Independent 8726 / Tees

20 comments on “Independent 8726 / Tees”

1. Thanks Duncan
   In 19dn I don’t think there is a need to replace the H because Heep described himself as ‘umble’ (he initially lived with his mother in an umble abode) so it is simply J + UMBLE.

2. Took ages to see ward=charge! Was hooked on military term! Otherwise all good!

   Thanks!

3. I didn’t find this the most difficult of Thursday puzzles, but it was an enjoyable solve. I agree with Gaufrid’s comment about “umble”, and I had the same thoughts as Duncan about RICKSHA. I finished in the SE with the STREAK/IMBUE crossers.

4. Many thanks Duncan.
   Less fiendish than a Tees (or Thursday puzzles in general) often is (are).

   A pangram might be handy in crosswords that are hard to finish but for me there was no disadvantage in not spotting it today.

   I didn’t understand how the clue for 18ac led to ANTHONY EDEN despite seeing the garden bit. Even after reading the explanation in the blog, I still find it a rather strange (read: not very satisfactory) clue.

   Good puzzle.
   Thanks for that to Tees.

5. I would like to give out a medal for ‘anty Eden’. It is stupid as hell, but made me laugh. Would not Guardian’s Paul have done exactly the same with it I wonder.

6. Fine, hedgehoggy, you your anty, me my froggy …. 🙂
   But it’s more the HON bit that felt a bit ‘strange’ to me.
   A combination of two ideas? HON for ‘honourable’ (ie noble) and ‘honey’ (child)?
   Though nothing wrong with it at all, EDEN being the clued ‘garden’ and at the same time being a stand-alone part of the solution doesn’t excite me.
   But what does? 🙂

7. I took the ‘Y’ to represent ‘child’ and the ‘garden crawling with soldiers’ would therefore be ANT EDEN. If that’s not the case I don’t see what purpose there is in having ‘child’ in the clue.

8. Ah, I see, Sil. I had HON as short for ‘Honourable’, which can be Hon. when it is an abbrev. (:-D) in ‘anty Eden’.

9. Sorry, I still didn’t get it out, did I? Hons are sons or daughters of barons, I think.

   🙂

10. Thanks Tees and Duncan

    18ac: Here is my understanding: In the British peerage, the title “The Honourable” is given as a courtesy title to all sorts of people, including sons and daughters of barons and viscounts, but also younger sons (but not daughters) of earls, and sons and daughters of people who have themselves various courtesy titles. In any case, they are all covered by the expression “noble child”.

    In case anyone thinks that daughters of earls lose out, the reverse is the case: they all get the courtesy title Lady (such as Lady Diana Spencer before her marriage).

    Note that the title “The Right Honourable” is quite different, but I think I have said enough for now.

11. Pelham B.

    Thanks. All clear now.

    G.

12. This was a fine, thoughtfully-constructed puzzle from Tees, which I enjoyed. ANTHONY EDEN perhaps not the clearest clue he has ever written, but otherwise lots to savour.

    I liked specially MOTHER-TO-BE and thought EIFFEL TOWER was cleverly done.

    Well done, Tees, and thank you to Duncan for the usual excellent blog.

13. Always enjoy being Teesed 3d first in and immediately thought pangram, I remember blogging one of his which was a triple pangram. Was a little troubled by Anthony Eden so thanks for the parsing folks. Deeply enjoyable in a post work pint. Thanks Duncan and Tees.

14. Thanks indeed all, esp Dunks for ace blog.

    So you didn’t dig my anty Eden then? Oh well, okay. Maybe the hon., which seems to have caused some perplexity, going in there didn’t help, but as PB and the hedgehog say it really does mean ‘nobleman’s child’! And I borrowed it from a very noble source, namely Araucaria. I think it was ‘Nobleman’s child looked sweet’ for HON/ EYED.

    See y’all soon.

    Cheers Tees.

15. I thought the Anthony Eden clue was rather good. What’s the problem with it? HON in ANTY EDEN, the whimsicality of this latter bit indicated by the question mark.

    And generally good too in my opinion. Easier than usual for Tees, I found. Liked the Spoonerism although (for some reason I can’t quite understand) such clues are disliked by some.

16. Not too difficult for a Tees, though I only got 18ac from the defintion and crossing letters, so needed the blog to parse. And LOI was 5ac – a real facepalm moment when I saw it!

    Wil @15: I think the reason some people dislike Spoonerisms is that it’s difficu;t to clue them without mentioning Spooner, which rather gives the game away. Doesn’t bother me, though.

    Thanks, Tees and Duncan.

17. @14Tees – (and also those who didn’t appreciate it) hope you’re still there, I thought ANTHONY EDEN was hilarious and clever and a real contender for clue of the year.

18. Superb puzzle. My faves are 5a, 9a (brill), 11a, 14a and 28a. I couldn’t get 13d but that says more about me than the clue.

19. I occasionally save up (paper) copies of I and G puzzles for weekend amusement. Of the five completed (so far) with this morning’s coffee three have ticked clues (Rufus from Monday had two – CURTAIN UP and MALINGERER; Phi had one – LEDERHOSEN) though this doesn’t necessarily reflect the overall virtues (in that Picaroon’s my favourite – probably). The only clue to gain two ticks is ANTHONY EDEN. For me, quite superb.
    Many thanks, Tees! Nice blog, Duncan, as ever.

20. ….and just in case the great Gaufrid is on hand with advice; I missed Wednesday’s Indy (some selfish B had stolen library’s copy before I got there) The library’s IT system precludes my using Crossword Solver, my only other net access is from this rather old-fashioned Samsung smart ‘phone so I don’t know how to get a print copy. You helped me before with a similarly ‘lost’ Times so wonder if you can help with this? I don’t know if missing 8725 is a big loss as I avoid the blog until I’ve solved. But it’s the only Indy or Guardian missed since Araucaria’s passing, which event converted my sporadic love into a happy obsession!
    Thanks – as ever.

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