Financial Times 16,082 by VELIA

11 comments on “Financial Times 16,082 by VELIA”

1. I think the SOD in 8d refers to the maker of Sod’s Law, although I have to say that, at a very quick first glance, I thought it said LAWN maker and that the required SOD was a piece of turf.   I’ll blame the horrible weather for my inability to read correctly

   I thought many of the clues were particularly ‘old-friendly’ but then that’s probably because I’ve been an old friend of cryptic crosswords for far too long

   Thanks to Velia and Teacow

    

2. Thanks, Teacow.

   I agree with crypticsue re the ‘old friends’ but I thought there were some nice new touches – I particularly liked STRANGER [‘endlessly’ used differently from 23dn] GOVERNOR, SIXTEEN and CRISIS. I agree about Sod’s Law, too – and it was one of my favourites, as well.

   Thank you, Velia, for a 1dn start to the week.

3. A pleasant start to the week indeed. Didn’t have any problem with SODDEN having seen the “lawmaker” idea used before. Guessed SLIDER and could only find a reference to it being a Scottish snack, rather than American. Wasn’t convinced by “bits” as an anagram indicator in 2d but that’s probably just me.

   Thanks to Velma and Teacow.

4. Thanks all… have corrected the 8d parsing

5. As others have said a very pleasant start to the week. There may have been a number of “old friends” present but that didn’t stop an old failing coming out to play. For 16A I became fixated on about = re and then, unsurprisingly, could not get the solution home. As ever step away for a few minutes, take a fresh look both the answer and parsing were staring me in the (red) face.

   Thanks Velia and Teacow.

6. Just noticed that auto(in)correct changed Velia to Velma in my post @3. My apologies.

7. Thanks Velia and Teacow

   A tidy debut puzzle from this setter which hit the degree of difficulty for a Monday perfectly, I thought.  A good mix of well-tried crossword definitions and enough fresh clues to appreciate a new talent.

   Lazily just crossed the last three letters off ‘transgender’ without really checking the fodder, so technically not a complete effort.

   Finished in the SE corner with SLIDER (didn’t know where they originated) and EDITOR (where I imagine one of them would be peeved about being referred to as a ‘hack’).  Look forward to seeing the next offering from him / her.

8. Brilliant crossword by Velia, enjoyed it,especially 9a he he he. LOI SLIDER. Please Velia, why don’t you join Everyman and save us from the abysmal crosswords after Colin left?

9. Thanks to Velia and Teacow. Enjoyable. I did not spot the Sod’s law in SODDEN and had trouble with EDITOR  (I resisted the equation with hack) and therefore SLIDER in the SE corner.

10. If the FT were actively looking for someone that could provide ‘the Monday feeling’, they absolutely did a fine job.

    Yes, these ‘old friends (aka ‘chestnuts’) were all over the place but while they, perhaps, would annoy experienced solvers, I didn’t mind.

    There were a couple of clues I label as ‘multiple fodder clues’ (with only a single clue indicator): 10ac, 18ac, upping the level. And a device well-known to, especially, Guardian solvers.

    On the minus side, I didn’t like the semicolon in 9d, ‘gig’=’recital’, ‘group’=’cult’ and ‘hack’=’editor’.

    But 14d (SIXTEEN), 17d (one had to uncouple ‘Chief’/’Brexiteer’) and 23d (with a similar thing: ‘felt’/’wonderful’) were exquisite [taking those who do not like chestnuts on board again!].

    This crossword took me about the same time as last Sunday’s Everyman but unlike Chadwick Ongara @8 I think that Everyman crosswords should just be half a level up.

    This was a very fine debut (even if I failed on 24d (SLIDER)), grammatically flawless too.

    A very warm welcome!

    Many thanks to Teacow & Velia.

     

     

     

11. Welcome Velia to the FT panel. 14 Down is one of those clues where you say “iI wish I had thought of that first'” … certainly made my day

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