Comments on: Guardian Easter Special 25,604 by Araucaria

By: RobG

RobG — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:03:14 +0000

Had GRAND CENTRAL for 12B, being an anagram of CENTRE R[ules] A GLAND lacking E[nergy], completely ignoring “second isn’t commonly”. Whoops but this rather scuppered most of the top half especially as three down clues fitted.

By: brucew_aus

brucew_aus — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:56:11 +0000

Thanks Araucaria … finally finished this one yesterday after just chipping away at it – what a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle !!! He has the ability to mix starter clues with some tougher ones, common words with obscure ones and never fails to give you many AHA moments.

I find it very rare to not understand how he got to the answer once it is filled in … may take a bit longer than the rest of the participants here … but nonetheless no less satisfying.

Thanks too for the blog Peewee – I had forgotten about the wood bowls and Anthony Eden.

Eagerly look forward to his next holiday edition !!

By: madman

madman — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:31:12 +0000

Thanks to you both, my misunderstanding was but transient: should have thought a bit more, given the calibre of the rest of the x-word!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:46:14 +0000

Hi PeeDee

That’s exactly the way I took it – in fact, I dodn’t think twice about it: I instantly thought of the comedian from my youth [but, of course, can't remember who it was!] whose catchphrase was, ‘I won’t take me coat off – I’m not stopping!’

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:03:43 +0000

madman @30, good observbation! I just looked transient up in Chambers and all the definitions imply short-lived or stopping soon.

However, in the case of transient workers, one could describe them as not stopping, just working here for a while then moving on. I give Araucaria the benefit of the doubt (but only just!).

By: madman

madman — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:46:28 +0000

Am I missing something in 8(B): “15A without other 9s, not stopping”? Surely the word ‘not’ shouldn’t be there, since transience implies stopping?

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:33:11 +0000

I’m back. Thanks to all who pointed out the error at 19A, now corrected.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:17:33 +0000

…although I somehow managed to put in protomalayans for 10dA. Not sure how that happened.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:15:52 +0000

Really enjoyable. Great mixture of outrageousness, wit, clue-style etc. The main reason that I wish we had more bank holidays is so we could have more of these special crosswords.

By: nametab

nametab — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:14:10 +0000

John @23: Many thanks. Yes, ‘Bob Doubles’ it was now that you remind me (rings a bell [groan]). I’m pretty certain it was entered without vowels. I didn’t finish it, but loved the tussle and A’s imagination.