Comments on: Guardian 25,513 – Orlando

By: Brendan (not that one)

Brendan (not that one) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:16:36 +0000

I too found this the most difficult puzzle of the week!

Many clues just wouldn’t “come”.

“Different strokes ……” I suppose.

Anyway more like 2 hours for me to complete.

At least I seem to be one of the few not to enter OSLO

By: MikeC

MikeC — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:56:45 +0000

Thanks Andrew and Orlando. This was enjoyable, though I found the NW corner hard, like others. 17 was one of my favourites – I spent some time trying to fit something into “slo mo”, until I got the crossing final H. Perhaps Lilian Gish should crop up more in Xwordland?

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:51:48 +0000

Sorry, I was short of time when I typed @17.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:49:51 +0000

Thanks all
In spite of “reasonably straightforward”, “half-hour” and “gentle warm up” I found this the toughest puzzle this week.
Like Eileen et al I went for Oslo although it was last in and I wasn’t really convinced. The NW corner had been a struggle since I was reading 9ac as ‘el……..’ and an astronomical star!
5d was very familiar, it is one of those standards which just about every singer seems to have a go at.
I liked 24ac since it enabled me to use my vast knowlege of Greek mythology for the second time this week.
It always annoys me when Paxman sniffs at any quesion on contemporary culture but never demurs at the frequent references to not just mythological religions (all of them) but ones which no living person still believes in.

By: F.Durst

F.Durst — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:34:08 +0000

The Undertones had a greatest hits album in the 90s called “Cher o’ Bowlies”, the calling to mind of which helped me in a lateral way with 5d.
The Undertones weren’t on hand when I fell, like so many others for the Oslo Syndrome. Not even original in my error. Boo. BOOO!!

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:57:22 +0000

Thank you, Orlando and Andrew.

I found this quite tough, but then when I’d finished it couldn’t quite understand why. I was another OSLO error-maker. I thought BRAMBLING was good, and particularly liked PITCHFORKING.

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:57:01 +0000

Glad to hear that we were in good company. Thought of OS for big or SO for just and put OSLO in without really thinking it through! It was towards the end of our solve …… at least that is our excuse!
Thanks Andrew and Orlando.

By: NeilW

NeilW — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:36:08 +0000

Hi Eileen, tupu and Thomas99 – me too, until I had a re-think. I had in mind, “Oh so close but yet so far!”

I’ve been wracking my brains over why A BOWL OF CHERRIES was so familiar to me that it went straight in – never heard of the song but I seem to have it firmly in my mind, although in the negative: “His life was certainly no bowl of cherries!”

By: Eileen

Eileen — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:33:41 +0000

Thanks for the chuckle, tupu.

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:15:50 +0000

Eileen-
That was exactly my parsing. It now seems pretty questionable but I don’t think I had any doubts at the time.