Comments on: Guardian Quiptic 580 by Nutmeg

By: Robii

Robii — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:51:39 +0000

Rather late in the day for a comment, but Christmas got in the way. Managed this, although I thought it was tough in places. Thanks Pierre, especially for the explanation of 24a – I was getting so used to setter meaning ‘me’ or ‘I’ that I missed the dog connection.

Whistle-stop tour is a pretty common political expression, I think.

Didn’t know anything about Carey Street until I googled it.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:57:53 +0000

Thanks, grandpuzzler and Peter for the explanation of WHISTLE-STOP. I never realised that was where the expression came from, although it’s certainly a pretty well known expression in British English.

By: PeterO

PeterO — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:54:17 +0000

This one definitely required some thought. A whistle-stop tour in the US has primarily political connotations, as grandpuzzler pointed out. It is odd that Wikipedia identifies Carey Street in Baltimore. There is a little more relevant information at Queer Street.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:13:29 +0000

Yes far too tough for the job spec. I’m out of fuzzy brain recovery mode now but still couldn’t quite finish it. Comments on specifics as above.

Yes, men don’t do doctors, which is why I’ve not heard of something specifically female!

By: grandpuzzler

grandpuzzler — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:38:05 +0000

Thanks Pierre for your blog. I vaguely recall Truman using “whistle-stop” campaigns from back of trains in late 40′s. That is probably the politician reference in 1A? I took the asterisks in 24A to indicate a minced oath (darned, damned) so went with doggone. Presage meaning threaten was new to me; thanks for the explanation.

Happy New Year!

By: Tokyo Colin

Tokyo Colin — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:14:00 +0000

Thanks Pierre. You may count me among those with reservations. I have been doing the Quiptic recently since I have a friend trying to enter into crypticland via the Quiptic, but like many of them this one doesn’t seem to address that audience. Many of the clues were obscure, convoluted or just plain clunky. Not difficult for a regular, but unsuitable as a “cryptic with training wheels” in my opinion. I think the Sunday Everyman and the usual Monday Rufus are better choices, albeit without your excellent explanations. (Although I don’t know what I solved this morning since it was untitled when it arrived on my iPhone and doesn’t match today’s Guardian blog.)

By: Pierre

Pierre — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:36:26 +0000

Hi Stella. Yes, I had to Google Carey Street as well, but I did find fairly quickly the definition I needed. WELL-WOMAN CLINIC is a reasonably well-known phrase in the UK: it’s an initiative set up some time ago under the NHS which offers women the opportunity for regular check-ups to pick up early on any potential health problems. There is the equivalent WELL-MAN CLINIC, but as we all know, men don’t do doctors until it’s too late.

By: Stella

Stella — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:55:52 +0000

Thanks Pierre, I echo your reservations about this puzzle. I’ve no idea what a 1d is, and in Wiki Carey St. is in Maryland, so thanks for explaining that one. Hardly beginner level!