Independent 8417 (Sat 05-Oct 2013) Jambazi

13 comments on “Independent 8417 (Sat 05-Oct 2013) Jambazi”

1. 

   jmac

   @1 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 07:42 BST

   
   

   Thanks for the blog. Re 25, I took it as MELOD[y] + RAM before A (hit before a). A nice sparkling puzzle.

2. 

   Grannie

   @2 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 07:51 BST

   
   

   25ac is MELOD(Y) and A before RAM

3. 

   Kathryn's Dad

   @3 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 09:56 BST

   
   

   Thanks, beermagnet. Don’t often tackle the Indy prize (because usually it’s beyond me) but with Jambazi on the oche I thought I’d give it a go. As you say, not massively difficult, although it took a while for it all to yield. Good fun – SCROTUM was worth the entry price alone. Also liked WRANGLER.

   There is – as so often with Jambazi – a theme here. It’s THE OFFICE, the Ricky Gervais series about the fictional paper company, Wernham Hogg, based in Slough. David BRENT is Gervais’ character, the manager, and Tim and Dawn are employees. There may be other references (WHITE COFFEE?); I don’t know the series that well, although it was very well received. And transferred to the USA with a version called EXTRAS.

   A fun puzzle – thank you to the setter.

4. 

   Tom W

   @4 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 10:35 BST

   
   

   Top notch. I loved SCROTUM and for a while wondered if 12a might be ‘anus’ too. EUROSCEPTIC another fave. i needed parental assistance at the end having wrongly entered ‘leg bye’ and teeth being unable to get ‘propensity’.

5. 

   gwep

   @5 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 11:26 BST

   
   

   K’sD@5. Might have misunderstood you, but The Office was called the same in the USA version, whilst Extras was a different series featuring Ricky Gervais, which I don’t think was given the US makeover.

   Thanks to Jambazi and beermagnet.

   Favourites SCROTUM and EUROSCEPTIC and re 6D I note the Godolphin stable has recently been in big trouble about performance-enhancing drugs being administered to horses in their stables.

6. 

   gwep

   @6 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 11:27 BST

   
   

   Or even K’sD@3.

7. 

   Kathryn's Dad

   @7 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 11:58 BST

   
   

   Thanks for putting me right, gwep. As I said, I’m not that familiar with any of it, but I did recognise EXTRAS as a Gervais production.

8. 

   Andy B

   @8 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 11:59 BST

   
   

   An excellent puzzle, although I didn’t notice the theme. SCROTUM raised a smile and TISHRI was my LOI after I finally deciphered the wordplay.

9. 

   Jambazi

   @9 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 12:47 BST

   
   

   Thanks Beermagnet for the blog and thanks to all for your kind words.

10. 

    Jim T

    @10 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 16:10 BST

    
    

    Excellent puzzle, most enjoyable.

11. 

    allan_c

    @11 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 18:15 BST

    
    

    Missed the theme, never having watched the series, and several entries fell into place from crossing letters without my being able to parse them. Nevertheless all good stuff and very enjoyable. CoD was REHAB with PROPENSITY running it a close second.

    Thanks, Jambazi and beermagnet.

12. 

    flashling

    @12 - Sat 10th Oct 13, 19:27 BST

    
    

    Quite amazed that folks missed the theme, anyone that has worked in any office ought to seek it out. I really enjoyed this, thanks the tramping man & BM

13. 

    beermagnet

    @13 - Sun 10th Oct 13, 11:53 BST

    
    

    Sorry, I forgot to talk about the theme. This is what comes of doing the “heart” of the blog well in advance, then suddenly realising about 10 mins before it is published that I hadn’t topped it off with words at the front.
    Thus completely forgetting to mention the theme, which was evident in the clues, but didn’t influence the answers.
    Here is a bit of theme analysis:

    10/28 Wernham Hogg is the paper merchants company providing the setting for “The Office”
    14 The office
    3D Tim/Dawn, in organisation Tim Cantebury was the main “everyman” character in “The Office” played by Martin Freeman who has gone on to win awards as Bilbo Baggins and Dr Watson, but who somehow will always remain “Tim from The Office”.
    Dawn Tinsley is receptionist played by Lucy Davies, erstwhile “Hayley from The Archers” and daughter of a certain J Carrott.
    5D and 7D Brent David Brent was Ricky Gervais’s character in “The Office”
    16D Slough “The Office” was set in Slough
    20 Extras was Ricky Gervais’s next foray in TV which pushed on further using the comedy of embarrassment to such an extent I find it difficult to watch

    As for RAMA from “a hit before” – I think I simply had a blind spot with “before” and got stuck thinking of “hits” involving RAMA, e.g. Beatles/G.Harrison’s Hare Krishna stuff.

    Thanks for all commentators, and J.

    BTW Success and more importantly great fun had at the 3D championship yesterday. Heh heh.

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