Comments on: Guardian Quiptic 602 Don Putnam

By: crosser

crosser — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:21:07 +0000

Thanks scchua for a very clear blog. I put in FLAUNTED for 18d but felt that was pushing it a bit for “displayed emotion”.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:00:15 +0000

Still not doing much on the PC so this was appreciated.

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:11:13 +0000

Thanks, Don; I thought this was about right for a Quiptic and definitely easier than the Cryptic.

Nice pictorial blog scchua; my last in was FENCES, which I thought was a good clue.

By: Tokyo Colin

Tokyo Colin — Mon, 30 May 2011 12:25:14 +0000

Thanks scchua for the very thorough blog.

I found this to be uneven in difficulty and as a result it took me about as long as the cryptic (although that yielded very quickly for me today.) For example, at 7ac I was looking for abbreviated synonyms of beer and fiesta (lagefest anyone?) and it took a while to realise how simple it really was. 21 dn was the same.

But then 12 ac required me to dredge GNOSIS from the archives of my memory, “very tired” to BATTERED is quite a stretch and I didn’t know ARNE or Mrs Mopp. So I felt whiplashed between too easy and (temporary)bewilderment. I would be interested to hear what a true beginner/Quiptic target solver thought of this.

Re 6dn, because of the “first” in the clue, I presumed this meant SU (us reversed) replaced the first E in Ellen. But I have since discovered that Ellen, unlike the less likely Nell, is not a variant of Eleanor. So I agree with your parsing and the conclusion that “first” is redundant and confusing.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:49:45 +0000

I agree, Scchua, I just thought he might consider that newcomers could do with a little extra direction.

By: scchua

scchua — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:36:11 +0000

Hi, Stella. 6D, initially I had considered what you’ve said, but then, “retire” applies to both NELL and US, and therefore “first” is out of place if it is to apply only to US. In fact, it is redundant, as the clue works just as well without it.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:23:51 +0000

Thank you, scchua, nice blog.

As Stella says, there can’t be any complaints about a straightforward Quiptic this week. All pretty sound, with some nice surfaces too, so well done and thanks to the setter.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:18:37 +0000

Thanks Scchua. There was certainly no mix-up with the cryptic this week!

At 6d, I think perhaps Mr Putnam wants to make very clear the instruction to put SU first.

Thanks for an easy sail, after I struggled a little with Brendan’s offering