Comments on: Guardian Quiptic 692/Nutmeg

By: Libellule

Libellule — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:40:09 +0000

I don’t always find time to do the Quiptic, but I do like to do it when I can, as its usually a very enjoyable and entertaining exercise. For those who struggled with this, I can only agree with Pierre, this seemed more like a DT daily cryptic in places rather than a Quiptic. I had to stare long and hard in places before it came together. Fun though.

By: Nutmeg

Nutmeg — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:42:45 +0000

Well spotted – it’s a couple of years since I compiled the grid (though not the clues), just after the early death of Mike Laws (Fawley) who as editor of the Inquisitor had been very kind to me. Usually when I include a Nina nobody remarks on it, so I had expected this one, being not immediately apposite and quite well hidden, to go unnoticed…

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:09:33 +0000

I’m guessing it’s the setter. Fawley produced a tribute to other setters as number 22,000 in the Guardian Cryptic series.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 23:40:30 +0000

Indeed, una, Derek is right. This was a tricky one. And Michael, I’m sure the message is intentional, though what it is about we may never know.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:18:55 +0000

Una, no, no no. That was hard for a Quiptic so you mustn’t take it too much to heart. We’ve all been there.

By: una

una — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:59:33 +0000

I am afraid I didn’t make much progress.This crossword was recommended as suitable for beginners, which I am.More humiliation !

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:59:16 +0000

Took me twice as long as Rufus, for the reasons above. Even had to cheat a few. Pangrams are all well and good, but not for one of these, again for reasons given above. Tricksy clues like 22 are also probably a step too far for one of these, amusing as it was.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:17:22 +0000

I’m wondering if there’s a Nina in this crossword. The unchecked letters on row 8 are “RIP”, and that is followed on row 10 by “Fawley”. Has there been a passing in the family?

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:27:28 +0000

A good crossword but a bit difficult for a Quiptic. (Yes, the JADE=hack was pretty obscure although it is given as the second meaning in Chambers without any obsolete tag)….. and I missed the pangram.

Thanks Pierre; according to my online Thesaurus OFTENER was used in ‘Thus Spake Zarathustra.’ Dictionary.com gives: ‘once and for all, decisively; finally: Let’s settle this problem once and for all. Also, once for all,’ although as you said I would always use the former. I liked your ‘sturdy’ alternative although SPONGY was pretty good (I kept trying to put BO into the answer!) For those with a delicate constitution, I wouldn’t look up TOSS OFF in Chambers!

By: Pierre

Pierre — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:27:06 +0000

Perhaps the reason for the extra difficulty has been revealed by those clever folk over on the Guardian thread (well spotted, chaps!) It’s a pangram. For those that don’t know, this is a crossword where all the 26 letters of the alphabet appear, and can sometimes means that the setter has to insert one or two unusual words to get all the letters in.

Mea maxima culpa for not spotting this, but with a Quiptic I don’t go looking for themes or pangrams or ninas once I’ve solved it. He said, making excuses …