Comments on: Guardian Prize Puzzle No 25340 by Puck

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:48:43 +0000

In case anyone is still reading this thread, (and in the hope of having the last word!) I can add that the definition of slipway in the 1993 edition of Chambers is exactly the same as the one in the current edition quoted by NeilW @7 above. I do accept that there’s nothing in the OED to support this usage, but Chambers is the bible for most setters.

By: Paul (not Paul)

Paul (not Paul) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:30:16 +0000

A bit of a slog for me but I got there in the end.

The sheer length of the clues prevented me from enjoying the puzzle as much as others. Brevity is the soul of wit.

I was amused by the definition of Tomb Raider as a film which has passed without comment. I look forward to someone clueing Pride and Prejudice as a TV series and waiting for the reaction!

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:35:01 +0000

I was astonished to find that a slipway can be called a pier but apparently it can. My partner isn’t particularly seafaring but she knew it. “Chambers is simply wrong” (Sidey @19 above) is not a very persuasive argument!

By: Biggles A

Biggles A — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:00:15 +0000

I see it Sidey’s way!

By: tupu

tupu — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 10:49:36 +0000

Hi Epee

I too have heard of ‘lets’. My recollection is that it started in Canada. It is basically moneyless – participants get points for services for others and can then spend them on services from others within the LETS community.

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 10:35:36 +0000

Eileen @12: you’re right of course, I did identify both stir and fry but just got the clue classification wrong.

Epee@16: yes, I had in fact heard of LETS, there are several such schemes in the UK and abroad, but I was a little surprised to see it in Chambers.

No further comments for a while: my allotment is calling and the weeds won’t wait!

By: sidey

sidey — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 10:31:15 +0000

A pier may have a slipway and a slipway may be built on piers but PIER can’t define SLIPWAY. Stupid clue, ghastly editing from the Graun yet again. And Chambers is simply wrong if they have put it in the current edition. It has no common usage to support it either.

By: Carrots

Carrots — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 10:12:16 +0000

I struggled with this but (with google`s help) I managed to plant all the corpses except CHRISTINA ROSETTI of whom I had not heard. Getting into the theme was pretty straightforward, but some of the other clues (e.g. SLIPWAYS and HALIFAX) have remained a mystery until Bridgesong`s blog this morning.

However, absolutely no complaints and many thanks to Puck for an entertaining and challenging puzzle. Now, on to the Pasquale, which I hope will take my mind off melting plasticards as wife and daughter embark on a frock-shopping trip…..

By: Robi

Robi — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 10:10:58 +0000

Pretty difficult. I got HIGHGATE CEMETERY and then KARL MARX and Googled the rest.

Thanks bridgesong for explaining the parsing of 2,17. Re HALIFAX, I know from Scrabbling that you can use the AX spelling (given in Chambers as N. American.) Eileen @14; I also enjoyed the “school photograph.”

By: Epee

Epee — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 09:49:44 +0000

Hi,

thanks for explaining all of this. I am sitting looking at my crossword which had 2 blanks, 7A (HALIFAX) and 20D (OWLETS). I feel particularly peeved about the latter; of course I saw ‘owlets’ as matching a definition of young (albeit a very general definition – maybe young birds rather than young ones ?) but bartering system = LETS ? Can anyone honestly say they’ve ever heard of such a thing ? Like some others I thoroughly enjoyed 21D6D ; like the way it contains IP (PIers M head reversed !) as well as W (MORGAN head reversed). DOn’t think I’ve seen M become W in this way before.
Cheers Epee