Comments on: Guardian 25,291 / Araucaria

By: rfb

rfb — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:20:19 +0000

Another very enjoyable puzzle from Araucaria. Despite not having lived in the UK for 40 years, I had no problems with NATWEST. Strange that none of the people complaining about it made the same complaint about SPAB which appeared as a solution to a Guardian crossword a month or so ago. I’m still fuming over that.

I always attempt the crosswords without artificial aids at first. In the end, the only one I had to look up was NINUS (obvious anagram, I just didn’t know the reference). I am still puzzled by WOLVERINE meaning a glutton, though. It’s not thus in Chambers 10th (2006).

By: Katherine

Katherine — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:40:29 +0000

I think gaufrid should remove number 46 above, as the person clearly used a made up name to show contempt. R Slyker is clearly a crude homophone – think about it [treat the y as an i].

By: Dave Kennerley

Dave Kennerley — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:20:12 +0000

Disappointed with 5 Down – where Wolverine is an error, I think.
Wolverine – “of or pertaining to the wolf species…”
But what’s required in the clue is the word for glutton, and that’s wolverene – with 2 e’s.
Threw me for a long time.

I still wouldn’t miss an Araucaria though.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:47:53 +0000

Dear Bannsider, I only object because I do not like to see brand names (and certainly not banks, but that’s a personal thing – even though it’s my bank) as the SOLUTION to a clue. Using them as part of the construction can make crosswords perhaps more ‘lively’, so fine by me. But seeing NATWEST in the grid where there was an alternative, well, you know how I think about it.
For me, it has nothing to do with foreigners not being familar to the name.
Perhaps, I am inconsequent in my way of thinking, making a difference between solution and clue – but that’s how I feel.
BTW, there were hardly objections against it by others.

Bannsider, long may you solve Araucarias with a drink at hand!
[this is no cynical remark - just a wish from the heart ]

By: Bannsider

Bannsider — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:53:38 +0000

I don’t do Araucaria puzzles very often, but when I do I always make sure that I am sat in the garden in the sunshine with a drink
You know with the great man you are going to be teased, amazed, infuriated etc in the course of the solving process, and if that were not the case one would feel let down.
I am somewhat astounded at the objections to the appearance of NATWEST in the grid. It may be difficult (surely not impossible) for a foreigner, but then so I think would many of the other answers also.

Long may he reign

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:09:02 +0000

Most of the NW corner left empty, NATWEST unsolvable to foreigners. Most of the rest was fun though. Using “reject” for “scout” pretty much killed that clue for me. Overall, some fun and teasing clues, but, I rarely find this – the ones I missed, when I read the parsing here, don’t make me go “Doh!”, they made me go “Wha? That’s ridiculous”. Oh well, life isn’t perfect either!

I also was very uncomfortable with the grammar at TAG = “labelled”.

Thanks for the puzzle, A., and duncanshiell for the meticulous blog!

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 11:11:25 +0000

Not sure whether post #46 is a serious one, but on hindsight I find Dave Lebon’s explanation of ‘labelled’ @22 the most plausible one so far [and probably the only one that might fully convince me].

That said, I still don’t have warm feelings for this crossword, as it contained too many examples of loose clueing (like in 1ac, 11ac, 19ac, 23ac, 16d, 21d). When the name to this puzzle wouldn’t have been Araucaria, the oven might have already been preheated to 200 degrees ….

Moreover, I was and am quite surprised that hardly anyone (except perhaps Eileen @5 who at least mentions it) objected against the use of NATWEST as a solution [the clue as such was nice, even though I wasn't sure about the way the anagrind was used] as there was an alternative.
I really think we shouldn’t want this.

Of course, Araucaria is a great setter, but this one wasn’t one of his best (as I like to see more precision).

Never a dull moment, though.

By: Mr R. Slyker

Mr R. Slyker — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 17:53:40 +0000

Oh Mr Lebon! (blog no. 22),

What a wonderful parser you are, you are, what a wonderful parser you are.

And what a crying shame it is that none of your fellow bloggers seem to appreciate the genius that is surely you!

Yours forever,

A. Whelan.

P.S. Have you got one down Dave? (Welsh Mick)

By: Coffee

Coffee — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 03:27:47 +0000

Yes, I also guessed NATWEST when I had a few letters in & parsed it after. My Irish friend Roisin tells me when she first went to England they called her Rose-sheen, so that one was easy. Over all, thoroughly enjoyed this one & thanks for the detailed blog.

By: snigger

snigger — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:02:26 +0000

@41 – who are the “most” ??

regular contributors to this blog possibly. but given that from the wordplay the third word was world, how many of the “most” arrived at “brave new world” before the name of a bird to fit in the reversed “web” ?? not exactly or purely solving it from the wordplay.

hey ho – all in all another marmite offering. but reasons to be cheerful ??? this horror will not mess up my saturday as a prize crossword.