Comments on: Independent 7555 by Raich

By: Raich

Raich — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:35:18 +0000

Many thanks, NealH, for the blog and to all for their comments. I confirm that the thematic items were GERMANY CALLING (WJ’s signature) in the top row, 15 ac and the two other clues referring to 15 ac. Collins gives muse = gaze thoughtfully.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:55:57 +0000

Wil, I suppose one could equate musing with navel-gazing?

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:26:42 +0000

We are coming to expect a pleasant crossword from Raich. For me at any rate, the right level of difficulty, ie fairly easy but one or two clues that gave some cause for thought. Had never heard of an idee recue, so that was a bit hard even though it was obviously an anagram, and gneiss had to be dredged from somewhere at the back of my mind. Had never heard of Cheryl Tweedy. Wasn’t sure that musing (in 16dn) really had anything to do with gazing, but no doubt someone will tell me that it does in some dictionary. Lots of very nice clues here.

By: flashling

flashling — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:39:14 +0000

Given 1d, I see nice at the start of row 2… very enjoyable Raich, thankyou.

By: sidey

sidey — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:39:38 +0000

What an odd anniversary to mark. Other than that, rather good.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 09:14:38 +0000

Thank you, Neal.

Very enjoyable puzzle from Raich. I found it mostly straightforward, but there were many well-constructed clues to savour, in particular the &lits. There seemed to be a lot of anagrams in the acrosses, but there were some clever ones included. Elsewhere I liked THUS and GATHER (I think it’s a reversal of RAG rather than an anagram, btw).

Interesting theme as well. Apart from GERMANY CALLING across the top row I can’t see anything else; ABSENT is as you say there too, but I can’t see why.

All good stuff, thank you Raich.

By: scchua

scchua — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:36:27 +0000

Thanks Neal for the blog and Raich for a relaxed puzzle, though the anniversary was unknown to me.

Favourites were 21A LORD HAW HAW, a clever &lit, bringing Hitler in, 14D DOMINATION, also an &lit I think, and perhaps an allusion to the theme, and 15D WOEBEGONE, for which, btw, you’ve got a typo – a missing E(ast) after WO.