Comments on: Guardian 25,470 / Orlando

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:25:03 +0000

Davy, I miss Carrots too! Hope he surfaces soon.

By: mhl

mhl — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:12:23 +0000

Thanks, Gaufrid, and to Orlando for a very enjoyable puzzle. My one quibble here was HER for “female” in 3 down…

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:07:11 +0000

Hi stumped@32, and thanks for the link, which gives me a pretty good idea of what the image actually is. I think it’s used more for boys than for girls because the former are more likely to have their hair cut short.

It certainly would never have applied to me, as my hair was so fine as to be practically invisible as a child, and there’s no way it would ever look like straw. I mention this only to point out that there’s a difference between fair and blond(e).

By: tupu

tupu — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:05:01 +0000

Hi Dave Ellison

becoming can mean fitting, suitable etc. Cf its opposite ‘unbecoming’.

Re ‘pants’ = ‘rubbish’ the Oed gives examples from 1994-2000.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:42:30 +0000

Too tough for me, which was a bit of a bummer as I’ve managed quite well on recent Orlandos. Still at least everyone refrained from asking for the ancient explanation as to what the pottery is!

By: Dave Ellison

Dave Ellison — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:39:11 +0000

Certainly not easy for me – just finished it after starting at 9am! The first half was quickish, and so I agree with Robi’s and stumped’s experiences.

22 a Nice to see the ellipsis have a definite, clear usage for once!

I still don’t understand how BECOMING is “comme il faut”

By: Davy

Davy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:36:12 +0000

A good puzzle as ever from Orlando with faultless clueing. I didn’t find it a quick solve though but there again I’m not an expert like you Gaufrid. Also I didn’t help myself by writing ANCIEN in the wrong place even though I’d written 9,23 in the margin next to 9.

As with others, I was caught out yet again by the numb trick in 14d although as the song goes Won’t Get Fooled Again but I probably will.

On a different topic, does anyone know what has happened to Carrots as I was always amused by his comments ?. He hasn’t commented for quite a while now.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:06:13 +0000

Thanks, stumped, that’s an interesting link. Girls aren’t unruly? Kathryn might argue otherwise … (she’s lovely really).

By: stumped

stumped — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:43:20 +0000

I think this link explains why I’ve only come across the expression “tow-headed” in the New England.

http://ask.yahoo.com/20030206.html

In particular it hints why, in my experience, the term usually carries the additional implication that the hair (if not the child in general) is somewhat unruly. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, it seems to be used only of boys. We all know little girls can never be unruly.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:07:37 +0000

Thanks to Gaufrid for standing in for me at short notice on a day when I had to get a train at stupid o’clock in the morning. Good quality fun from Orlandao as always: TOW-COLOURED was new to me, but plausible and gettable once a few crossing letters were in.