Comments on: Independent 7631 by Nimrod

By: flashling

flashling — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:12:01 +0000

Flashling comes out of hiding under the duvet. Re #11&12 I suspected the same as K’sD but I’m still not convinced despite Mordred’s thoughts on it.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:04:15 +0000

Hi B&J.

Flashling is probably still suffering from post-traumatic stress, so I will try to help with 25ac. I can’t remember the exact clue, but I think the parsing is RUE (regret, from memory) in OTT reversed. OTT is over the top, and I think flashling’s question mark is whether this can be equated with ‘blue’ in the sense of risqué or pornographic (am I allowed to use that word on 225?).

Hope that helps. If it’s complete cobblers then flashling will come to your rescue no doubt.

By: BertandJoyce

BertandJoyce — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:35:21 +0000

PHEW! Once again thank goodness for FS!

We only managed to solve a handful of clues last night. A fresh start this morning enabled us to almost complete the grid with a certain amount of ‘cheating’! There was some very devious word play and even though we expected a NINA the omission of S and U April-Fooled us!

We are still perplexed by 25ac. Can anyone help? Maybe it’s too late or perhaps solvers are still working on this.

Thanks Nimrod and flashling. Thanks Eimi as well – An excellent week in the Indie.

By: flashling

flashling — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:45:57 +0000

Thanks for the replies, it got to the stage where I felt I’d done enough and would let you folks help out which you’ve done. @NMS about LAST EMPEROR I agree but it’s one of those clues that defy a proper category. @BM ouch should have seen that!

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:44:17 +0000

What a week this has been! This was fitting Friday finale. Thanks for the blog – I hadn’t looked at the edge of the grid. Seen in its entirety the theme is a thing of (quirky) beauty.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:27:42 +0000

This was a tremendous idea and grid construction from Nimrod. Yesterday’s puzzle by Anax was my slowest Indy solve this year, until this 24 hours later. It was really enjoyable working it out with the theme, in its fullness, becoming apparent only very near the end tho I had spotted MR BEAN quite early on. Not sure if LAST EMPEROR is a cryptic definition, this it’s just last = the only surviving emperor = penguin and then the film title. PACE and PROOPS was my final step. Thanks, Nimrod and flashling.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:34:09 +0000

You have a good memory, Derrick! Nice to hear from you again on the blog. It’s when setters comment on their own puzzles with their real name that is confusing, I think – here you’re just a humble (and unlike me, successful) solver …

By: Derrick Knight

Derrick Knight — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:50:46 +0000

Many thanks, NIMROD, for an enjoyable struggle, and to flashling for a brilliant blog. I didn’t see the left right bit. Could OTT, lacking restraint, be synonymous with BLUE, indecent. Sorry, KD, can’t get Blackberry to change my name to Mordred!

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:24:30 +0000

I always enjoy a tussle with the mind of Nimrod and this themed crossword was great fun once my cryptic brain cells finally got the hang of the theme etc. If you hadn’t know it was one of his crosswords, 12a would have given it away! Thanks to Nimrod for the fun and Flashling for the explanations.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:58:12 +0000

Well done, flashling – to see Nimrod’s name on a puzzle on April 1st strikes terror indeed!

However, I found this less of a problem than his Enigmatist on Wednesday and a lot more fun.

I can’t get any further than you with 25ac and I see Beermagnet’s beaten me with the explanation of 20dn.

Many thanks, Nimrod, for a really enjoyable puzzle.