Comments on: Guardian 25,750 – Paul

By: Wolfie

Wolfie — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:38:50 +0000

Yes, I’m sure you’re right RCW – the story of Ruskin’s repugnance at the sight of pubic hair is probably apocryphal. The question is discussed in the Dictionary of National Biography:

“The first night [of Ruskin's marriage to Effie Gray] was spent at Blair Atholl. In a letter to her father in 1854, revealing the extent of the marriage’s failure, Effie said that she had been sexually ignorant and that Ruskin ‘was disgusted with my person the first evening’. This has been interpreted as meaning that Ruskin was equally innocent, especially in the matter of female pubic hair, but this seems unlikely, as he had seen erotic images belonging to fellow undergraduates at Oxford. There is also speculation that Effie’s menstrual cycle interfered with consummation (Hilton, John Ruskin: the Early Years, 119), which is plausible but not provable.”

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:07:31 +0000

Talking of hairy old myths from Victorian times, what about Ruskin?

By: Wolfie

Wolfie — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:00:35 +0000

I know, RCW, I know. I was being ironic about Keith’s ironic response – always a risky procedure, I know.

I hope you weren’t too disappointed by the lack of offence generated here by Paul’s pubic hair

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:56:37 +0000

“ironic” Wolfie,”ironic”.

By: Wolfie

Wolfie — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:32:41 +0000

Nice to read the retraction Keith. I hope you will now also try to refrain from recycling the hoary old myth about Victorian piano legs.

By: KeithW

KeithW — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:49:12 +0000

I apologise for my previous comment. I was misled by, what I now realise were, the ironic comments about the clueing of TOY STORY in a recent puzzle.

By: rhotician

rhotician — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:42:32 +0000

RCW says “well done that people have finally grown up”. Strange grammar.

I say “Well done, Paul”.

By: Mrrichard

Mrrichard — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:50:51 +0000

Masterful, I should have gone to bed a long time ago but managed to finish all but two before cheating here – about 24 hours after the blog was written but never mind. Pubic hair raised a laugh (as it often does I suppose).

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:19:04 +0000

Ivah @45
I did it as do = gathering too, but I think UY’s is better.

Wolfie @36
Come on Wolfie, you are a regular here and know that Keith @6 is right.
If today’s reactions are a portent of the future, then I say well done that people have finally grown up.

By: Davy

Davy — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:08:09 +0000

Thanks UY for the blog and Paul for the fun. I failed to see ‘heavy pet’ as I was thinking of heavy metal and couldn’t understand
where the elephant came in (through the elephant flap presumably?). Out of so many good clues, BIG BANG was a particular favourite.

grumpo seems to be the logical successor to a guy that used to post here years ago who was always complaining but I can’t remember
his name. He would say things like ‘I looked at the puzzle for half an hour and only got one clue so I threw it in the bin and got
on with some gardening’. Just had a flash – was it Grumpy Andrew ?. Does anyone remember ?. Maybe grumpo is one and the same.