Comments on: Guardian 25,844 / Chifonie

By: HelenR

HelenR — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:04:09 +0000

We are just beginning to try the Guardian Cryptic after getting started on Quiptics and Everyman. We managed to finish this although we did solve it online rather than on paper (it helps to be able to “Check” answers we’re not sure of!).

Thanks Eileen for your very clear explanations of how the clues work.

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:26:08 +0000

I parsed 7 a little differently since sometimes I forget to shift into British slang mode: “old Bob” for me was a reference to his first name, followed by S CHUM ANN, followed by the real definition.

Nice puzzle for a Monday, isn’t that two weeks in a row without Rufus? Minor niggles here and there but nothing to shout about.

Thanks for the puzzle Chifonie and for the blog, Eileen and the rest of you.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:13:00 +0000

Thanks all
How dare the crossword editor break all the guidelines (sic DL) by giving us this delightfully tricky puzzle on a Monday………yes, on a Monday.
I just couldn’t bring myself to write in ‘readiness’ for the reasons given above.

By: Brendan (not that one)

Brendan (not that one) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:17:26 +0000

Nice and easy as ever for Monday. Nice to have a change from Rufus though.

Sega was also in my constellation for a while.

I also don’t understand Rowland @10 in his tense objection.

Thanks to Chifonie and Eileen

By: Morpheus

Morpheus — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:49:46 +0000

Another Sega Vega stumble here. Usually I’d hit google but it fitted in so neatly with The Oaks and I vaguely recalled having heard of Sega. Unfortunately I now realise it’s a computer games company, not a star…

Otherwise didn’t find this too straightforward but all very fair and smooth.

By: brucew_aus

brucew_aus — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:06:44 +0000

Thanks Chifonie and Eileen

Good opening puzzle for the week and must confess that I stumbled with SEGA instead of VEGA through laziness in the justification. Same sloth saw me parse N for knight rather than the bridge player in 2d despite that being used in 14a. I guess it shows that even though some puzzles may be easier, they shouldn’t be done with any less respect.

CAFETIERE was new – referred to them as coffee plungers here – funny how once they tasted acceptable!

By: SeanDimly

SeanDimly — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:58:04 +0000

Every year, without fail, Patrick Moore would talk about the “summer triangle” of Deneb, Altair and Vega – three lovely bright stars that, for people in the northern hemisphere, are high overhead during the short summer nights.
Thanks Chifonie and Eileen.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:17:41 +0000

Hi Dave Ellison

It wasn’t so much that VEGA caused a problem – I remembered it when the penny dropped – as that a reversal of AGES, for ‘a very long time’, came more readily to mind than the slightly more complicated construction.

By: Dave Ellison

Dave Ellison — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:00:29 +0000

Thanks, Eileen and Chifonie.

Having worked in OR, that was no problem. I am a little surprised at Vega proving so troublesome – Brendan included it on Feb 21 2012; and Vega (in Lyra) is the fifth brightest star in the night sky, second brightest in the northern hemisphere.

By: Jezza

Jezza — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:06:21 +0000

I enjoyed this puzzle. Thanks to Chifonie, and to Eileen for the notes.

Glad to see I was not the only person who tried to justify SEGA.