Comments on: Independent 7989 / Dac

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:53:57 +0000

Well, this one defeated me, and now I see why. 5dn I had “reclaim”. One definition of “claim” in Chambers is a plot of land, so this was obviously correct. But it did leave me unable to compete the top left corner of the puzzle. (But I did work out 2dn, eventually.)

And Duncan is in Sweden, and I’m currently listening to Kurt Atterberg’s 1st Symphony, written by a Swede.

By: togo

togo — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:10:54 +0000

duncanshiell.

Thank you. I’m lost for words at your multitasking and remembering us all at home as you head out into the wilderness!

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:36:54 +0000

Wil, I put in REIGATE more or less as soon as I’d got the beginning R, cos there ain’t many Surrey towns with seven letters beginning with R. I guess my problem with the clue is that the two definitions are correct, but difficult to pin down. I’d only use ‘wry’ in something like ‘a wry smile’, which is not really ‘twisted’ in that sense. And ‘gait’ for walking works too, but the two together were just a step too far. And when Duncan can’t parse the clue, then maybe I’ll stick with my original comment that this one wasn’t one of Dac’s best, because when you get one of his clues, you almost always know straight away that ‘that’s it’. And on this occasion I didn’t.

Anyway, something and nothing.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:21:05 +0000

I thought 2dn was a very good clue. What’s wrong with it?

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:16:05 +0000

Really great stuff throughout, including, for me, the nicely-worked REIGATE clue. I thought that one well-disguised, but gettable.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:21:04 +0000

Enjoyed thoroughly! More my type of crossword than the ones the preceded it this week..

By: duncanshiell

duncanshiell — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:56:42 +0000

Thanks to all at 1, 2 and 3 for pointing out the correct interpretation of 2 down.

Sorry for the slight delay in responding, but I’m currently meandering my way through Sweden heading for the Arctic Circle and northern Norway, and will be dependent on campsite internet connections for the next few weeks. Generally the connection in Scandinavian campsites are excellent.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:45:06 +0000

Many thanks, Duncan, for your blog. Only got held up at the end with ADEPTS and the intersecting SITWELL; otherwise some elegant surfaces mixed in with some old chestnuts. It’s only once in two blue moons that Dac comes up with a duff clue, but I think 2dn is one today. I’d still be choosing a book of his puzzles to take on my Desert Island, though.

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:30:06 +0000

*GAIT

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:29:50 +0000

Wry gate? But don’t feel bad… it’s pretty ridiculous cluing…