Comments on: Independent 7,950 / Morph (Saturday Prize Crossword 7/04/12)

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:54:31 +0000

Thanks for the comments folks!
Schua – no apologies needed, we knew what you were trying to say. We’re still not sure about 7d though – all of the other clues had such precise cluing that it stood out. If it had been another setter or in a weaker crossword we wouldn’t have queried it so we began to wonder whether we were missing something. All of the helpful suggestions just make it seem even more ‘wooly’!
Flashling – we are really glad that you helped to un-lurk us! Also, we are fortunate that there are the two of us which does speed up solving time (sometimes!) and helps with the blog.

By: scchua

scchua — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:46:44 +0000

Apologies, BandJ. On re-reading my #6 this morning, I was alarmed to note that it gave the impression that you were wrong about the definition for 7D NONE. That was far from the case. My comment, which I should have made clearer, addressed only the wordplay “not in English”. You were of course right about the definition that refered to the Mother Hubbard nursery rhyme, and it being right, I didn’t comment on it (the definition).

By: flashling

flashling — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 01:33:52 +0000

Did blogging reduce the pleasure? No, although blogging whilst working is very hard especially if you got one of the Indy’s tougher setters, it’s the main reason I’ve stopped blogging – solving, writing up the blog and proof-reading can easily take 2-3 hours on a bad day.

Anyway cheers BJ and Morph, being a bit of a Pratchet fan 15d made me think of Librarian Poo! Lots of smiles and groans again, just what what’s required.

B&J when I talked to you at the S&B Derby I wasn’t fishing for you to take over, just join in but I’m glad you did, it’s enabled me to enjoy crosswords again rather than feeling a bit of a duty which was rarely appreciated.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:19:22 +0000

Yes, a very enjoyable puzzle, which I found quite a bit easier than some from Morph. Favourite clue ELBOW GREASE. While I did not research it any further, and I’m sure Bannsider at #7 is right, I was satisfied with NONE from remembering from the nursery rhyme ‘the cupboard is bare’, as you have mentioned in the blog, with NON-E giving the rest. Thanks, Morph and B&J. As a (veteran) blogger, I’d say enjoyment of puzzles ain’t affected in any way if one also writes a blog on the puzzle.

Funnily enough, I’d a slightly different experience when my work once took me into being involved with looking at the finances of arts projects, specifically theatres. The plays they put on suddenly seemed less interesting than before…

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:46:40 +0000

Very enjoyable as usual from Morph. Judging by my writing on the grid, I didn’t have a lot of trouble although I do remember saying to Mr CS ‘Are you allowed to say 15d in a crossword’! Thanks to Morph and B&J. I agree with you, being a blogger on a day when a crossword is as much fun as this one is great, as you get twice the enjoyment every time.

By: Ian SW3

Ian SW3 — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:48:32 +0000

21a is surely a clever &lit, referring to the Hindu ruler of Jammu and Kashmir who, against the expectations of the of majority-Muslim population, elected to join India rather than Pakistan at partition.

By: Bannsider

Bannsider — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:17:52 +0000

Terrific stuff. I unintentionally saved the best for last with APE’S HIT (!). Morph has a great way of packing a lot of wit and cleverness into very succinct clues.

I think the NONE clue is simply a quote from the nursery rhyme, (“the poor doggie had NONE”) and NON-E, with “chez Hubbard” just a nice way of suggesting a (rather useless) restaurant.

By: scchua

scchua — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:13:12 +0000

Thanks BandJ and Morph for another great puzzle.

Much to enjoy here, especially TRANSPARENT and ELBOW GREASE for me.

Btw, I think 7D is merely “not English” = “non-E”, as in “non-PC”, “non-verbal” and so on.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:38:38 +0000

Sorry! Just to note in passing that in 8a the S in “12′s” is part of the anagram fodder.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:37:21 +0000

Oops, missed the shift key: my second line should read:
Just to note in passing that in 8a the S in “12?s” is part of the anagram fodder.