Financial Times 17,030 by GAFF

7 comments on “Financial Times 17,030 by GAFF”

1. 

   WordPlodder

   #1 - Mon 28th Feb 22, 05:20

   
   

   Great way to start the week, with a generously signalled Nina and theme. No easy stroll and I was also glad to have spotted the Nina early as it helped with quite a few clues which were proving troublesome.

   I just bunged in ANEMOMETER which I think would have defeated me had I tried to parse it. Lots of good clues, including the cryptic defs (‘Unmanned security position’ indeed!), RED BERET and I enjoyed finally workout the parsing of EYEING.

   I think TALK DOWN works as a double def without ‘land’ doing double duty if you consider the “reject as unimportant” sense of ‘discount’ (second syllable stressed) as the second def.

   Thanks to Gaff and Teacow

2. 

   Diane

   #2 - Mon 28th Feb 22, 09:09

   
   

   I enjoyed this one very much though it was tough in the parsing. Failed on 24a, being one letter out.
   Like Wordplodder, I found the Nina around the perimeter very helpful in completing the grid though I think I was expecting a few more Steinbeck titles than actually appeared (I had a Steinbeck binge some years back so am familiar with his key works).
   The resident mariner helped with the wind-measuring instrument at 12a which was beyond my ken.
   Still, some refreshingly new, fun wordplay and I always welcome a literary tribute.
   Thanks Gaff and to Teacow whose blog was much needed today.

3. 

   copmus

   #3 - Mon 28th Feb 22, 12:32

   
   

   I have never seen eye to eye with Gaff. I had the crossers for 24 and I had a choice if 100 words.
   I suspected a nina as i had only spotted EAST OF EDEN. I wondered if EDGEHILL was anything to do with it and i couldnt check letters
   I have read all three books and seen the films-it would have been nice to have CANNERY ROW, SWEET THURSDAY or TORTILLA FLATS

   So here I am to see what I missed out on.I think Henry Fonda played Tom Joad and JD starred in EOE
   And i had Dust Bowl Ballads by Woody Guthrie
   “So my wife cooked up a potato soup-mighty thin soup though, you could read a magazine through it
   always thought that if that soup had been a little thinner, some of these here politicians might have seen through it”

   Guthrie’s one-time landlord was a certain Fred Trump. End of ramble

4. 

   Perplexus

   #4 - Mon 28th Feb 22, 16:47

   
   

   Very good fun and a challenging Monday workout, though as others say getting the straightforward EAST OF EDEN and then spotting the nina early helped a lot. I still can’t help twitching at “practice” as a verb – certainly unacceptable at my school, though I know it’s acceptable US usage.

5. 

   Geoff Down Under

   #5 - Tue 1st Mar 22, 10:35

   
   

   Iterate is “go over”, not just “go”, yes?

6. 

   Teacow

   #6 - Tue 1st Mar 22, 11:27

   
   

   Thank you Geoff Down Under @5, I’ve fixed the underline.

7. 

   brucew@aus

   #7 - Wed 2nd Mar 22, 08:55

   
   

   Thanks Gaff and Teacow
   I found this terribly difficult – spilling over to Tuesday after which I twigged to the perimeter nina – things flowed steadily after that.
   Thought all crytic definitions were superb – particularly liked 25a and 18d.
   Thought TALK DOWN and TRADE WAR were commendable as well.
   Eventually finished with EUNUCH, THE FENCE and the unknown ‘clocking’ / EYEING as the last one in.

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