Comments on: Guardian Cryptic N° 25,693 by Tramp

By: Artie Fufkin

Artie Fufkin — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:12:26 +0000

Only managed to do this last night so have missed following this blog. Just wanted to say that I thought this was the best Tramp puzzle so far. Superb cluing and the theme is one of my favourite ever albums. The Nina elevated it even further.

Great stuff!

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:38:50 +0000

Fascinating. After reading this entire blog, I can’t even remember my feelings pro or con about this puzzle, I am just in awe.

TDSOTM came about mid way for me – I figured it was going to be the x y of the z pretty early though. Got off to a slow start. Never owned the album, but certainly knew of it, but only ever liked a couple tracks (Time and Money). Missed the song titles and the Nina, like most of us. Was delighted when I read about that achievement in the blog. I really like themes that don’t collapse a puzzle to “fill in the obvious blanks”, as I have said before. Too bad I missed this one!

I’m with everyone else on 15. Delightful clue!

So is Tramp one of the “young” up and coming setters? If so, I am glad. I love the nonagenarians and their work, but if this obsession is to be continued, we need new blood.

And it was really nice of Mr. T. to drop in and not only comment, but engage in the bloggers’ issues and comments! Isn’t this the third day in a row of this pleasure?

Minor minor minor quibble, since the song title is “The Great Gig in the Sky”, it’s not quite in the clue. But how on Earth to get away with “without articles” and still make it a legit clue?

As far as difficulty, this should have been swapped with the puzzle that followed it, but I certainly think that a hard puzzle on Friday is not out of place at all.

Congrats on the Indy gig, Tramp, and thanks for the puzzle; and thanks for the blog, PeterO!

By: brucew_aus

brucew_aus — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:54:08 +0000

Thanks Tramp and PeterO

What a wonderful puzzle – only finished the last couple of these today – the two little stinkers up in the NW – and still managed to parse TIME wrongly – had the EMI but used T-money (the travel smart card) as the T and the definition as TENSE = TIME !!

Like others, I quickly got the main album name and thought that it was going to be over way to quickly – then went through the phase that this was more of a slog than the normally smooth surfaced clues that we normally expect – saw the Nina on the right hand side which helped me with the EMI finally but did not twig to the tracks in the clues (brilliant).

Parsed most of 15 right … but used BIG (great) [which would have been weakish] rather than AC/DC = BI [which was not !!] Couldn’t parse OVERSTEP and although worked with ADDRESSING and AGGRESSING could not perform the upgrade in my mind.

Bring on more …

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 08:48:31 +0000

Thanks for a wonderful crossword, Tramp. Wish You Were Here more often!

By: Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 07:47:13 +0000

I am now Comfortably Numb!

By: Dave Ellison

Dave Ellison — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:38:39 +0000

Thanks, Tramp @ 45, I had missed that

By: nametab

nametab — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:09:36 +0000

Because I am unable to start the crossword until late evening, I have nothing new to add, but Tramp has certainly created a lot of interesting conversation – which is a compliment in itself. Not being a PF fan, I didn’t realise it was a theme & missed the nina – should have cottoned on since it was Tramp. Might we be getting wise to what to expect? Thanks to Peter O and Tramp (particularly for dropping in).

By: Tramp

Tramp — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:42:27 +0000

Dave Ellison

I did mention the ellipsis at #6.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:36:46 +0000

Thanks Tramp, PeterO and everyone for the puzzle and the blog. Like several others I started with the album title, but never saw the theme; so, and for by no means the first time, I got even more fun out of the blog that I did from the puzzle. It’s all helping to keep me entertained whilst I sit around waiting for a fractured fibula (fell in a hole orienteering) to mend.

By: iam

iam — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:24:26 +0000

Thanks PeterO for the blog and Tramp for an entertaining puzzle.

As other commenters, I found the TDSOTM answer from the anagram and enumeration, but didn’t spot the hidden tracks from that album or the nina. As a long time enthusiast of 15sqd, I am always pleased to see the setter dropping in.