Comments on: Guardian Quiptic N° 673, by Arachne

By: Arachne

Arachne — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:17:27 +0000

As I have been detained in Bremen (no, not in *that* way, although there’s still time) belated thanks to PeterO for the excellent blog and to all for kind comments. I’m still working hard at getting the Quiptic standard right. Funny how dear old ‘Dutch’ is turning up all over the place at the moment – coincidence, not conspiracy, I can assure you!

Pip pip – time’s up!
Love & hugs, Arachne x

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:14:13 +0000

Thanks PeterO [I'm in the right place this time - I've just thanked you for the Guardian Cryptic blog!]

I agree with all that’s been said about this being just right for a Quiptic, especially in demonstrating to newer solvers that crosswords are fun!

[And we have numpties in this part of the Midlands, too.]

Many thanks, Arachne, as ever.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:41:18 +0000

De rien, PeterO.

By: PeterO

PeterO — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:34:54 +0000

Jeff

Thanks for pointing out the howler in 3D. Not to have spotted that, I must be … no, let’s not go that way.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:16:32 +0000

Thanks, Arachne. Thanks, Peter O. I feel certain, Peter O, that you may want to reform the text of the blog entry for 3 down. On one reading, it is very self-deprecating.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:03:10 +0000

Indeed, what crypticsue said in her first paragraph.

The surface for LIBIDO is outrageous. Good job we’re all liberal-minded Grauniad readers.

‘Numpty’ is in dictionaries as being of Scottish origin, but I’ve certainly heard it here in the Midlands too, which just goes to show that language has no boundaries.

Thanks to Arachne for the puzzle and Peter for the blog.

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:06:36 +0000

Fabulous Quiptic; the clues so well-written. Thanks Arachne.

Thanks PeterO; one day I am going to remember keys on a computer. For 1d, I got key=E, then, unsurprisingly, got stuck on the rest of the parsing.

Particular favourites were DOUBLE DUTCH, RECUMBENT (last in) and ODD BALLS, but many others were entertaining.

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:04:26 +0000

Sorry, I was very rude… thanks to Arachne and Peter too.

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 07:30:45 +0000

I agree that it is Arachne in Quiptic mode but she certainly knows how to make a Quiptic fun and a great introduction to the world of cryptics for anyone new to the art and a nice gentle smiley start to the day for those of us old hands.

Second crossword of the day and both of them have Double Dutch in them. I wonder if the other 4 will follow suit?