DT 27615

68 comments on “DT 27615”

1. I must be on a roll two on the trot completed without resorting to the hints.This for me was a very enjoyable romp &would agree with the ratings.
   I used to be an 7D but have evolved into a old 25A. Many thanks to the setter & the two Kiwis for the review.

2. Excellent very enjoyable puzzle. Not too taxing and with a super clue in 3d, very clever, my sort of crossword clue.
   Thx to Jay for the puzzle and Thx to 2 kiwis and hello to all my friends in Napier.

3. Pretty straightforward really, my only query was regarding 11a. Can dread really mean fearsome? I can’t think of a sentence where one would replace the other. Dreaded yes but not dread. Happy to be shown where I am being stupid of course.

   Thanks as always to Jay and 2Kiwis

   1. I agree, don’t see how dread can be used as an adjective. Dreaded would have worked for me too.

   2. Yes – I’m in the fearsome club too.

      1. Me too. “Dreaded” might have worked. Other than that, not a bad puzzle, but not particularly testing – about 2*/3*. I’m definitely a 25a. Thanks to Jay, and to 2Kiwis for the review. Enjoy your godwits!

   3. “Dread” as in “terrible”. Shakespeare used it frequently.

      To be expos’d against the warring winds?
      To stand against the deep dread bolted thunder.

   4. See verses 3 and 4 of ‘The Tyger’ by William Blake:

      Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
      In the forests of the night;
      What immortal hand or eye,
      Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

      In what distant deeps or skies.
      Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
      On what wings dare he aspire?
      What the hand, dare seize the fire?

      And what shoulder, & what art,
      Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
      And when thy heart began to beat,
      What dread hand? & what dread feet?

      What the hammer? what the chain,
      In what furnace was thy brain?
      What the anvil? what dread grasp,
      Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

      When the stars threw down their spears
      And water’d heaven with their tears:
      Did he smile his work to see?
      Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

      Tyger Tyger burning bright,
      In the forests of the night:
      What immortal hand or eye,
      Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

      1. That’s that one sorted then!

      2. That sort of usage is called poetic licence I think.

   5. I’m impressed!

   6. I think that’s sorted us out once and for all! Thanks Deep Threat and Expat Chris.

4. Interesting puzzle where i had to bend my mind for some of the definitions. I completed rapidly enough but wasn’t sure of of some answers. I hadn’t come across this use of buffer in 25a. In 12a I hadn’t managed to parse the postcode, and was worried we might be looking at an unindicated indirect anagram of shied (via cast) – of course, this could not be the case. 11a and 17a are very nice clues but i wasn’t sure the answer quite matched the right part of speech.

   The answer to 7d wasn’t the first rebellious youth that came to mind!

   I particularly liked 3d and 4d, and 17d & 18d

   15d will be familiar to DIY COW clueing competition people!

   many thanks Jay and KK for a lovely write-up

5. I think it’s a 2* difficulty and almost 4* for enjoyment.
   I agree with Werm and dutch about 11a – I’ve been mithering about it ever since I wrote it in.
   Not many problems today once I’d stopped trying to put a W into 21a and realised that the 4d Post Office worker wasn’t Postman Pat!
   For some reason I was a bit slow with 19a – first of all the ‘story’ was a ‘fable’ and then it was a ‘fib’ but got there in the end.
   Not many anagrams – I made it three.
   I liked 25a and 7 and 19d. My favourite was either 3 or 5d.
   With thanks to Jay and thanks and well done again to the 2Kiwis.

   1. PS It’s a thoroughly miserable day in Oxford – raining and so grey that it’s almost dark.
      On the plus side that’s a good reason to try the Beam Toughie.

   2. Hi Kath, your comment showed up just after I’d posted mine – so pleased to hear that I wasn’t the only one involved with PP and his black and white cat!

      1. . . . not to mention Mrs Goggins – cue for brilliant joke but, on second thoughts, maybe not here!

      2. You can add me to the Postman Pat brigade!

6. Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. A very enjoyable puzzle, that was quite tricky. I got there in the end, but would agree 11a wasn’t quite right, just needed the hint to parse 12a, I live in London, so I should have got the postcode. Favourite was 3d, last in was 16d. Completed in 4 quarters, NE, SE, NW, SW. Was 3*/4* for me. A bit drizzly in Central London. Off to the Toughie.

7. Took some thought for me today. I had never heard of 23a, But I definitely felt a sense of achievement today when done! I really liked 3d as I pondered on that for quite a while before the penny dropped. Then I entered the right word for 12a because I could not think of an alternative, but did not understand the wordplay until I looked at the hint above.

   Thanks one and all for an enjoyable puzzle and clarifications!

   I would rate it as 3*/4*

8. Hi Kiwis, pleased to hear that your Barwits have started to return – we’ve still got a few holidaying in the estuaries on Anglesey, but the recent dip in temperatures could soon see them having second thoughts and moving further south.
   Many thanks for your excellent review – I have to confess to needing your help with 3&4d. With the checking letters in, I got obsessed with a Postman Pat tie-up for 4d and equally hung-up with ‘strange entries’ for 3d. At least I admit my stupidities!
   Thought 23a might have thrown you a little – should have known better – and that goes in as my favourite for the day.

9. Only recently came across this web site. Very helpful. Like others I liked 3 down.
   However I got 15 down a different way. I immediately thought poorly was UNDER the weather, and that grounded was “in the DOG house”, is that acceptable crossword logic or was I just lucky.

   1. Welcome to the blog Ridgerunner

      No it isn’t and yes you were! Stick with us and you will learn more about the correct parsing of clues.

      1. I like his style. He can blog Monday if he wants

         1. The bung it in brigade has a new member. Forget York – we’ll be holding our own conventions soon!

            1. Yes. There are more ways than one to skin a cat.

            2. Bung it in conventions – sounds like far more fun to me! What shall we call them?
               Actually, I’ve just thought of a name, but wouldn’t dare repeat it – forget ‘moderating’, it would be instantly deleted!

               1. I really want to know the name. …oh there’s so many possibilities.

                  1. What would be the collective noun for ‘bungers’? A muddle perhaps?

            3. I call it the Miffypops rule! I’m a founder member.

               1. I’m going to shamelessly steal that phrase and apply it in day to day life. For example, when a tricky work situation arises to which no one knows the solution but something sort of fits, I shall invoke the ‘Miffypops’ rule….and instruct others to do so.

            4. Add me to the list I am a classic bung it in person

10. Enjoyable and quite straightforward I thought. No real standouts for me. 23A was a new word. Shamefully, for one who has driven the highway alongside it a few times, 18D took a bit more time than it should have. Thanks to Jay and the 2kiwis for the review and lovely illustrations.

11. Gentle and enjoyable seems to be the theme this week, thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis.

12. 2*/3* for an enjoyable and gentle puzzle. 18d was my last one in, and 3d my favourite.

    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis.

    P.S. I’m at Heathrow just about to pop off to Geneva for a couple of days. Back on Saturday. I’m glad it was Ray T last week so I won’t be missing him tomorrow.

13. Enjoyable crossword today. Although we got the correct answers for 6d and 12a, we had to look at the hints to see why, so thank you 2Kiwis and the setter of course.

14. Agree with Kath on the **/****ish. Found it pleasantly light hearted somehow and a good aperitif for the egg and soldiers.3D seemed to strike a cord with most, and all the more so for me because I’d not come across this or a similar clue before, actually an anagram of sunrised and seeing my local is the Rising Sun,i thought it most apposite !

15. Another enjoyable puzzle with few hold ups. **/***. Thanks to the setter and the 2Kiwis for the review and the godwits – we walk our dogs along Boundary Bay where we are treated to literally millions of migratory birds stopping off on their journey south unlike your plucky friends that make it in one hop.

16. Once I’d got eccentric in my head for 14d, I just got stuck like a hypnotised rabbit, so my SE corner was the last in, unsurprisingly. But was pleased to complete this in the end. Haven’t heard 25a for ages – I miss these lovely words! Is there a female version, or should I not ask? Many thanks to setter, as well as to 2Ks – loved your pic of the Bar-Wits. If you haven’t already seen the film ‘Winged Migration’ I strongly recommend it. The distance covered by some birds and the photography is stunning and not a word is spoken during the film, just music.. Greetings to all.

    1. Since ‘codger’ is usually preceded by old what about ‘old biddy’ being the female version?

       1. P

    2. We remember the one from many years ago called (we think) “Travelling Birds”. We will watch out for “Winged Migration”, it sounds lovely.

17. No problems today. Completed over a pleasant lunch with Mrs O as I’m working from home at the moment helping her to recuperate after a knee operation.
    2*/3* with 3d causing the biggest smile.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis.

    1. I have read The Story Of O

       1. If you are referring to histoire d’o…that’s a bit naughty..

       2. Thank goodness I didn’t google that one at work.
          O mg (as the kids might say)!
          I might have to find my better half another abbreviated online moniker.

       3. 

18. Quite a gentle fare today. Got my good friend from hove to help me. Two brains are better than one. But she found the clues a bit too convoluted. Anyway, managed to finish it without the need to look at our two NZ review. Keep up the good work nonetheless. Thanks.

19. Nothing like a dose of man-flu to slow my little grey cells down I find! I eventually finished but being a definite 25a I had to put CODEIN in first. Well, it made sense to me… sort of… So this is my favourite clue. Thanks to Jay and the 2K’s.

20. **/****. After yesterday I found this quite gentle. Some lovely clues including 3 and 7d. However 23a really made me smile as I remember studying all the rules and regs many years ago at uni. I also struggled with the definition of 11a so thank you to Expat Chris and DT for the clafication.
    Many thanks to the setter and the 2Kiwis for blogging. Love the picture of the Bar-tailed Godwits. What a fabulous name!

21. Thank you Jay for an enjoyable puzzle. About the norm for difficulty on a Wednesday. Many thanks 2 Kiwis for your review and hints. Glad your Bar-tailed Godwits are home safely. We have seen a lot of Black-tailed this week on our annual visit to the North Norfolk coast, but only a few Bar-tailed stopping off for a break on their long journey. Great photo !

22. Out of bed now, at least one of us anyway. The other half is still there sipping the morning cup of tea that was taken to her. We did hesitate about the parts of speech in 11a but decided that it was OK, as others have explained in comments while we slept.
    Pleased that people appreciated our Godwits. We think of them as ours but strictly speaking, ‘home’ should be their breeding-ground rather than their feeding-ground, perhaps we could agree to share them.

23. Very enjoyable challenge and I recall 5d as featured before although a long time ago. 3d was nice. 7d also. Many thanks for the review, BD and to the compiler.

24. I wrote a comment but lost it when my internet went out! Found this very hard but very enjoyable. Loved the Godwits, and I have ordered Poppy’s recommendation for Winged Migration on Netflix. My fave was 5d, ,but honourable mention to 3d. I used the M’pops rule for 12a and 25a, so thanks for the unravelling.
    Thanks to Jay, and many thanks to the 2Kiwis.

25. The usual enjoyable Jay puzzle. I sailed through the west, then was held up a for quite a while in the east. Hadn’t heard of 5d, and was very dim-witted in not spotting the anagram, which cause a deserved delay. I particularly liked 24a and 25a, and am going for 3d for fave. 14d is my runner-up, and something I have been called. (Although to the trusted few who have been admitted to Kittyland and entrusted with its secrets, I am an open book, albeit, not a quick or easy read.)

    Thanks to Jay, and to the 2Kiwis for the review and the birds They look very tasty cute ;).

    1. I’ll look up for some good French recipes. If it moves, it’s edible.

       1. :). Actually, I’m the kind of kitty that likes to sit around eating, sleeping and soliciting stroking. I do go off for long solitary walks, but only look at the small creatures (and sometimes tell them how tasty they look*), never harm them.

          *worryingly, this is actually true …

    2. Behave yourselves you two. Any more comments like that and we’ll have the padlock put back on the door-flap Kitty.

       1. Relax – I promise to look but not touch. Please don’t put the padlock back!

       2. I do love birds actually. And even if I have 3 cats (2 at home and 1 in my restaurant), this summer I even saved a small “grand duc” owl which fell from the huge cedar tree that overlooks the restaurant. See tweeter @restolejardin pictures.

          1. After your earlier comment, I’m a little worried for the cat in your restaurant!

26. Feeling very annoyed with myself for being unable to interpret ‘loo’ in 24a, and all the more so when it was easy once you knew how. Otherwise very enjoyable and thanks to Jay and 2kiwis. (I think that Godwit picture is beautiful; they are more elegantly photogenic than our summer visitors, House Martins, but the Martins are more fun to watch.)

27. Congratulations to 2kiwis for fabadabulous pictures you really have excelled yourselves, great decoding of clues although I have to own up to a certain amount of electronic help to aid my ageing brain today. I blame it on the cold damp weather in Suffolk but the other half says it is because I am old and past it. From a certified Codgeress.

28. Enjoyed today’s offering but neede the hint for 18d… Worked out 11a easily but wondered about dread being used as an adjective. 3d made me chuckle as did 23a.. Many thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review. Have been very quiet for a few weeks as busy with looking after grandchildren – enjoyed solving the puzzles nevertheless but ran out of time to comment on the blog. Going back to sunny Hyères for a couple of months early next week so the temptation of going to Ramsgate is removed form me. Bonne nuit to all!

    1. Just realized that the Cruciverbalist meeting was in London not Ramsgate, oops!

29. Good fun, but took a little longer than the usual Jay, I loved 3d and had no problem with dread, being a fan of the Bard and remembering the tyger from university days. Thanks to K-squared for their greatly appreciated efforts. 3*/3*

30. Way out of time, but glorious to see the bar-tailed godwits. Part of my reason for being so late polishing this off (and it was a good’un) was going to see yellow-browed warblers on Hartlepool headland. How does such a minuscule bird fly so far, and so inaccurately? There were 4 or more of them so no fluke! Never mind, 3d was excellent!

    1. So glad you liked our birds. Cheers.

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