Comments on: Independent 8066 / Samuel

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:09:59 +0000

Fair enough Dunks. WOOD I remember from Chaucer, but there are a lot of mad former Tory ministers (in my opinion anyway).

By: duncanshiell

duncanshiell — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:59:22 +0000

Paul B @ 12

It is in Chambers, but it’s hyphenated (RED-WOOD) at the very end of the first entry for red, along with the alternative Scottish spelling of RED-WUD. I can’t find it in Collins or the Shorter Oxford

By: Paul B

Paul B — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:10:13 +0000

Because it’s not in Chambers or Collins? It is in Bradford though, which redeems all.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 22:53:18 +0000

@B&J well quite why Redwood means mad isn’t better known really surprises me, you’d at least have thought Private Eye and hence most of the press would have picked that up.

But then wierd as he was, the more unpleasant parts of the party are better know.

Anagrams of Norman Lamont and Virginia Bottomley are quite well known at least.

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:56:18 +0000

We enjoyed our visit to the velodrome during London Prepares and watched the cycling avidly during the games. Even so, we couldn’t remember all the medallists (must be our age) but we were determined to complete it without resorting to google especially after the heroic efforts of all the cyclists. The clues were all fair but occasionally tricky – as has been pointed out already.

Had to check redwood = mad which raised a smile given the context.

What a pity that Samuel didn’t manage to include Laura Trott. Perhaps a lap too far!

We enjoyed this one, although we understand why others might not have done. We’re great Inquisitor fans so this one was right up our street.

Thanks Samuel and Duncan.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:17:39 +0000

Great blog again, must admit I gave up on this, not entirely due to my inabilities but the train this evening being packed with loud footie fans and I just couldn’t get a chance to do it, grrr.

It seems very reminiscent of another recent one and frankly trying to remember so many gold medal winners after their 5 minutes of fame (harsh but probably true) without access to the internet is nigh on impossible.

Anyway welcome to Indy main Samuel, Crosophile at least has been a fine crossover to the daily stuff.

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:14:27 +0000

Not as hard as it could have been! Some obscure words, but I found the word play easier on these and was able to solve them. Interesting what people have been saying Samuel being an Inquisitor setter as some of these clues reminded me more of Inquisitor and Beelzebub clues. Maybe my brain is more geared towards solving barred crosswords than blocked ones.

For 19ac, I guessed “Kennough” and googled the name to see if I was right. Google asked if I meant “Kennaugh”.

In the end, I found a list of British Olympic cyclists and looked for names the fit. And still needed a couple of e-searches towards the end. I’d forgotten “Redwood” and didn’t know the mad meaning.

By: Al Dente

Al Dente — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:11:02 +0000

Having come across Samuel in the Inquisitor series of crosswords I was really pleased when I saw his name as the setter for today’s puzzle. Had to rely heavily on the wordplay as I’m not a follower of cycling, but all was confirmed in duncanshiell’s very thorough blog, so thanks to him and to Chris (Samuel) for puzzle.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:05:20 +0000

First time I’ve come across Samuel, and of some of the words – e.g. CLODPOLL and APTERIA. I was led astray on 10 at first, trying to think of a place associated with Thomas(?) More and wondering where ‘spinning’ came into it. But once the penny dropped I was well away, being something of a cycling fan (though more into road racing than track events, butI knew the names). Nothing to do with the theme, though, for my CoD – HEARSE.

By: rowland

rowland — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:31:06 +0000

It’s interesting to learn about this compiler from NMS, and interesting to ponder that there may be a certain way to write ‘blocked’ puzzles that is not so easy to get a hold of. I don’t do those tougher puzzles myself, so mea culpa there. Many tricky words and clues here that had me resorting to the cheat button, and echo K’s D.

Cheers all,
Rowly.