Comments on: Independent 8105 / Phi

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:40:18 +0000

Thanks Phi! The link works and we look forward to some more crossword solving.

By: Phi

Phi — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:38:36 +0000

This is just an ordinary puzzle – though I was intrigued to note how one could edge a particularly-themed clue towards ‘& lit-ness’ simply by capitalising an H.

Actually, I’m commenting mainly to see what happens when you fill in the little box above that says ‘Website’. As you may have seen on another forum, I’ve set up a website-cum-blog with the initial aim of circulating more widely the Christmas series I inherited from Eric Chalkley (Apex) – he acronymised himself to call it A Puzzle Every Xmas, while the ones I set come out as A Phi Every Xmas. It seemed a pity not to share them more widely once the Christmas competition was over. They’re pitched – insofar as I can assess where I’ve pitched any puzzle – between IQ and Listener level.

In case writing something in the ‘Website’ box does nothing (and Preview suggests it doesn’t), I’ll append some html as well.

Phionline

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:06:29 +0000

We decided to have an earlier start this evening but finished the puzzle fairly quickly. All good stuff though – certainly nothing to query or complain about! Spent some time looking and searching for a nina/theme but we couldn’t see one but we have missed some of them in the past ……. But Phi is very good at hiding them!

Thanks Phi and John

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:49:51 +0000

I had a very late night at the opera (to refer to another Marx brothers film) last night, so I was rather sleepy today. So thanks for a crossword which seems to fit with my mental capacity today. That said, having got 6dn, I just couldn’t remember the name of the Marx brothers film that started “Animal” even though I’ve seen all of their films, most of them many times, and I had to look it up. And thanks for the explanations for 1ac and 7dn, which had eluded me.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:55:52 +0000

Found an indy on a train today so did the dead tree version for a change with no access to reference material. But 13ac defeated me; I initially saw ‘He’ (with capital H) in the religious sense – although many modern Bible translations and hymnbooks don’t use that convention – but didn’t make the &lit-ish connection. So I became convinced that the ‘He’ must be the chemical symbol for helium and was trying to think of a word meaning somewhere where said gas is found or used.
And it was ages before the penny dropped for 6dn.
Not all the musical references have to do with piano playing- there’s Ms Spears (I suppose) and The Mikado.
Thanks, Phi and John.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:10:08 +0000

Thanks John.

A good example of how an accessible crossword can still be an enjoyable one. I thought GETHSEMANE had a touch of the &lit about it – good clue.

Good weekend to all.

By: flashling

flashling — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:09:05 +0000

Thanks John and Phi, now back to finding out how the hell a employment check can’t find me as ever having lived where I do despite paying council tax and voting for 7 years…

By: NealH

NealH — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:13:56 +0000

I’ve never seen any Marx Brothers films all the way through, so needed a few crossing letters to get the film titles. Not knowing the plots of either, I’m not sure to what extent they’re linked, other than both being Marx Brothers films.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:00:36 +0000

Thanks Phi for an excellent crossword and John for the blog.

9dn: A good example of this type of clue, which can be great fun if used sparingly. Before reading the blog I had already decided to say that I would like to see a question mark used. I would take the one from 10ac, which did not seem to serve any purpose.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:21:05 +0000

Thanks, Phi, and John – excellent puzzle and blog and, I agree, a Phi puzzle v much on the gentle side.