Comments on: Independent 8061 / Dac

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:10:13 +0000

I found this a stretch, but ultimately solvable without any aids apart from looking “duplicate bridge” up in the dictionary as I wasn’t familiar with the term. I also wasn’t familiar with “rock steady” as a type of dance, but it had to be that. I, too, took it to be “stick of rock”. Even having thought of “skiplane” for 15dn, I couldn’t see it being a word for a very long time before it clicked.

On the whole, the most enjoyable puzzle this week, lots of clues I liked (no favourites) and just the right level of difficulty for me.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:26:37 +0000

No newly-built Tesco in Chard, eh? Well, that’s found him out.

By: rowland

rowland — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:24:48 +0000

Some tricky words in this one, but the clues were easily fathomed in each instance. Probably DUPLICATE BRIDGE my fave for the nice ‘double crossing’.

Thanks to Dac and the amazing Duncan – what a great blog!

Cheers
Rowly.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:22:02 +0000

Lovely puzzle, full of Dac’s customary elegance. Favourite today was SKEDADDLE.

Thanks to setter and blogger.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:00:37 +0000

Many thanks, Duncan and Dac. Enjoyable puzzle, not too hard. Like Wil at #2, I took stick = rock (like from seaside resorts in the past). Yes, Dac appears on Wednesdays normally, but in the fairly recent past, asked to be relieved a little (‘for good behaviour’ I think eimi said) and does not appear on the final Wed of the month. Phi appears once a week usually on a Friday.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:12:18 +0000

Some lovely clues here and nothing controversial so far as I can see. In 6dn I took stick to = rock as in stick of rock.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:23:11 +0000

An easy workout today (under 17 minutes) but very satisfying with Dac’s usual stylish cluing. And thanks, Duncan, for the blog; I needed your parsing of ERASER.

In 2d I took “early Christian” to be a reference to Acts 11:26, “… the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” And in 8d I wasn’t sure if ‘American’ referred to ‘annoyed’ or ‘friend’; on balance I think you’re right, but it didn’t make any difference to solving the clue – such is the smoothness of Dac’s cluing.