Comments on: Independent 7895 by Phi – The last post (for a while)

By: sidey

sidey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:56:13 +0000

I wasn’t being terribly serious flashling, I rarely am. And I suppose the cerebral circle is quite important in theme spotting.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:45:05 +0000

Thanks, Flashling (hope to see your blogs again, in the future) and Phi, but …

When I solved 11a I felt a twinge of despondency. Couldn’t we have been promised Years Of Uplift rather than Unhapppiness?

By: flashling

flashling — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:35:39 +0000

Allan I knew that, just unfortunate for them, about the name as with cars the Pinto (small male member) and Nova(Won’t go) which don’t quite work right outside of the US.

@UncleAda I suspect you’re right but my Chambers also has Endurance as arch. for captivity and didn’t look further – mea culpa perhaps.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:58:37 +0000

flashling, re your comment on 1d, according to Chambers the trade name Wimpy was originally taken from that of a hamburger-loving character in a cartoon strip. If I remember rightly his name was actually Wellington Wimpy, hence the WWII RAF nickname of Wimpy for the Wellington bomber.

By: Miche Doherty

Miche Doherty — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:27:32 +0000

I must confess I didn’t spot the theme, but that didn’t mar my enjoyment. I vaguely remembered that FOG had something to do with grass. Since the second definition is obscure, is 26d &lit?

14a a very satisfying groaner, though—nitpick alert—NACRE is a mass noun, so you can’t really have A NACRE, whether ON or in.

Thanks, flashling, and enjoy your break.

By: flashling

flashling — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:05:58 +0000

Sidey nailed this, stone frigates are land based naval bases, Drake Raleigh and Excellent among them. After Phi’s comment I looked up cerebral circle – which does exist but are arteries in the brain which didn’t quite fit somehow.

@B&J hope you enjoy Norway and the Lights, never seen them myself.

@Sidey thanks, I thought nacre was in rather than on, but after they’ve been opened then the difference is somewhat moot I guess.

By: sidey

sidey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:04 +0000

I think the thematic answers are 1a, 5a, 13a, 8d, 15d 16d and possibly reference to 7d not likely to float again. Very clever.

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:33:03 +0000

Hi flashling!
Completed this on the flight and had to guess a few. Have never heard of fog before but now we have it will no doubt turn up again.
We presume the row Phi mentions is stone frigate unless someone knows otherwise.
Thanks flashling for everything and Phi for a good end to the week.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:50:41 +0000

Thanks for this blog and all your blogs, flashling. Thanks, Phi, for the puzzle which I found a little trickier than usual from him but as always clear in the end.

By: sidey

sidey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:35:53 +0000

Have a good rest flashling and thanks for all your blogs.

Thanks too to Phi for this. I presume the bottom line is the theme referring to naval shore stations. The inclusion of Endurance seems a bit tongue in cheek.

One small point, don’t oyster shells have nacre in them?