Comments on: Guardian 25,293 / Rufus

By: William

William — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:52:00 +0000

Eileen @35. Simply that the lady was surrounded by crosswords – I glimpsed Azed, FT, Guardian, Times etc. – and was completing them with such alacrity that it occurred to me that she might be a slogger or better. Of course, it now occurs to me that they may not necessarily have been correct!

Oh well, thanks anyway.

William

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:38:48 +0000

Didn’t read any comments. I count ten (10!) cryptic or double definitions. That is not what a cryptic puzzle should be. Sorry, Rufus, but for once I can’t thank the setter. Shame on you, but more importantly, shame on the editor who let this one by.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:27:29 +0000

Hi William

“A lady answering your description … ”

What can you mean?

I’m sorry, no – I’ve only been to Cardiff once, on a coach!

By: William

William — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:11:28 +0000

Thank you, Eileen, for the elucidating blog. Rather liked RAMBLING ROSE & MAILBAG. Less keen on APSE & LEARNED.

This is a really long shot – I don’t suppose it was you on the Cardiff train out of London Paddington on Sunday 27th March was it? A lady answering your description was machine gunning off crossword answers in the seat across the aisle from me, and I couldn’t help thinking of you!

Of course it wasn’t, it’s a ridiculous thought.

Thank you for the blog nonetheless.

By: tupu

tupu — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:02:09 +0000

Hi Ian
By the time I got round to posting 31 (left waiting on screen) you had already posted 30.
Briefly, I agree re surfaces – smooth and often witty with a light touch. As to cds, I usually feel good when the penny drops.

By: Martin P

Martin P — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:23:42 +0000

Lovely. Thanks Rufus, didn’t notice the spell of rain midday.

By: tupu

tupu — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:44:03 +0000

Hi claire
A much nicer idea!

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:34:21 +0000

Hi tupu #25,

Yes, they are designed to prolong what would otherwise be a straightforward 20 minute solve into something that takes an amateur like me the best part of an hour – or more.

Notwithstanding that, I have the utmost admiration for not just the prodigiousness of his output but some of the most seamless wordplay currently published that is made to look easy but is, sure, far from it.

By: slipstream

slipstream — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:25:24 +0000

re 24 down: “yank” and “jerk” are synonyms; each is used in America for “sudden short pull” as in “give a yank on that rope.” And “jerk” is also a weightlifting term. So it’s a fair DD.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:49:26 +0000

Thanks all
I thought that was a particularly easy one, even for Rufus.
No complaints though. Last one in was Inchon for the same reason as the rest.
I always forgive very obscure solutions when there is clearly no other word which fits. As a past (very) amateur setter I know how tempting it is not to have to start messing up a finished grid.