Comments on: Guardian 25,408 – Paul

By: David W

David W — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:40:18 +0000

@ 16

I like ambiguity. My objection in this case is to separate words being run together, to create a specific (and false) reference to a shrike.

By: Mr Beaver

Mr Beaver — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:06:15 +0000

Like others, we thought this an excellent puzzle. I suppose William is right to say 10d is more at home in Dingbat than here, but I think this sort of clue is fine if used sparingly and adds to the fun. Come to think about it, a crossword composed only of dingbat-styled clues would be an interesting challenge – for both setter and solvers. Just once, mind… perhaps one for Araucaria ?

By the way, did anyone else think 11a was a sly reference to Rebekah Wade, another 18,15 casualty ?

By: Brendan (not that one)

Brendan (not that one) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:53:14 +0000

Really enjoyed this one.

Thanks to UY and Paul.

My fastest Paul yet at just over 45 “bottomless pit”s!

Got of to lucky start with 5d and 6d almost immediately and everything went well from there. (Never seen the TV programme but it does get a lot of publicity!)

Bottom left corner at the last! I had “rest of the world” for some time although I knew it was unlikely. Thought it was some derogatory Australian cricketting reference. All fell into place when I realised there are other types of “buggers”!

By: apiarist

apiarist — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:16:03 +0000

Jam Roll…… or could it be jam-roll ! Sorry, I’m a tad giddy. Off to London for the Rugby League Challenge Cup on Thursday. Highlight of my social calendar !

By: Jam Roll

Jam Roll — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:55:16 +0000

Le Petomane, apiarist: I wondered about carrottop as well. As far as I can see, it’s acceptable as a single word in US English (Merriam-Webster lists it, for example), but I couldn’t find any reputable British English sources for it.

I still liked the clue though, although ‘min’ was the one that made me laugh out loud today.

By: FranTom Menace

FranTom Menace — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:44:16 +0000

What a great puzzle! After missing three from yesterday’s crossword, only EVERT beat us today. While looking at 10d I said to Fran “It’s probably going to be one like ‘Pot? = Spinning top’” which I’d just made up and felt very clever. We were close with our thinking!

Reminds me of my favourite clue to date (when you removed one of the words from the solution), I forget whose it was but it was recent…

Must’ve? (5,7,3,3)

Thanks Paul for a great crossword, and to Uncle Yap for explaining 20a.

By: William

William — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:43:32 +0000

Thanks Uncle and Paul.

Loved this puzzle and there were many nice ‘aah!’ moments but (and I hate to be the one to say it) I don’t agree that ‘Min?’ is a great clue. It’s clever, like geg and hijklmno etc., but it’s not really a crossword clue, is it? It’s just a Dingbat, for those familiar with that game. It doesn’t have a definition or surface, and is therefore just clever. In contrast with 21a which has an elegant misdirecting surface and a definition.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the puzzle and thanks again.

By: apiarist

apiarist — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:29:35 +0000

Le Petomane. Well blow me ! A fellow hyphen enquirer. Or is it a wind up ?!

By: gm4hqf

gm4hqf — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:39:33 +0000

Thanks Uncle Yap and Paul

Took me ages to finish this one. Struggled with too many till I got started. Once I got ALAN SUGAR, THE APPRENTICE fell into place and helped a lot.

Too many excellent clues to mention but I liked BOTTOMLESS PIT, POSTCODE, PETITE, I toiled with the TL corner.

Very enjoyable.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:17:54 +0000

Thanks all
Quite straightforward but very enjoyable.
Favourites were 13a, 1d, 10d.
Dave, what exactly is the false information? I liked the misleading ‘butcher’.
I spotted what he was about in 10d quickly but it still took me a while to solve it. I was trying mind, mint and mini as well as mine.