DT 29458

97 comments on “DT 29458”

1. Jay has the ability to consistently throw in a few clues that lift a puzzle from very good to excellent. Today I thought those clues were 22a, 15d and the 28/29 combination.
   All plain sailing for me, only having to check the mushrooms in 14a.
   1.5/ 4*
   Many thanks to Jay and to the 2Ks for the top notch entertainment.
   Ps. Allison Pearson on top form today.

   1. Her final plea to Tim Davie made me smile but I suppose that’s a ‘girlie’ thing!

      1. That was the only bit that I disagreed with Jane!!!!

         1. Me too – never watched it!

         2. I watched it for about 5 minutes once…

      2. Told you it was a ‘girlie’ thing!

   2. Agree with the Alison Pearson article, the BBC is an expensive anachronism and needs winding up.

2. A very straightforward challenge today, with no Hmmms from me. I wasn’t aware of the material in 8d, but had heard of it in a horse racing context. Again, with 13d I was aware of the flower, but not the perfume.

   COTD has to be 1&6a

   May thanks to the compiler (Jay?) and the 2Ks.

3. Another lovely one from Jay. Just the right amount of challenge and head scratching. Most enjoyable and it fell in at a steady pace. My favourites are 22a and 20a. NO COTD because too many good clues to choose from.

   Many thanks, Jay and also to the 2Kiwis for the hints.

4. I think that the setter was in a rather humorous mood today. Lots to like, particularly 1/6a and 28/29a. 22a also brought a smile. Thanks to Jay and to the 2Ks. I now have time to make a lemon drizzle cake before lunch is demanded.

   1. If the lemon drizzle is for the naughty step, Florence, I’ll make sure I’m on it.

      1. Bakewell tarts are for the naughty step this week. Lemon drizzle is for the freezer.

         1. Oh yum yum.

5. I can only endorse what has been said. Jay continues to provide nicely balanced puzzles with just the right level of challenge and enjoyment. (**/****). My favourites amongst the many great clues were 8d, 12d and 27a. Thank you to the Kiwis for the hints. I don’t know the NZ equivalent of ‘Ne’r cast a clout till May be out’ but wrap up warmly! Thank you to Jay for another fine puzzle.

6. 2*/4* for me. My last one in was 13d (not a word that forms part of my vocabulary).

   Many thanks to Jay and to the 2Kiwis.

7. Enjoyed today’s challenge. SE corner delayed my finish mainly due to trying to use an unparsed cola for 24 – how could I not have twigged the chestnut. I would submit that 8d is a pattern rather than a material itself. Thank you Jay and the 2Kiwis.

8. Another hugely enjoyable puzzle today which I had to do in the actual paper as my app wouldn’t work for some reason, Mind you, if you are like me, and do your anagrams in little circles, its much easier in paper form. I also find I have to write the down clues sideways if you see what I mean. Off for my first haircut since February this afternoon! Thanks to all

   1. The down clues sideways makes perfect sense to me Manders. Not so the circles

      1. If I need help with anagrams, I do circles, but not clockwise or anticlockwise ( too similar to the original). I swing from side to side until one letter left and put that in the middle….Ta Da!

         1. That’s how I do my circles too!

            1. One can train oneself to solve anagrams mentally. I know I’m pushing water uphill when I say so but I threw away the paper and pens when Saint Sharon bought the iPads

         2. I just write the letters in a row, but jumbled up, otherwise I can only see the original words. It’s surprising how often the answer jumps right out.

9. All has already been said so just Thankyou from me.

10. Our setter taught me two new things today – why the stand at Cheltenham is named after 8d and why I’d probably fail in a spelling bee if 11a was involved!
    Great fun as ever on a Wednesday with 22a producing the loudest chuckle.

    Thanks to Jay and also to our 2Ks as they enter the season we’ll be yearning for ‘ere long……..

11. Quite superb. I am not picking a favourite as the whole puzzle was an absolute delight.

    Thanks to Jay for another Wednesday gem and to the 2Ks.

12. Perhaps a little more tricky than some recent Wednesday puzzles but as enjoyable as ever, completed at a gallop – 2.5*/5*.
    Candidates for favourite – 10a, 22a, and 6d – and the winner is 6d.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

13. Lovely puzzle today. I’m not usually a fan of clues that cross reference others but today I make an exception as I thought 22a was superb. Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks.

14. Jay in particularly friendly mode today – but as splendidly enjoyable as ever – my only slight hold up was wondering whether 11a really did have 2 Ls

    Thanks to him and the 2Ks

    I don’t know about the seasons but, those who are as fed up as me with the way this year has vanished without the usual outings, holidays and visits, will be depressed as I was to find that Sainsbury’s already has Christmas puddings on the shelves.

    1. Yes I too have missed my outings, holidays and visits this year. Regarding Christmas puddings, last year I decided to ignore Christmas as far as possible and treat it as a weekend. It worked for me and I shall repeat the routine this year! A lot less work all round as well.

    2. I was wondering where this year had gone to too. 16a set me off because it’s a word that reminds me of a Christmas carol.

15. Needed some electronic help with this one….and kicked myself when the answers became clear
    Held back also by thinking that ‘spitting feathers’ meant thirsty rather than angry….thought that was ‘spitting tacks’ but having looked it up can see I was wrong.
    Lots of lovely clues as usual for a Wednesday.

    Thanks to Jay and the 2 Kiwis.

16. Slowly getting the hang of the puzzles set by Jay so enjoyed the challenge today. Really good clues which could be parsed to work out the solution or which yielded their parsing after using the checkers to find the word. 6d and 19d examples of each of those respectively and my clues of the day.

    My thanks to Jay and the Two Kiwis.

17. 2*/5*. Unqualified excellence.

    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

18. An unusually enjoyable offering from Jay who is not my favourite setter (usually far too wordy!) but todays was an exception. I even learned something new with 8d which on looking up is associated with the horse dealers and their charges.
    Thx to all
    **/****

    1. It’s used by most countrymen, as well, Brian. I’m wearing one now.

       1. My husband is wearing one too….he’s gone off clay pigeon shooting with one of my sons.

          1. Lucky guys.

19. I found myself wondering if I could just list all 29 clues as my CsOTD in this excellent Jay puzzle but then decided that there were a few that really burst through the top and towered a bit above the rest, especially 22a, 8d, and 12d, but I did love them all. Finished, most enjoyably, in a flash, with many thanks to the Kiwis, whose review I’ll read now, and to the ever-entertaining Jay. 1.5* / 5*

    I am thoroughly enjoying Le Tour these mornings and remembering happy days spent in Provence and elsewhere in France. Thanks to John Bee for enlightening me about individual cyclists yesterday.

    1. Although, according to Ned on ITV4, the peloton managed to go from Provence to the Ardeche by crossing the Rhine! Are you able to watch live with commentary Robert?

       1. I like Ned and David Millar as commentators but he can garble his words a bit and his pronunciation of Rhone and Rhine can be misheard. the late Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggitt were great and always a professional pairing.
          Today’s cycling was (whisper it) a bit of a boring flat stage with all the excitement in the last few Km, but the views from the helicopter camera were stunning. Montelimar looks like a nice place although I need my best teeth for the local nougat! Interested to note that the finish town of Privas is twinned with the next town here in Yorkshire. Wetherby twinned with Privas is where I do most of my shopping!

          1. I find the current commentators knowledgeable but rather bland and like you miss Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. Also bunch sprints are nowhere near as exciting without Mark Cavendish. No sprint these days however comes near the entertainment provided by the Tashkent Terror, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov.

             1. Joke.Daddy potato had 3 daughters. Daughter no 1 came to her father and said ‘Daddy, Daddy I have fallen in love and want to get married’ Who is he ? ‘He is a King Edward’. Excellent my child. Well done, you have my blessing. Second daughter came ‘Daddy, I have met the love of my life, we want to get married’. Who is he my child? ‘He’s a Jersey Royal’. Hmmm. Not quite such a good catch as your sister, but a good pedigree. You may marry him. Youngest daughter came ‘Daddy darling, I’ve met a man and we want to get married’ And who is this man my child? ‘His name is Desmond Lyneham’ Out of the question girl, he’s just a common tater.

                1. 

             2. We had a fantastic evening last October watching Cav at the Copperbox. We sat opposite his wife and kids. It was so exciting. I just wish there were comfier seats – what with the walk to and from the station and 5 hours in those seats, my back complained for 2 days…….

             3. The Tashkent Terror was a bit of a fave of mine too. Such a lovely name that rolls off the tongue in a pleasing way. especially as the commentators always gave hin the full 9 syllables even in a hectic finish “here comes Jam oll ee dine ab doo jap aagh rov.” he did have a nasty crash in the final sprint on the Champs Elyssses once and he was never quite as adventurous again.
                Other names pleasing to the ear were whenever Trevor McDonald mentioned the African leader Ndabaningi Sithole or the UN sec gen Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Boutros Boutros-Ghali was also memorable as The Angry Corrie (a Scottish mountaineering/rockclimbing fanzine) referred to him as Buttress Buttress-Gulley

       2. Yes, Bluebird, over here at 0730 my time, it’s live with commentary, though our voice-overs are apparently different from yours. Our NBCSC-TV carries the coverage. But today, just as the peloton were crossing the RHONE, the channel cut into a blasted commercial on a split-screen, thus diminishing my pleasure in going over that wonderful bridge.

20. I found this fairly straightforward with the exception of 8 and 13d, both of which I had to check in the dictionary. I had heard of both answers, the first as a shirt (as opposed to the material) and the second as an edible paste (and not a perfume). I’ll make these clues my joint favourites. Thanks to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle and to the 2Ks for their review.

21. Another excellent Jay offering! Was grateful to the 2Ks for a couple of hints but kicked myself when the answers became apparent. Many thanks to all for a very enjoyable interlude in grass cutting. Now to go and finish the job before I get too comfortable!

22. I agree with everyone and everything, a real delight. Wednesday really is a good day, especially coming as it does after Tuesday. Notice, Huntsman, I am not complaining about the Fencing clues yesterday and today – one of George’s sports so I am not a complete dunce on the piste. Nice to see the DT having an outing across the bottom. I am just sad it is finished and wondering if the toughie will be as amenable as it was last night? Thanks to J,K’nK.

    1. The Toughie is tougher than yesterday but you should make a good start. I started well but ground to a halt with just a few to go.

       1. I had a perfect top half and a very sparse bottom half……

          1. There is absolutely no reply to that!

             1. If only it were as true to life now as it was a few decades ago, Daisy.

          2. Are we talking Schnauzers again?

             1. Your comment was attacked by the phantom + (which only seems to attack commenters with a space in their pseudonyms).

23. As everyone has already said, a brilliant crossword – maybe one day one of us will come up with a new way of saying that.
    I got into a muddle trying to work out why 8d was what it was – just plain dim, I think.
    I missed the anagram indicator in 28/29a.
    No other problems.
    My favourite by a very long way was 22a – really made me laugh and I also liked 27a.
    Thanks to Jay and the K’s – time to get your wood burner going again by the sound of it.
    I was wandering around doing some bits of shopping yesterday and saw a poster about a missing hedgehog – the poster had a photo on it! Can any hedgehog really look different to any other?

    1. Of course they can Kath. But only to other Hedgehogs.

       1. Shouldn’t that be from any other? Similar to, different from.

          1. Probably – I give in.

             1. It’s one of my pet hates. 😁

24. Just Fab! Thanks to all.

25. **/*****. What else is there to say? Another Wednesday treat. So many good clues it’s difficult to pick one as favourite. Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

26. A delightful puzzle to untangle. I caused myself a problem by feeling sure 11a contained only one ‘L’ but soon corrected myself.
    The gazebo is up and after being wary for the first day, Lola is snoozing happily on a chair, under its shelter. We have moved her little bungalow inside it too, so she has, essentially, a whole new, waterproof, outdoor room.
    Bit of drama an hour ago as there were two large ‘booms’ and the sky filled with smoke from an incident a few miles away. Apparently a tractor caught fire in a farmer’s field and the undergrowth caught alight. No news yet but I hope there are no injuries.

    Thanks to excellent Jay and the 2Ks.

    1. Her little bungalow? Are we getting things a little out of proportion here, I thought she snoozed under the ivy.
       Now we learn that she is sole occupier of a presumably purpose built residence? She must have ideas above her
       station (which I presume is Catford) You really are wrapped round her furry paws.

       1. Daisy – she snoozes under the ivy, but for bad weather (especially overnight) I constructed a small house for her, which is attached to a little table so she is raised off the ground. She has a large upturned flower pot as a sort of step to jump up into her house. I’ve now moved that under the gazebo for doubled-up protection from the elements.

    2. The gazebo sounds perfect for Lola, what a lucky kitty cat.

       1. Earlier, we both sat under the gazebo, watching the rain outside, without a care between us!

27. As I completed this on line I wondered why to me some of the clues just were not thee, then I checked my grid an let’s say I must be more careful with my entries and spelling,so it was a case of Mea Culpa, my favourites were 22 across, 13 down & 15 down, ax always thank you to Jay & the 2Kiwis for what they do.

28. Right up my street. 22A made me smile.

29. It has all been said but just wish to add my thanks to Jay and 2K’s
    8d the learning moment today but if you followed the clue you got the answer, I would have spelled 11a wrongly without checkers. I also wondered if 13d is a cake thing rather than a perfume perhaps they went in the bakewell tart?. my mushrooms were Ceps for a while. Too many great clues to pick one. Sprinters girding their loins for the last 5Km !!!

    1. Both Bakewell tart (or Pudding) and Frangipane tartes have ground almond batter mixes, but the former is British and Northern and uses jam and the latter is (French)patisserie and often uses poached fruit, e.g. pears, and is, therefore, posh.

       1. Betty’s Bakewell Tart is Northern and posh!

       2. The Frangipani tree grows here in South Florida, with lovely blooms and a glorious scent. It’s not a common planting, but it is seen in some gardens.

30. Just defeated by the perfume, I did not know either the perfume, the Indian princess or the flower so quite acceptable.
    Usual excellence from Jay, thanks all

    1. It never rains but it pours Hoofs.

       1. Puhleese!!

       2. 

31. A little tougher than some Wednesday offerings for me. 2.5*/*** Found the SW corner the area that held me up and found two of my entries 15d & 21d were wrong and that did not help either, especially with 22a.
    Once I figured it out, managed to get the rest of the SW done.
    COTD were 22a & 28/29a

    Thanks to Jay & 2K’s

32. 13d held me up & had to check with Mr G that it was what it was & not a cakey thing. Still I knew Protea yesterday. What with shrubs and a fencing reference DG will be smiling!
    Otherwise seem to be getting more in tune with Jay these days.
    Clues so good difficult to see a stand-out but canine reference in 22a gets it COTD. At the moment Biggles could supply enough for everybody.
    Thanks to Jay & 2Ks for the usual pleasure.

    1. 😊

    2. You should have seen the amount of 22a a friend brushed out of Sadie yesterday. Having dodgy shoulders, I find it difficult to brush her myself and she tends to get rather weatherbeaten in between beauty treatments!

33. Wonderful Wednesday puzzle as usual. 20a and 21d my last in. So pleased to have finished it in daylight and on the actual day for once. Loving the Blog even though I don’t have a chance to contribute that often. Thank you to all.

34. Very pleasant indeed.
    So while we are heading into an uncertain winter , the Two Kiwis have the comfort of Spring being on the way.Good for them!
    Thanks to all concerned.

35. Very nice crossword as usual on Wednesday 😃 **/*** I must confess that my last one in 24d took me a while as I while at a Gala I was going to have a pint of “laga” going up North! Favourites are 14a & 5d 🤗 Thanks to the 2x Ks and to Jay

36. As Jay’s #1 fan, I found this offering perfect. The only one I missed was 2d and I needed a word search, isn’t that the dumbest thing?
    I, too, questioned the double “L” in 11a, and 13d was easily solved by having the final letter as “I” and Indian princess.
    My fave without doubt is the delightful 22a, loved it and so did Sadie!
    Thanks to our Jay for all the fun and the 2Kiwis for hints and tips.

    1. Every loo roll tells a story, Merusa, hope you bought in a good stock!

       1. Yup! And I use it!

37. Mark me down as another who would have spelled 11a with one L, had it not been for the checkers.
    22a was also my favourite today.
    A very enjoyable puzzle, as ever on a Wednesday.

38. Morning all.
    We’d guessed the clues that would give the biggest problems. 8d which we had vaguely heard of in relation to racing and betting but needed to check the fabric and 13d where we knew the flower from time spent in the Pacific. The scent of the trees in full bloom is just amazing and a lasting memory of our time there.
    Looks like yesterday’s horrible weather has moved away overnight and a fine but cool day in store for us here.
    Cheers.

39. Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. I enjoyed this one, some really good clues as usual. Unfortunately I was beaten by 13d, I’d never heard of it. I managed to get the Indian Princess, the “f” and the “an”, but couldn’t get the animal, and didn’t manage to fit it together. Favourite was 5d. Was 2*/4* for me.

40. Another enjoyable crossword from Jay, but I did stumble at two holes. The first was 11a as I have never seen it written with the two “ll” s. The other was 6d, having never run into “in the van” meaning led or in front. I presume it comes from vanguard. Just never seen it used as such. Offset by being able to sometimes find a 12a tree at a good garden center. Thanks to Jay and 2Kiwis.

41. What an enjoyable puzzle. I have to admit it took me a few hours (yes hours) to complete, and I did have a few breaks, but was determined not to give up or seek help from the blog. So pretty pleased with myself.
    Thanks to Jay and the Kiwis

42. 22a my pick in another Jay corker solved early this morning. Not altogether straightforward for me – I thought to Ls in 11a didn’t look right & had to check it, as a racing man I’m surprised I didn’t know that 8d was a material & I thought 13d was a Bake Off ingredient. Fortunately the wordplay gets you to the correct answer & Mr G says yes or no.
    Thanks Jay & the 2Ks

43. Despite a late start due to a zoom meeting and a couple of high alcohol craft beers under my belt I “zoomed” through this until the SW corner which I made hard work of, but hey ho! I got there in the end. Favourite was 22a, I might need one tomorrow. Thanks to Jay and 2K’s.

44. Only looked at this upon waking. Spent yesterday morning with French conversation group enjoying the sun in a Cathedral garden. Later celebrating one friend’s birthday and another’s new grandchild which started in a country garden but got rained off – so went inside to socially distance as far as possible. I forgot it was Wednesday (as it is now Thursday) and did not have this down as a Jay. My quickest Jay ever. I had the top half in starting with 1a without pausing for breath. Somehow got the strange words without difficulty. I did think at first that 13a could have been some derivation of fragrance as the F was a given and the Indian princess too – but soon put the letters in the right order. I deliberately left 24d till last and was determined not to let it beat me. Did not want to spend as long on it as the rest of the puzzle. I wrote it horizontally as A -a- to get the short holiday. Increased solving time but only by a small percentage. Favourites 22a and 6 12 and 19d. Thanks Jay – even Brian approved. Thanks 2Ks – hints not needed but always read them.

45. After the jubilation of Tuesday – this defeated me – I thought (8d) was something to do with race horse breeding – ignorance that it is a material and I don’t get why “in the van” = LED .

    I obviously have a lot still to learn

    1. Welcome to the blog

       If you are ‘in the van’ you are in the lead – hence ‘led’

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