Comments on: Independent 7,826/Eimi

By: Polly

Polly — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:10:21 +0000

flashling@11: You must be unfamiliar with the popular riddle of my 1950s childhood: Q. When is a door not a door? A. When it’s ajar.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:56:32 +0000

Many thanks to Ali for the blog, and Eimi for an easier than expected crossword where the wordplay gave away rare words, although I was stuck for a while on AJAR. Presumably Eimi is salaried as the editor and him having a slot is taking a pittance out of the mouths of other starving setters?

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:44:47 +0000

A nice straightforward solve for a Tuesday and I spotted the pangram this time. A few answers were obvious even though I didn’t quite follow the clues. The alternative name for the shaggy cap was new to me but quickly confirmed from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprinus_comatus
Thanks, eimi and Ali.
Btw, anyone wanting another eimi puzzle could try getting hold of last Friday’s i.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:07:36 +0000

eimi @5 re 13ac: Thanks for that. I agree that adding “composition” improved the clue, and find your explanation of the cryptic justification entirely convincing. One of the great things about this website is that I think most of us on it are prepared to change our views in response to reasoned explanation, and this is certainly a case of that.

I should like to add my support to the views of others that more crosswords from you would be most welcome, when you can spare the time from your editing duties.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:58:37 +0000

Apologies to Ali, I forgot to say thank you for blogging.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:56:59 +0000

Enjoyed this one. Bit of footie, bit of politics, bit of general knowledge. What was the setter’s name again?

I’m not going to choose a favourite, because there’s such a variety in the clues today. Good all round puzzle.

Pangram? Didn’t even notice.

Not another fifteen weeks before the next one, please.

By: eimi

eimi — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:53:40 +0000

I meant Wanderer #4. And Stella #3, our boys are going rather well at the moment and, if we can keep our manager out of hospital/chokey, I think we have a good chance of being back in the Champions League next season.

By: eimi

eimi — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:47:13 +0000

Thanks to Ali and others for their comments. Wanderer #5, thanks especially for your question. Fellow Indy setters will know that financial rewards are not much of motivating factor, but knowing that your efforts are appreciated means a great deal. I’ve been snowed under with admin as a result of having to format puzzles for i in addition to the Indies, as well as tweaks brought about by the Indy redesign, so that I didn’t set anything for 15 weeks, but I’ve set a few recently and if there’s a demand for more Eimis I’ll try to make time to set them.

To answer Pelham #2, the original clue was simply “Some Duke Ellington? Cool, or it used to be” – as I might say I’m going to play “some Duke Ellington” – but I thought the addition of ‘composition’ might improve the clue, with the cryptic justification that KEEL is part of the composition of the name Duke Ellington.

By: Wanderer

Wanderer — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:45:48 +0000

I found this one of the most enjoyable crosswords I’ve done in weeks. Topical, clever, funny, everything I look for in a puzzle. Not the hardest, but certainly one of the best. Didn’t know KEEL=COOL so that’s something new for me as well. Many thanks to Ali and Eimi, and Eimi, is there any chance we could see your work more often?

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Thanks Ali and Eimi for an enjoyable solve. It’s nice to see the Spurs mented, though I’m completely out of touch here. It’s good to know we have a champion scorer in the team

BTW, you’re missing the last two letters in your parsing of 3d: – AX = “cut” (US spelling)