Comments on: Guardian 25,379 – Philistine

By: anna ~ instructions for tom

anna ~ instructions for tom — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:11:50 +0000

thanks for linking to my inequity/iniquity post – loving reading all the comments here about those words!

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:28:24 +0000

Thank you, Martin, for your reply.
That’s the only thing I hoped for.
Let’s leave it there, OK?

By: Martin H

Martin H — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:03:08 +0000

Sil – Thanks for drawing my attention to your last Crucible post. I hadn’t seen it, but have now posted a reply.

Cheers

Martin

By: Carrots

Carrots — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:26:15 +0000

It took me a while to get started, but once I was “in” it became more and more enjoyable. Loved PITKNICKERS who can all now bask in the glow of their recognition.

ROQUEFORT got me salivating and I dived into Waitrose on the way home for a chunk….and also ended up impulse-buying Osso Buco and Craster Kippers. Only 28 quid: a bargain!

Thank you Philistine (and Andrew, of course): You must let us know the origin(s) of your Avatar…it doesn`t seem quite right for such a witty setter.

By: Leopold

Leopold — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:19:22 +0000

I have come across yet more shocking and terrifying information on the Philistine enigma: English ain’t even his second language.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:02:57 +0000

Yes, Eileen, I didn’t want to mention the fact that English is not Philistine’s first language, mainly because I think Philistine wouldn’t want us to judge his puzzles by that. In fact, English is not even his second language … !

But I want to emphasise once more: Philistine’s cluing has Heart & Soul.
There’s something very right about his cluing!

PS, Martin, you’re right about everything you said @47. And I also hope you read my post @52 at the last Crucible blog (no reply needed (other than perhaps yes or no)).

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:22:50 +0000

Thanks, Sil.

You’ve reminded me that I’d forgotten to highlight, in my favourites, perhaps the best clue of all – 28ac.

Since you’ve mentioned it [and I realise that modesty perhaps prevented you from enlarging on it! ] I also learned at the Birmingham do that English is not Philistine’s first language, which makes his début puzzles even more remarkable.

When I blogged his first puzzle, I was very impressed by his ‘end of term party [6]‘ and, the more I think of it, I think it’s an absolute classic.

I really look forward to more of his puzzles!

By: Martin H

Martin H — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:08:12 +0000

Sil – ‘Nitpickers’ seems fine – social grooming among primates.

2d: The usual phrase is ‘in deep trouble’, but Philistine’s language here doesn’t jar.

Surely you can make another ‘PHASE’ out of ‘SHAPE’?

But I think we both agree that we have an exciting prospect here.

By: john goldthorpe

john goldthorpe — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:07:37 +0000

As a late-shift lurker, could I just say what a find Philistine is – and, it seems, a pretty good Ximenean too. More please!

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:53:51 +0000

Taxi Phil @44:
“The offerings from Rufus and Chifonie were gone in under 10 minutes. This took nearer 20 in its own right”
Gosh, I am soooooo slow.

Philistine’s debut some time ago was warmly welcomed. There was a neatness in his cluing that was appealing, even though too many of his clues were giveaways due to definitions that were too obvious.

This was a different kettle of fish.

I could be nitpicking today:

- the unconvincing homophone at 1ac (TRIPOLI)
- the double duty of “Source of energy” in 12 ac [as it is not an &Lit]
- “Those who groom” for NITPICKERS – bit of a stretch
- the language of “deep in trouble” (2d) is not really what people say [unlike "deeply in trouble" or "in trouble deep"]
- the use of “another” in 3d (OUT OF SHAPE) – do we really get ‘another phase’ out of ‘shape’? Well, we might. But I think , Philistine wanted us to get ‘shape’ out of ‘phase’ which the clue doesn’t say
- “outstanding” as an anagrind in 20d – Philistine is not already becoming an Araucarian by using words that suit him better than some of us …. ?

So, I cóuld be nitpicking today, but I am not.

This was a crossword in which the clues had Heart & Soul.
Written by a very committed compiler who put a lot of thoughts in this puzzle.

As it happens, since the Brum Bash I know a bit about Philistine’s background. If others would know, they would perhaps fall off their chairs for admiration.
And perhaps it explains the homophone in 1ac [at least, we considered that option].

Some fantastic clues.
Apart from 14ac (HIPPOCRATES) and 25ac (SINGLETON) we were enchanted by the easy but neat FLAB (24d), the splendid 5d (ROQUEFORT) ['Music degree abadoned ...' - this way of cluing is right up my street] and the extraordinary 28ac (ABSTAIN) with its fantastic definition ‘Don’t’.

Thanks to you Andrew for blogging this one.
Even more thanks to Philistine for enriching the World of Guardian Crosswords (once more) !