the non-songs. Had to get 5d…as that’s where I am.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:59:58 +0000

Hi John

I think tupu did that at comment 8.

By: John

John — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:05:03 +0000

Re 9 ac, no one’s actually spelled it out, but of course you have to have a cast-iron stomach to drink the stuff.

By: TeviotMoose

TeviotMoose — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:39:35 +0000

Thanks Eileen for a great blog.

I also enjoyed this crossword, although missed Checkpoint Charlie and Reichstag, having been too hung up on Irving Berlin to think of any other meaning of Berlin, but since I set myself a time-limit of Bank – Clapham Junction + Bus home, I don’t feel too bad!

Also as a “youngster” I knew the two long clues, and checked “Always” and was suitably enlightened!

Really enjoying this website in pointing out what I have missed – definitely improving my crosswording skills

Stephen

By: PeterO

PeterO — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:30:29 +0000

Eileen,

Thanks for the blog. I envy you drawing this splendid crossword! Schmuck is an interesting word – in German it has the somewhat improbable meaning of jewellery; then in Yiddish it followed a course not too far from ‘the family jewels’, and, along with putz and a few other similar words, became a general term of abuse. At some stage it was adopted into American slang.

By: Mick H

Mick H — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:24:19 +0000

My brain hurts too. This took almost all the way from Herb Hating to Prerecord Hanky via Queerer Elastic (cf the wonderful http://www.anagramtubemap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/?ref=nf )
It helped my hangover in the same way that banging your head on the wall can help dull pain elsewhere.

By: walruss

walruss — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:16:38 +0000

What a pleasure to see such a goodie in the Guardian!

By: Carrots

Carrots — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:20:07 +0000

Thanxamillion Eileen. My brain hurts, but managed all but one (REICHSTAG), which after two hours (as opposed to your two minutes) stubbornly refused to appear. Good puzzle though!

By: Robi

Robi — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:39:51 +0000

Thanks Eileen for the explanations – too difficult for a beginner like me. I note, however, that Hooligan can refer to an Irish family in a music hall song [number?] of the 1890s.