Comments on: Guardian 25264 Orlando – Rustic Romance

By: Carrots

Carrots — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:02:22 +0000

`fraid not, William. I was wondering if he was on a “Puffer”…one of those small steamboats which established a supply chain to the remoter Scottish Isles. I always remember a (`60s ?) television series about the “Vital Spark” and it`s roguish Captain, Parahandie. They don`t make them like that anymore!

By: William

William — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:54:25 +0000

Carrots @26

I agree entirely – how exciting. Did you elicit a response from Cap’n Aubrey? Any relation to Patrick O’Brien’s hero, I wonder?

By: Carrots

Carrots — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:09:49 +0000

Crosser: Good point, but I`ve always put this down to the fact that Americans are not good spellers. They are also masters of using twenty multi-syllable words when one precise one will do. I`d like to see `em hauled up at The Hague on charges of Crimes Against The English Language.

By: crosser

crosser — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:39:12 +0000

I wonder if the tendency to elide two-word expressions (often hyphenated) into a single word is (partly) due to the influence of American English? I have noticed that where British English has a hyphen, Americans often write just one word.

By: Mick

Mick — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:53:11 +0000

Stiofan
I remember the Araucaria crossword with that as an answer but not which one. Might be in his excellent book of puzzles?
Love these blogs everyone – keep them up!
And nice to see a setter popping in from time to time.

By: molonglo

molonglo — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:44:51 +0000

Typo – Geoff @9 re Lady Hamilton backing divine crew’s quarters

By: molonglo

molonglo — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:43:12 +0000

Hi Eileen @7 – noted. LYRA seems to appeal to compilers as it hides well in combinations like ‘disorderly ravers’ and ‘heavenly radiance.’
Geoff @29: Dead right, 13a has a brilliant surface. Top marks, Orlando.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:30:08 +0000

Thanks Orlando and UY. very enjoyable.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned it but Chambers gives (archaic, old) iron = theatre safety curtain.(1 down)

By: Carrots

Carrots — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:48:57 +0000

Many thanks Eileen, Stiofain (lovely name!), Andrew & K`s Dad: Of course, after the first gurgle I had another…and quite forgot about the task I set myself. I`m grateful for helping me out. I wonder if the inreasing tendency to run words together derives from computers not liking spaces in addresses and HTTPs etc.?

Jack A: Are you a steamship or steam engine driver? How exciting!

By: Martin H

Martin H — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:19:35 +0000

re Masefield: how does a rowing boat get from Nineveh (never mind Ophir) to Palestine?

Nice crossword – I thought EDEN was a bit colourless, but the surface of SUPERINTENDENT was super, likewise SIERRA LEONE.