Struggling with internet access, so the following may be a little garbled. Apologies if it doesn’t make much sense.
A pleasant enough puzzle, I thought, with at least one new usage (rill) for me. Pretty straightforward too. The grid was a bit more amenable than last time I did one of these.
Not that this site is about speed but I would have fancied my chances against the speed merchants until 17d and 19d. Took at least 20 mins just to get 17d and -wait for it -an hour to get 19d alone . The problem was that I didn’t know if nark here meant niggle or spill the beans -and even with just ?i? there are so many possibilities. Obvious once you’ve got it.
Thanks Everyman & Matt; is this your first Everyman blog? Anyway you’ve made a good job of it even while toiling against the monstrous interweb.
I didn’t know TONTINE or EGLANTINE but both were clearly clued, so no problems there. I particularly liked BASSOON, NOTTING HILL, IN THE MAIN and CORPORATION TAX. The CYGNET/signet is a bit of an old chestnut.
Tontine was completely new to me and failed to get it even with the cross letters all filled in and also took ages to get ‘tip’. Otherwise very enjoyable.
Needed a bit of research as didn’t know eglantine, Nairn, tontine or that Nancy is a French city. No issues with the others and I don’t have a problem with ‘on’ doing a double duty in 5d.
I also agree that cygnet / signet has been done to death. Bit like Erie.
Had the grandies stay over last night so a bit slow to kick off this morning. Enjoyed the puzzle and wondered for a long time why pension wasn’t going into 4d. Eglantine got me and I put in consumption for corporation which I think is a much better answer!
I was slow off the mark today too as I am playing bowls every Saturday morning at present. Never heard of tontine and didn’t get “tip off”either. Like Barrie I had to research that Nancy was a French city, and though I guessed 21 ac. I couldn’t parse it. Perhaps some of you found it straightforward but It took me a long while to think of some of the answers this week. Nevertheless an enjoyable afternoon, and thanks Matt.
Not that this site is about speed but I would have fancied my chances against the speed merchants until 17d and 19d. Took at least 20 mins just to get 17d and -wait for it -an hour to get 19d alone . The problem was that I didn’t know if nark here meant niggle or spill the beans -and even with just ?i? there are so many possibilities. Obvious once you’ve got it.
Yes, I agree that the clue for TIP OFF was pretty clever.
Thanks Everyman & Matt; is this your first Everyman blog? Anyway you’ve made a good job of it even while toiling against the monstrous interweb.
I didn’t know TONTINE or EGLANTINE but both were clearly clued, so no problems there. I particularly liked BASSOON, NOTTING HILL, IN THE MAIN and CORPORATION TAX. The CYGNET/signet is a bit of an old chestnut.
Really enjoyed this as could do most of the parsing for once. Had not heard of the police series at 9d.
Than you Everyman and Matt.
Tontine was completely new to me and failed to get it even with the cross letters all filled in and also took ages to get ‘tip’. Otherwise very enjoyable.
Thanks Matt. I found most of the parsing remarkably straightforward today with my loi 11a then 4d.
Either I am getting better at solving these crosswords or the compilers are becoming predictable?
Indeed, remarkably straightforward.
Needed a bit of research as didn’t know eglantine, Nairn, tontine or that Nancy is a French city. No issues with the others and I don’t have a problem with ‘on’ doing a double duty in 5d.
I also agree that cygnet / signet has been done to death. Bit like Erie.
What a beautiful day!
Had the grandies stay over last night so a bit slow to kick off this morning. Enjoyed the puzzle and wondered for a long time why pension wasn’t going into 4d. Eglantine got me and I put in consumption for corporation which I think is a much better answer!
I was slow off the mark today too as I am playing bowls every Saturday morning at present. Never heard of tontine and didn’t get “tip off”either. Like Barrie I had to research that Nancy was a French city, and though I guessed 21 ac. I couldn’t parse it. Perhaps some of you found it straightforward but It took me a long while to think of some of the answers this week. Nevertheless an enjoyable afternoon, and thanks Matt.