Comments on: Independent 8151/Crosophile

By: Crosophile

Crosophile — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:49:14 +0000

Don’t suppose anyone will see this but thanks for that comment allan_c. That’s what I thought too. I wouldn’t take “There’s a stag at the Royal Oak tonight” to be the words of a psychic Springwatch presenter.

By: allan_c

allan_c — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:13:46 +0000

Started this late last night after a tiring day so didn’t make much headway, and even found it difficult this morning. Eventually got 17dn from crossing letters, but once I understood the parsing I didn’t have any issue with ‘stag’ for revelry. I think the US usage is catching on here; at least one can see adverts in local rags for party venues that just have “stags, hens” to indicate that they cater for such revelries.

By: Thomas99

Thomas99 — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:57:29 +0000

I must say I liked 1a too. You just have to remember that proof and test can mean the same thing (think of putting something to the proof/test – see Collins, Proof (4): “the act of testing the truth of something (esp in the phrase put to the proof)”).

Matisse surely has to be the painter?

By: Crosophile

Crosophile — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:35:10 +0000

Thanks John and for other comments.
re 1a, I was using proof in sense of ‘exception proves the rule’ and ‘proof of the pudding’. ‘Forensic’ means ‘to do with courts and legal processes’ so I think this clue is all right. [Well, I liked it anyway!]
re 3d, the ‘rather strange wording’ was my attempt at a naff tabloid headline [hence capitalisation].
And re 17d, I hadn’t realised that I was being so off-mainstream with the clueing of STAINING. Sorry.
Re the nina, I just like Chagall and Matisse – and there’s PAINTER and ARTIST. But which is which? Hmmm…

By: AndyB

AndyB — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:11:23 +0000

I thought this was really good. Ticks especially at 5, 10, 13, 14, 22.

The Chartists were indeed reformers – radical democrats demanding univbersal suffrage and one year parliaments.

By: flashling

flashling — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:43:53 +0000

Was hoping someone would shed a bit more light on the Matisse/Chagall/Artist links, 17d likewise my last looking too long at SING=Revelry, otherwise a quick solve, under 10 mins – I actually ended up reading the paper, what’s the world coming to!

Thanks John and Crosophile.

By: NealH

NealH — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:09:16 +0000

I couldn’t make much sense of 17 – I had sing for the revelry, which left I in tan. Thought it must be a reference to the Tan Hill Inn.

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:32:10 +0000

I thought this was very enjoyable, although if the ESOTERIC TOTEM combination turns up in one more crossword I will definitely start to scream. Thanks to John and Crosophile too.

By: MikeC

MikeC — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:36:06 +0000

Thanks John and Crosophile. Largely agree with your comments. I’m also not sure about 1a. I suppose if you test something you “prove” it, and if it’s a criminal case it’s a forensic proof, but it does seem hard work! Likewise, to a lesser extent, 17d (STAG and STAINING). I did like 21a, ETIQUETTE, though.