Comments on: Guardian Prize 25,694 / Araucaria

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:38:14 +0000

Well, you would.

By: iam

iam — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 23:39:52 +0000

Thanks, Eileen. Also agree with NeilW@4 "As you say, very much a daily rather than a prize. At the time I remember thinking that it seemed a little unfair that Tramp, the day before, had designed his puzzle as a prize but was bumped to keep Araucaria in his place of honour."

By: Miche

Miche — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:01:17 +0000

Thanks, Eileen.

I had to refer to the dictionary a couple of times, to check ulmus and thole as a noun (I’m familiar with the verb, Scots and Northern Irish I think, meaning “stand” or “endure”).

I agree that 20a needs a bit of a squint to make the wordplay work. Moreover, our old friend Chambers has “sus” as a slang noun meaning a suspect, suspicion or suspicious activity, but not as an adjective.

I wondered about “area” in 4d – should have remembered the shipping forecast. thanks for that and your other explanations.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:47:45 +0000

No real problems with this one. A little quibble with 17a in that I’ve come across “net surfer” and “web browser” but not “web surfer” – but maybe hat’s just me. Was misdirected for a bit with 13a trying to make an anagram of “aunt to get” which would mean someone placing a bet with an on-course bookmaker. Needed the blog to explain the parsing of some clues, e.g. 25a, 14d.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:46:27 +0000

Hi Gervase

“I’m fairly au fait with botanical terms, so ULMUS caused no problems.”

No problems for me either: you won’t be surprised to hear that I know it from Latin poetry. Araucaria, of course, would know it from both directions.

By: Gervase

Gervase — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:57:54 +0000

Thanks, Eileen

Didn’t take me very long, despite not tackling it until the evening after having had (more than) a few. I thought the surfaces were rather better than in most other recent Araucaria puzzles. Fortunately, I’m fairly au fait with botanical terms, so ULMUS caused no problems.

I liked WOOTTON BASSETT, and 25a is a most unexpected container clue.

By: brucew_aus

brucew_aus — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:21:11 +0000

Thanks Araucaria and Eileen

This was an easier prize puzzle than a few of the recent mid-week offerings, but entertaining notwithstanding. Last in was WOOTTON BASSETT which I had not previously heard of and the recent upgrade to royal was lost on me as well – even in the research. ULMUS took a bit of tracking down as the tree genus. Was interested to see London referred to as WEN – amazing what you can learn by filling in a crossword!

Thought that the two BACONS and RATHOLE were particularly clever.

By: Giovanna

Giovanna — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:07:19 +0000

Thanks, Araucaria and Eileen. It is much better with the clue printed and definition underlined. Well done, Eileen.

Monte Cassino leapt out at me, although I am unfamiliar with either game but know the monastery with its fabulous panorama. It is impossible to view it without thinking about those who lost their lives there.

Chas @ 7, Soul Music held me up, too. My first thought was elm, which didn’t fit, of course and I was cross with myself when I solved it as I know ulmus only too well!

Giovanna x

By: chas

chas — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:39:32 +0000

Thanks to Eileen for the blog.

I was totally baffled by 14d: it had to be SOUL MUSIC but I could not see a tree anywhere! I have just remembered that Araucaria is the Latin name for a tree so I should have searched harder

By: Eileen

Eileen — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 05:22:55 +0000

Thank you, scchua – amended now.