Comments on: Independent 7789/Quixote

By: Quixote

Quixote — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:05:46 +0000

Thanks for all feedback. I refute the challenge of unsoundness from the last blogger — ‘with’ is a pretty good synonym for ‘and’ here (in my experience, having edited numerous multi-author scientific papers written by one author with lots of others!)and the surface meaning is indeed improved by its usage. The double ‘allow’ though I didn’t notice.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:44:46 +0000

One small quibble (in 21ac): ‘et al’ means ‘and others’ so why didn’t Quixote clue it as ‘Just Henry in charge, and others all around’? Not quite such a nice surface perhaps, but not too bad and at least not open to the suggestion that it’s unsound.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:44:47 +0000

Hi Alan. I’ve been dipping in and out of your new blog on the Guardian website – well done, it’s interesting stuff, which hopefully will encourage newer solvers to get more involved in the cryptic world. And great that you’re flagging up and commenting on puzzles other than those in the Guardian.

By: Alan Connor

Alan Connor — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:39:15 +0000

Thanks Pierre: I knew I'd seen ETHICAL recently and remembered the HIC wordplay but not where I'd seen it. Same paper! It's an early contender for the Clue Coincidence of the Week in the blog I write for the Guardian if you don't mind my highlighting your memory ;o)

By: Paul B

Paul B — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:17:22 +0000

That clue may leave us neither hot nor cold. Hur hur.

I’m sure the Don will be aware that the next answer (to 16D) is something of which Laodiceans could never be accused: but as to Tories and images, Biblical or otherwise, of vomiting out of mouths, is there an Angel of Bullingdon?

By: flashling

flashling — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:50:45 +0000

15d was a new one to me too but it couldn’t really be anything else. I think you can drop the inexperienced tag as a blogger after a year here Pierre! A nice well constructed puzzle and a great antidote to a manic weekend.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:05:26 +0000

Many thanks for the blog, Pierre [you're working hard today!] and especially for the information about the link between Day-Lewis and Hardy – both favourites of mine. [In fact, I think I'd call 14ac &lit.] I didn’t know of that book, either.

As usual, Quixote entertains and educates in an enjoyable puzzle.

One [very minor] quibble is the two appearances of ALLOW [permit / let] in crossing clues 13ac and 6dn.