Comments on: Independent 8,213 by Monk (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 09/02/13)

By: Monk

Monk — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:49:42 +0000

Many thanks to SH for blog, and to all for comments and, indeed, condolences. Both this puzzle and FT 14224 were in-memoriam tributes to my cheeky little JRT, Squib, who gave me many years of laughter, fun and affection (pet owners will understand!).

By: allan_c

allan_c — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:19:59 +0000

Not too difficult, I got there in the end – but didn’t spot the nina. HOTEL-DIEU emerged from the anagram fodder, but needed a quick google to confirm that it is the oldest hospital in Paris, and a subsequent appeal to Chambers to discover it’s a general name for any hospital. BILLON was new to me, too.

A couple of quibbles, though. 10ac is one of those ambiguous clues where the definition can be either the start or end of the clue. In this case it needs the crossing letter from 8dn or the cross-reference at 17ac to clarify. And in 1dn, to be pedantic, SITTA is the genus of the nuthatch, not the family, which is (are?) the Sittidae.

But thanks, Monk and Simon.

By: NeilW

NeilW — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 14:13:48 +0000

Wanderer @2, I too spotted RIP SQUIB but not MY MUCKER. Not being, until recently, a regular Indi solver, I have no idea if this has an obvious significance? In any case, may I echo your condolences to Monk.

By: NeilW

NeilW — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:28:01 +0000

Crossings all around – anyway thanks, Sil, for the PIECE explanation – I was fixated on piecework!

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:26:23 +0000

17ac – “Pling” according to Chambers is an exclamation mark, so the definition part of the clue is right at the end.

By: NeilW

NeilW — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:24:53 +0000

Thanks, Simon.

SERVIETTE is a CD – think: trap = mouth.

Chambers tells me that PLING is computer-speak for an exclamation mark. Equally, it tells me that NATATORIA is an American expression – I think Monk might have included US at the start of the clue.

RAINY DAYS – when you fall on hard times and need to resort to your savings; NIMBI bring rain.

I was hoping that you would have got further than I on PIECE! I’ll think again.

By: Wanderer (not the setter)

Wanderer (not the setter) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:24:33 +0000

Thanks Simon.

17, a PLING is an exclamation mark in computer-speak, so I think the def is simply !
14 refers to 10 (NIMBI), which lead to RAINY DAYS — I took it as a reference to ‘saving up for a rainy day’.
13 — I also don’t get this one.

There’s also a Nina, RIP SQUIB MY MUCKER. Condolences to Monk.

I found this at the tougher end of the Indy spectrum, but then I always do with Monk. Huge fun and a thoroughly satisfying workout. Many thanks to Monk.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:23:36 +0000

Many thanks, Simon, for your fine and clear blog.
The ‘trap’ in 13ac is someone’s ‘mouth’, so I see this clue as a cd.
14d: The NIMBI (plural of NIMBUS) of 10ac are dark rainclouds that can lead to rainy days, literally.
22d: PIECE can follow ‘cross’, indeed, but also ‘work’ and ‘conversation’. I remember Monk having done a similar thing ages ago in the FT.
I cannot help you with 17ac.

Many thanks to Monk for, once more, a satisfying crossword.