Comments on: Independent 7883 / Phi

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:10:49 +0000

Many thanks for commenting, Phi. There is a fairly recently created city (1992) – Sunderland – not too far North of your home town…

By: Phi

Phi — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:40:12 +0000

No, nothing subtle in this one. Just a grid for a General Knowledge puzzle that never got published, rejigged to take out some proper nouns (but still quite a high number left, you’ll note).

The best apocryphal Shostakovich football story is, I think, the one where the Leningrad newspaper lost its reporter’s contribution, so the editor rang up Shostakovich, confident he would have attended the match and have noted events. Shostakovich, it’s said, dictated a usable report, on the spot, over the phone.

Elgar, I believe, supported Wolves.

I see that Preston is a city of a full ten years’ standing (the puzzle grid is older than that…). Well, it’s the same size (give or take a few thousand souls) as my home town, and certainly didn’t impress city-ness upon me on the odd times I’ve passed through it!

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:52:22 +0000

A good crossword to finish off the week. A bit easier than usual for Phi perhaps.

Thanks also to Duncan for a really comprehensive blog.

By: mrs t

mrs t — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:24:00 +0000

Brilliant blog, Duncan. I learned lots. Thank you.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:01:21 +0000

Good stuff as usual from Phi, and thanks to Duncan for the blog.

One minor grouse in that ‘priest’ turned up in two clues (17a and 5d) although in one case it indicated ‘p’ and in the other ‘pr’.

Useless trivia department: We sometimes get complaints here about the number of football references in indy cryptics. Did you know that Shostakovich was very keen on football and, I believe, was a qualified referee?

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:10:44 +0000

Thanks for that super blog, Duncan, tho I’m afraid that, like flashling, I won’t be able to even nearly match it! A slightly easier than usual puzzle from Phi, I thought, enjoyable as always. HAM can be used as adjective (modifier) so that is quite OK, I’d say. I also agree with PB at #5 re PRESTON, tho I did take me a while to see why. I think this was because of the (purely coincidental) appearance of a lot of the letters of Preston in ‘priest’. Also I hope the inhabitants of that ‘proud’ city do not protest too much at seeing it described as a ‘town’!

Phi often has v subtle themes/Ninas in his puzzles. If there is one here, maybe he will advise us in due course.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:51:37 +0000

Thanks Phi for a pleasant crossword and Duncan for the blog.

6ac: I agree with MikeC @4 – the clue works with HAM as an adjective.

17ac: I took this as “stop” = REST and “working” = ON.

By: MikeC

MikeC — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:01 +0000

Thanks Duncan and Phi. Good stuff – some quite intricate, but very precise, word play. I also think the adjectival sense of ham, equalling overdone, is fine.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:43:29 +0000

Thank you and welcome, Duncan. Don’t go changing … (and that’s not a criticism of other bloggers, but I always appreciate full explanations if the blogger has time to provide them.)

Usual excellent Friday fare from Phi. I liked ZEITGEIST and SHOSTAKOVICH best. I too am not that keen on the definition of HAM, but I guess it just about works.

By: flashling

flashling — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:28:22 +0000

No problem for me with ham acting being overdone, welcome to our merry band but you make make the more time imperiled of us look bad! Thanks Duncan and Phi as ever.