Comments on: Azed 2,080

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:27:09 +0000

I spent some time in the early stages playing with something in ‘stys’; I then checked Chambers and found only ‘styes’ or ‘sties’. In my student days a ‘pit’ was a very unkempt (probably filthy) bed.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 09:00:27 +0000

… and I meant “suggests” not “suggess”.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:59:49 +0000

Further to earlier comments about 17dn: I think either parsing can be defended. However, “others” more naturally suggess “other filthy places” than just “other places”. I think that makes PIT in STIES preferable, even if not by a huge margin.

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:41:11 +0000

Sorry, that should be PB, not PH.

By: bridgesong

bridgesong — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:40:36 +0000

Thanks, Matthew for what is obviously the correct explanation for 29 across. Like RCW and PH I also had PIT in STIES originally at 17 down, but wasn’t entirely happy about the spelling of STIES, so was pleased to see the alternative. Perhaps both are correct?

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:19:02 +0000

Thanks Azed for a puzzle which I found to be at the more difficult end of the range, and to bridgesong for the blog.

I agree with Matthew@2 and RCW@3 about 29ac and 17dn respectively.

As bridgesong says, an unusual grid construction. Only 21ac and 22ac provide true links between the top and bottom halves of the grid. Although many of the down lights project beyond this pair of across lights, they do so only in a single unchecked letter each time.

By: sidey

sidey — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 03:43:02 +0000

Matthew, much better, what with having the correct letters and being right to boot.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:38:20 +0000

Thanks all
17d possibly PIT in STIES?

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:43:26 +0000

I think LYE for side branch works much better.

By: sidey

sidey — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:31:34 +0000

re 29, picot is the loop, YE is another name for the letter ‘thorn’ reversed. And I suppose a thorn is a side branch.

Not quite convinced though.