Comments on: Guardian 25,492 – Araucaria

By: Mr A Writinghawk

Mr A Writinghawk — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:07:15 +0000

@25: Yes, but that would be a little strained even if not for the fact that C is usually an abbreviation for ‘clubs’ (not ‘club’). ‘S’ is a short form of ‘has’, though (eg ‘He’s gone’), which seems a better bet.

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:44:09 +0000

Uncle Yap @34.

The spoiler was just a mistake not deliberate. I was rude then in my comment at 29, I apologise for that.

By: dunsscotus

dunsscotus — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:37:21 +0000

Hi Gervase. I don’t think your points are boring at all; I was fascinated to learn we’re talking about the GVS again! I shall look for a Scots dictionary on Amazon.

A final – and non-scholarly – thought on mouse/moose: is the parodic ‘To a Louse’ possibly an indiction that Burns was thiinking of the ‘English’ pronounciationn of ‘mouse’?

Thanks again.

By: Uncle Yap

Uncle Yap — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:13:14 +0000

Bogeyman@35, there is no anagram indicator for 21,11. Araucaria is noted for his libertarian style which is characterised by, inter alia, occasional lack of indicators.

By: Bogeyman

Bogeyman — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:03:00 +0000

It’s probably too late now, but can anyone tell me what the anagram indicator is for 21,11?

By: Uncle Yap

Uncle Yap — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:37:57 +0000

I have done it again. Sorry, folks. I was too caught up with the homophonic play on Amazing Grace after remembering ‘was blind, but now I see’. I have since rectified the oversight. Once again, my apologies for an unintended gaffe.

By: Davy

Davy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:13:32 +0000

Thanks UY,

I thought this was the most entertaining Araucaria for a while and kept me occupied for a good couple of hours. I felt like Sherlock Holmes after completing this although it took me a long while to get into. Seeing ELEGY was definitely the turning point. I must have been in an A mood today as I actually understood all his wordplay which is a rarity.

In 4d, I thought Knut was too close to Canute to be a coincidence and that’s how it is. Cnut is another alternative spelling.

This puzzle was Arry in top form with many great clues of which STUMBLE, TAVERN IN THE TOWN (absolutely classic), ANTI-HERO, TREMAIN and HUBRIS (superb), were favourites. Great stuff.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:28:08 +0000

[Hi Wolfie - I know you're a recent [very welcome] contributor to this site so may well not be aware of the previous correspondence on this issue.]

When several of us, some time ago, requested that UY should not include any spoilers in his preamble, it was pointed out that there was no need to visit the site until the puzzle was solved, ie when spoilers were irrelevant. Fair enough, but several more contributors then pointed out that there were other reasons for visiting the home site and this has been borne out by PeeDee and wolfie’s comments today.

As I indicated earlier, I now know not to do so on a Tuesday, but,whatever reasons people may have for visiting the homepage [for us in the UK] first thing in the morning, they have a right not to be presented by a spoiler from UY, since he promised [more than once] not to do so.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:15:29 +0000

Oh dear, I seem to have accidentally hit ‘submit too soon – I have more to say! … to be continued…

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:13:38 +0000

It’s a pity to have to open up this discussion once again.

[Hi Wolfie - I know you're a recent [very welcome] contributor to this site so may well not be a