Financial Times 17,427 by Rosa Klebb

18 comments on “Financial Times 17,427 by Rosa Klebb”

1. Thanks Widdersbel

   I enjoyed this too. My paper did not show the name of the setter, but I knew it had to be RK. As you wrote, lots of lovely wordplay.

   Favourites included SELLS UP (I thought “phone” was the homophone indicator for the longest time), REAR ADMIRAL for its silly surface, MACERATE for it elegance, SOLVENT, SMUGLY for its cheekiness, SHRINKING VIOLET & EDITORIAL for their great anagrams and BUCKRAM. Quite a list there.

   it was interesting that the NASCENT with a similar clue was in the FT weekend puzzle by Falcon.

   Did not know LUMME, TUC, OLLIE, PUDDING as a dim-wit and venerable = VEN. I am suspect lush facility is new to me too, as I do not see how it means REHAB. And I wonder if RK made up UNDERCHARGE, as I can find no evidence of such a position on the internet. CHARGE yes, but not U-C.

   Anyway, this is getting far to long, so let me just say thanks to Rosa Klebb for a super puzzle and thanks to Widdersbel for a nice blog.

2. Lovely to see this

3. The problem with a Jumbo Crossword by Rosa Klebb is that there’s not enough graphite in a pencil to tick all the outstanding clues. A few of my favourites were REAR ADMIRAL, CRESCENDO, INANITY, REGURGITATE, CHASE THE DRAGON, EDITORIAL (great anagram), and TOPLESS. I needed outside assistance for LUMME, GAMESTER, and STANLEY BALDWIN but that didn’t spoil the fun. Thanks Rosa and thank you Widdersbel for the blog.

4. I enjoyed this too, thanks to both setter and blogger, but failed only to solve 41A.
   Not familiar until now with the word gamester, nor gam as a school of whales.
   In the print version, the omission of Rosa Klebb’s name was corrected in another section of the paper.

5. First time I’ve seen or attempted a Rosa Klebb crossword.

   The link to the crossword was provided by Eileen last week in the comments under the blog of the previous Guardian Prize. She recommended trying it so I did.

   I really enjoyed it and solved most of it returning to it a couple of times during the week.

   Lots of favourite clues (including those mentioned by Tony @ 3). I will definitely look out for other puzzles by this setter.

   Thanks Rosa Klebb, Widdersbel – and of course Eileen

6. Oh and thanks to Roz too as she informed us of it first – and Eileen provided the link.

7. Thanks for the blog, perfect puzzle for a sunny afternoon in the garden , too many favourite clues to mention .
   Martyn@1 a lush is a drunkard , possibly an alcoholic, so may could need a REHAB facility.
   UNDERCHARGE does exist, it is when shops charge too little foe some items, known as loss-leaders.

8. [@7 cross out may]

9. Thanks, Roz. I meant to explain “lush facility” in the blog as I suspected it might catch a few people out, but it slipped my mind. Clever definition.

10. I love the first sentence of Tony Santucci’s comment @3! Like Widdersbel, I stopped counting at fifteen. There isn’t a single favourite listed above that I would disagree with.

    I always enjoy ‘barking / Barking’ as an anagram indicator and grinned at 37ac when I realised it wasn’t. And, like Martyn @1, I was beguiled for a while by the phoney (homo)phone @9ac. I also liked the ‘not-
    a Spoonerism’. I wasn’t familiar with the expression ‘chased the dragon’ and OLLIE was a jorum.

    I’m glad you were able to download the puzzle, Fiona Anne – you’ve been missing out on such treats for a long time.

    Huge thanks to Rosa for a brilliant Bank Holiday treat – what a wonderful surprise! – and to lucky Widdersbel for an enthusiastic and entertaining blog.

11. And there was great rejoicing throughout the land when we realised we had a crossword from Rosa Klebb and, not only that, a Jumbo with so many splendid clues that, like Tony Santucci, Widdersbel and Eileen, I too gave up counting

    More huge thanks from me to Rosa for the treat and to lucky Widdersbel for the blog

12. Is there going to be a blog for the other puzzle (FT 17426 by Falcon) that was published on the same day as this jumbo puzzle?

13. Rudolf – I was expecting to see one. Don’t know why it hasn’t appeared yet, sorry.

14. Roz @7 – thanks for the comment on UNDERCHARGE. I was referring @1 to the non-existent, subordinate diplomat position of “under chargé”. I just realised that I had the clue backwards, so apologies for the incorrect comment and thanks for putting me straight.

    Thanks too for explaining lush facility – it makes perfect sense now.

    While I am here, like David L @4, GAM in 41A was new to me, but I managed to work out the answer from the crossers. I had to turn to a friend, far cleverer than I, for the parsing.

    Finally, I double Eileen’s sentiments @10 – I loved the opening to Tony S’s comments @3.

15. I have just posted the blog for the Falcon. A day late due solely to my forgetfulness.

16. Pete – easily done! I’m sure everyone appreciates the time and effort you put into your regular Saturday blogs.

17. Surely it can’t be a coincidence that 38A has “corrupt politician” as part of the clue, and “Trump” as part of the answer!

18. KenS – you might say that, I couldn’t possibly comment! 🙂

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